Looks like that last weird week of Fall-like temperatures are behind us and the thermometer is going to read as freezing or close to it the rest of the way. These numbers can only mean more snow for us and with the snow comes ice, that funny friend that makes walking from our warm home to our cold car even more perilous.
Many business owners and homeowners take care of this headache with what they view as the best medicine, rock salt. Unfortunately, rock salt is made of very harmful chemicals that not only get rid of ice but everything else in its path. It kills landscaped lawns and even lawns with big patches of dead grass making them look even worse. Even the driveways and stone that we view as impenetrable can be damaged as rock salt seeps in causing cracks. Rock salt is also not good for our furry friends who we take out down that walkway or driveway for daily walks and who use their tongues to clean.
Not only does rock salt do all of this damage, but technically it is only effective up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, and we all know it gets below that here. So here is a list of a few safer, and at times, more effective alternatives:
Alternative chemical compounds
First of all, there are alternative chemical compounds to the usual rock salt. These can be more expensive, but also more effective than your typical rock salt. These are not only usually safer, but also work at a lower temperature range:
Potassium Chloride
Calcium Chloride
Magnesium Chloride
Potassium Acetate
All of these can get the job done, but are effective at varying temperature ranges. Calcium Chloride, for one, can be used at extreme temperatures and because of how extremely well it melts ice it should be kept in a sealed container and can be used much lighter than rock salt. Remember to read the labels and see which is best for you. Some of these can still cause some damage, though less than rock salt.
Sand/Kitty Litter
While these options will not melt the ice, they do provide traction, and depending on the brand they are cheap options that pose little to no threat to the surrounding environment.
Ashes
We all love to cozy up by the fire this time of year, so why not keep your fireplace clean and take those old ashes and spread them on your walkways and steps. Ashes provide traction and absorb a good amount of sunlight giving it the ability to melt some of that pesky ice.
Urea
Urea is a very plant-friendly alternative and is almost as tough on ice as rock salt. While it may cause some algae growth in ponds it is harmless for everything else, unless you’re made of ice of course.
Beet Juice
Beet Juice is becoming more and more widely used as a safe rock salt alternative, some towns even outfit their plow trucks with beet juice. Depending on how you feel about the color, this can be a reliable alternative.
These are only some alternatives, many more can be found online along with more stats on these choices and how to most efficiently use them.
Please continue to check in on the ResiBlog to find out more home tips and to find out what’s going on around Rhode Island.
