5 Best Tips For Spreading Ice Melt

Ice melt is a life savior in winters, but not knowing how to apply it can ruin your concrete and asphalt surfaces. However, there are a few tips to keep in mind while using rock salt alternatives and other ice melt products. Every product has something to offer from CMA to magnesium chloride, calcium chloride to sawdust.

Let us take you through the 5 best ways to spread ice melt without damaging your surface but before that let’s talk about something very important:

Why Choose DIY Ice Melt?

Many prefer using DIY ice melt solutions. The reason is- DIY ice melt solutions offer a unique blend of practicality and innovation during the winter months. The main reason? Well, these homemade concoctions can be cheap ice melt alternatives, crafted from common household items. This approach not only clears ice and snow but also opens the door to melt ice fast without waiting on store-bought options or facing shortages during peak winter times. The catch? Well, since these solutions are not built for the main purpose of getting rid of ice and snow, you may not find them as effective as ice melt products in the market. Plus, each one of these comes with its own cons.

Benefits of Homemade Ice Melt

Homemade ice melts carry a bouquet of benefits: they can be less abrasive on your driveways and pathways, potentially reducing the environmental impact of ice melt chemicals. Chemicals used in most of the ice melt products in the market are corrosive and can damage the property and the planet. Not just that they can be harmful to your pets and and your hands. However, not all ice melt products are created equal. 

Safe Paw is one such ice melt that is free from all chloride-based ingredients and is safe for your pets and property. These DIY solutions often use milder ingredients that are gentler on the environment while still ensuring winter safety. They provide a cost-effective and immediate solution to ice melt application, ensuring that your surfaces are safe and navigable post-snowfall.

Common Ingredients for DIY Ice Melt

The backbone of most ice melt recipes includes a variety of household staples. Common ingredients like salt, sugar, and even beet juice can be used to create effective deicers. These materials work by lowering the freezing point of water, which helps to melt ice fast. While they’re more environmentally friendly than many commercial options, it’s crucial to consider their placement and quantity to avoid damage to adjacent vegetation and mitigate any negative environmental impacts.

In crafting your own ice melt, balancing efficacy with environmental consideration is key. This approach not only keeps pathways clear but also aligns with sustainable living principles, making it a favored choice for many environmentally conscious households.

Bulk Purchase With Safe Paw

Now, let’s get back to our 5 tips for spreading ice melt:

1. Instructions 

Every product has a clear instruction outline, and you have to read it carefully before using it. Overusing any ice melt will damage your surface, thus increasing your expenses to repair them. On average, it is advisable to use 100gms ice melt per square meter; however, it’s best to check the manual before use.

2. Application 

The primary purpose of any ice melt is to protect your concrete surface, avoid any landscape damage, and protect you and your loved ones from any untoward injuries. Applying the ice melt before a snowstorm or blizzard avoids ice sticking to the surface. Even if you cannot predict a snowfall, you can use it immediately after the precipitation freezes or after shoveling snow from your driveway, sidewalk, or pathway. If you apply ice melt post a snowfall, you will need to shovel the slush or brine away to make it easy to walk.

3. Safety first 

There is nothing more important than your safety. If you have a constant question bothering you, ‘Does ice melt damage concrete?’, you must ask yourself if it causes any damage to you as well. Most ice melt products are not skin-friendly, let alone eco-friendly. You must wear appropriate gloves and protective eyewear to avoid fumes entering your eyes. Use the recommended amount only to make sure it does not harm you.

4. Tools 

If you use rock salt alternatives, you must ensure you use appropriate tools to spread the ice melt. There are several ice melt spreaders available in the market nowadays, and you can choose the one that suits your premises the best. From hand-held ice melt spreaders to a push ice melt spreader, you can use any tool to make your job quicker. In addition, you can wipe it dry before keeping it away to increase its shelf-life.

5. Avoid vegetation 

While spreading ice melt or any rock salt alternatives, you must take care of the vegetation around. Spread it so that the salt or ice melt does not seep into the soil. Safe Paw is one of the safest products in the market that does not harm your vegetation but acts as a fertilizer as well.

Conclusion

It would help if you kept the above tips in mind before using any ice melt or rock salt alternative because it can cause you long-term repercussions. You must apply the products after reading the instruction manual, keeping in mind their freezing points and the weather conditions in your region. With Safe Paw, you can be assured the peace of mind to keep your home and everyone safe.  

Gaia Enterprises Inc. delivers 100% pet-safe and environmentally friendly winter products. Safe Paw, our flagship product, is the #1 selling pet-safe ice melt that does not harm pets, safe if ingested, and safe on all types of concrete.

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