How to De-Ice a Staircase

Keep your family and friends safe from slips and falls by de-icing your sidewalk, driveway and staircase during winter weather, especially after snow and ice storms. Even if you have a snowblower to help you tackle the large, flat parts of your property, you'll need to do staircases by hand because of their unusual shape. Rather than wait for the sun to emerge, take action and eliminate troublesome ice in a timely manner.

Ice melt with calcium magnesium acetate
Snow shovel
Broom
Pot of boiling water
Sand

Instructions

- 1
  Sweep or shovel any snow off the stairs, exposing the ice underneath. Always shovel from the top step down so you don't push debris onto steps you've already cleaned off.
- 2
  Scatter ice melt in a thin, even layer across the icy stairs. Avoid using too much ice melt, as a thin layer actually works better at reacting with the ice than thick clumps. Allow the ice melt to sit on the stairs for 15 to 20 minutes.
- 3
  Use a snow shovel to gently break up the ice into pieces. Look for pock-marks and dents in the ice where the ice melt has penetrated, and work the edge of the snow shovel in. Scoop ice pieces and slush up, then toss them aside.
- 4
  Pour boiling water onto areas of ice that are extremely thick. Heat boiling water in a teapot on the stove, then carefully carry the teapot to the staircase. Pour the hot water directly onto the icy patches to melt the ice. Clear away any slush with the shovel.
- 5
  Sprinkle an even layer of sand on the staircase to provide traction for yourself and guests.

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