What Can I Use to Melt Ice on the Sidewalk Without Harming the Grass?

About Ice Melts

• Ice melt products are typically made of five products; sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride and urea. These ingredients are used either individually or in combination, and they typically work by penetrating the surface of the ice to break the bond between it and the surface it covers. The problem with these chemical ice-melts is that they can damage your plants and lawn. Sodium chloride, for example, is extremely corrosive and can damage metal surfaces as well. Urea ice-melts are not as corrosive as sodium chloride, but urea, a form of nitrogen, may contaminate groundwater with nitrates and it can burn your grass.

Using Ice Melts Safely

• When applied properly, ice melts can be used without harming your lawn. Follow the label directions for application, using only what is necessary to melt the ice and no more. Piling up rock salt or other chemicals does not melt the ice faster. Ice melts work more effectively as a preventative measure, so lay salt when precipitation is forecast, before it has time to freeze. It’s harder to melt ice that is already there. Use de-icing agents such as potassium chloride, calcium-chloride or calcium magnesium acetate, which are safer for your grass than other types and are less corrosive. Shovel before applying ice melts and remember to remove the resulting slush later, before it has time to freeze again. To protect your grass against accidental exposure to ice melts, rinse it periodically during mild weather to remove any residues.

Natural Alternatives

• Sand or birdseed don’t by themselves melt snow or ice, but laying a thin layer down will prevent slipping by providing traction. An abrasive like sand can assist in melting snow, because it it absorbs heat from the sun. Shovel snow away and sprinkle a thin, even layer over the ice. Sand won’t harm your grass and seed can be eaten by birds, eliminating a lot of mess later. Kitty litter and wood ash are often recommended as an ice-melt, but they do the same job as sand or seed, providing only traction and no proven ability to melt ice. While sand is easily swept away in the spring, kitty litter and wood ash can clump and leave a lot of mess for you to clean in the spring in the spring.

Preventing Ice Formation

• The best method of avoiding a slippery surface is to prevent it from forming or limit ice to thin, fast-melting layers. This means clearing the snow away as it comes. Shovel as soon after snow stops falling as possible. If a large amount of snow is forecast, try to remove it periodically to keep as thin a layer as possible on your sidewalk. While this won’t guarantee that ice won’t form, it does help to limit how much you’ll have to melt later.