Here in the middle of Missouri, we haven’t had much “real” winter. Yes, we had a few inches of snow in November, enough for small snowmen and a bit of sledding, but it only lasted a couple of days. Then warm temperatures returned and we began to wonder if winter had come and gone. It hadn’t. Like so much of the country, we were hit with an arctic blast that crippled our community. People flocked to our stores in advance of the storm to stock up on basic necessities – bread, milk, wine and, most important of all, ice melt.
As usual, there were a myriad of ice melt choices. The local hardware stores offered everything from inexpensive sand and kitty litter to premium ice melts. They had crystals, pellets and even liquids for consumers to choose from, with spreaders and sprayers conveniently displayed alongside. For the unschooled, it had to have been overwhelming. Knowing some basics about ice melt techniques and products however, can help consumers make snow removal decisions that are safe, effective and good for the environment.
Ice melt products are not “one size fits all.” There are several factors to consider when making a choice.
One of the first considerations is the application time. The best time to apply ice melt is 
before it snows or freezes, in order to keep the ice from forming at all. Some liquid ice melts can be sprayed up to six hours before an expected freeze. However, not all consumer products are meant to be used on bare surfaces. Make sure to closely read and follow directions to prevent damage to hard surfaces.
Another factor to consider is the expected temperature range. Many products on the market have temperature limits, meaning that they are ineffective at lower temperatures.
Formulation is also important to think about. Pellets, which are smaller, can be spread by hand or with a spreader. They typically don’t stick to feet or paws so are less likely to be drugged into the house. Pellets are usually not the best choice for extremely cold temperatures because of their smaller surface area. Crystals or chips, which are larger, sometimes jagged pieces, are also easy to spread by hand or spreader, but they may clog some types of spreaders. The jagged edges tend to stick to shoes and paws so they can leave messy residue inside.
Finally, the product’s safety is vital. Check to see if it is harmful to children, pets or the environment? Will it damage existing plants upon contact?
Keeping these factors in mind can help consumers make the best choices for their particular situation.
COMMON ICE MELT PRODUCTS
Sand as a relatively inexpensive ice treatment has its benefits. It provides grit which improves traction, making driving and walking on icy surfaces a bit safer. (Many experts recommend keeping a bag of sand in the trunk of your car during icy winter weather. The sand can provide a needed boost if your car becomes stuck in an icy patch.) Sand contains no sodium chloride (salt), so it less harmful for nearby plants and hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt. However, It doesn’t, on its own, melt ice and it loses its effectiveness if it becomes covered by additional ice or snow. Surprisingly, sand can also become a pollutant. As the ice and snow melt, the remaining sand is eventually washed into storm drains. When it finds its way into the watershed, it creates a sludge that contaminates the water. In addition, once the ice and snow are gone, an excess of remaining sand can become slick, making sloping surfaces hazardous. If you do choose to use sand on driveways or walkways, make sure that you purchase the larger grained play sand, not the finer grained construction sand.
Kitty litter is another tool to give a stuck car needed traction on snowy or icy roadways. Applying that logic to your driveways and walkways is definitely NOT a good idea. Kitty litter can become quite slick when wet, making a bad situation even worse. Kitty litter is essentially clay, so once the ice and snow melts, you are left with sticky lumps of earth that become ice covered in the next round of bad weather.
Sodium chloride (rock salt) is probably the most commonly known product for pretreating and for ice melting. Rock salt is inexpensive, commonly available and easy to apply. It works quickly, but it is also damaging to grass, plants, pets, concrete, asphalt, brick, stone and wood decks. Effective to 15 degrees F.
Calcium Chloride is another salt product. It works more quickly at lower temperatures than rock salt. It usually causes only minimal damage to concrete and asphalt, but still can damage grass, plants and pets, especially if it is over applied. Effective to 25 degrees F below zero.
A third salt product is Potassium Chloride. It works more slowly than the previous salts, but is kinder to grass, plants, pets and concrete. It is also typically much more expensive. Effective to 25 degrees F.
Magnesium Chloride is another fast acting, effective ice melt when used according to directions. It tends to be a more environmentally sound choice and is kinder to plants. It can however, do significant damage to concrete. If over applied, it can damage plants and be lethal to pets. Effective to 13 degrees below zero.
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All of these ice m
elt products are best applied with a spreader, but can, if necessary. be applied by hand. Be sure and wear gloves! With any ice melt, It is important to follow directions as applying more than the recommended amounts can lead to problems later. Never use ice melt products on concrete that has been laid for less than one year (some say two years) as the ice melt will weaken or pit the concrete. Many experts suggest sprinkling ice melt before a storm hits to increase its effectiveness.
No matter how carefully snow removal is done, it is inevitable that some of the ice melt product will cover grass,
beds and plants. For areas that become highly contaminated, consider replacing the top layer of soil in early spring, before plants begin their new flush of growth. (Remember, salt kills plants.) Alternately, thoroughly soak the area with an inch of water three or four times in the early spring. Proactively, plant shrubs behind a “push zone” to allow for snow removal.
Ice melt products can certainly be a help during winter weather, but if you have children or pets there are some 
safety concerns to consider. Kids love playing in the snow! For most children, there is nothing better than building snowmen, having snowball fights and sledding down huge hills. Snow that has been contaminated with ice melt however, has some risks, especially for young children. Most of the time, if there are momentary physical contacts with contaminated snow, the reactions are no more serious than a slight rash. If a child ingests ice melt, there can be serious consequences. Most importantly, DO NOT HAVE THEM VOMIT. Instead, wipe out the child’s mouth and immediately call a poison control center for instructions. Knowing what type of ice melt was used will help determine treatment.
Winter can be a challenge for pets. It’s important to wipe animals’ paws after they spend time outdoors to remove traces of ice melt that remain. Some owners have snow booties for their animals or even have the fur between 
a dog’s toes trimmed to lesson the chance that minerals remain there. Don’t allow animals to drink from puddles or lick the ice melt. Ice melt can be lethal to animals when ingested.
This storm has convinced me that winter and its challenging weather is here to stay. The best thing that I can do is stock up on all those necessities, ice melt included, and settle in to enjoy the break. Stay safe!
