Salting the Sidewalk Without Hurting It

Select the right salt product to melt the ice on your sidewalk. Calcium chloride (CaC12) and potassium chloride (KCl) are commonly used and are safe for use on sidewalks. Both are also better for the environment and plants than traditional sodium chloride (NaCl). If you have pets, potassium chloride is safer for them than calcium chloride.

Shake the salt evenly on the sidewalk. Use the shaker that came with the salt or a broadcast spreader, such as one used to apply fertilizers. You can also use your hands, but wear work gloves to protect them. Read the salt product's label for application rates. In general, 1 lb. of salt can provide adequate coverage for 100 to 200 square feet of sidewalk space.

Apply the salt after the first one-quarter-inch layer of snow or ice hits the sidewalk to prevent it from freezing and bonding to sidewalk. Remove snow after the snow storm is over with a shovel or snow blower. You should be able to completely clear the sidewalk without having any ice or snow frozen to the sidewalk. If you had an ice storm or freezing rain, proceed to the next step.

Reapply the salt to the top layer of ice after the storm is over. Read the salt's label to learn how long it takes to melt the ice -- usually it takes 15 to 20 minutes depending on the temperature and product used. After this period, reapply the salt if ice is still present, or you can use a shovel to break up the leftover ice to shovel it off of the sidewalk.