Salt Substitutes for Sidewalks

Calcium Magnesium Acetate

• Calcium magnesium acetate, or CMA, is a biodegradable deicing agent that causes minimal damage to the landscape. This substance, made from dolomitic limestone and acetic acid, also causes little damage to concrete. However, calcium magnesium acetate is very expensive, making the use of this substance most practical for small-scale, environmentally sensitive areas.

Abrasives

• Abrasives such as kitty litter, sand or sawdust can be used plain or mixed with salt or other agents. These abrasives are often more cost-efficient than some deicers and can provide a degree of lasting control on icy or snowy sidewalk but might become messy if the mixture is tracked indoors.

Enhanced Radiation Absorbers

• Enhanced radiation absorbers are dark substances like graphite or coal ash that increase radiation absorption to capture heat and speed melting. These substances work slowly and can be messy.

Fertilizer

• Potash is a type of fertilizer that releases potassium chloride. Potash is relatively easy to handle and is slightly less harmful to plants than sodium chloride but is highly corrosive and has a higher melting temperature than other alternatives. Urea, made from ammonia and carbon dioxide, serves primarily as a fertilizer but can also act as a deicer. Urea has a lower burn potential than potassium chloride. In some situations, you should avoid or limit use of fertilizers for deicing, as these substances add nitrogen to the landscape.

Alfalfa Meal

• Alfalfa meal, often available at garden stores, is a natural fertilizer that provides traction and melts ice while having minimal or no environmental impact.

Magnesium Chloride

• Magnesium chloride is a fast-acting alternative to traditional calcium and sodium chlorides. Although this substance is less corrosive than these deicers, it is more expensive than rock salt, can still injure plants and requires dry storage.