Shoveling Vs Rock Salt Vs Ice Melt?

Are you ready to welcome a snowy winter? With winter weather safety, the conversation comes down to one big question- what is the best way of clearing snow? While the most common methods that come to our mind are- shoveling, or using rock salt or ice melt, it is imperative to understand the nitty-gritty of each so that you make the best choice.

Ice Melt Without Salt

Shoveling Over Ice Melt

Let’s start with the conventional one. A push broom or a shovel is a good way of clearing fresh and soft snow before it starts to freeze into a slippery hard ice layer. However, there are downsides to shoveling away the snow. Not only is it laborious and consumes a lot of time, but it is also hard on your back. Moreover, if you are dealing with a frozen layer of ice, then shoveling it away becomes onerous and can cause severe injuries due to slip & fall accidents. If the snow is wet and heavy, you may not even complete the job in one go.

Rock Salt Over Ice Melt

Another popular method of clearing the snow is using rock salt. People use it on steps, pavement, driveways, etc. They know it’s easily available and does the job, but little do they know that it is not only corrosive and damaging but also unsafe to use around kids and pets. Rock salt is corrosive to concrete, asphalt, and bricks as well. Salt traces left on the surface causes stains and streaks. The real problem starts when it gets into the porous concrete and creates holes and cracks that worsen with frequent freeze-thaw cycles. 

Another reason you should not use rock salt is it is not safe to use around kids, pets, and plants. Chlorine in salt and chemical-based ice melt is a toxic respiratory irritant and can damage pets’ skin, eyes, and membranes. So, if you’ve been looking for dog-safe rock salt or a pet-safe salt for snow and ice, then I’m sorry to burst this bubble, but there’s no such thing.

Want to know the alternatives for salt when it comes to melting ice on your driveways and sidewalks this winter? What about a second look at traditional methods like salt and others that are effective de-icers? It is important for anyone making decisions about the Pros and cons of using salt to melt ice.

Why Salt Reconsidered?

Salt, particularly sodium chloride is widely used because it is cheap and works well. Unfortunately, there are several disadvantages associated with its use. With time, it erodes concrete; spoils plants and corrodes metals. The efficiency of such salts depends on temperature as the freezing point depression of salt varies.

Effective De-Icers Beyond Salt

• Calcium Chloride: This de-icer functions below zero unlike ordinary table salts and can reduce freezing points very fast. It still poses some risks to metal and concrete even though it costs more.
• Magnesium Chloride: This one is preferable for pets and plants since it is less corrosive unlike calcium chloride but works better at lower temperatures too though not without environmental drawbacks.
• Beet Juice Mixes: An eco-friendly option, beet juice is often mixed with other deicers so as to reduce their corrosiveness; however, the freezing point gets decreased considerably albeit requiring frequent application sometimes.
• Urea: Another name for urea is fertilizer. Safe Paw uses modified urea as its main component instead of ordinary urea which decays into toxic nitrates unlike this special formulation that makes Safe Paw non-corrosive but safe for decks, painted surfaces and does not conduct electricity moreover it has Nitrate Inhibitors (to protect waterways). On top of all these benefits urea carbamide-based Safe-Paw Ice Melter also has Enhanced Binding Agents (EBAs) to help prevent tracking.
• Sand & Grit: While these substances may not completely melt ice they certainly provide traction in the process. They do not pollute the environment, need no cleaning up and do not harm surfaces.

Key Considerations

When buying an ice melt, the type of surface you want to de-ice should be considered — whether residential or public areas as well as average winter temperatures in your region. Similarly, your choice should also be guided by environmental concerns and local laws on this matter.

To achieve these goals, one could adopt a product like Safe Paw which is pet-friendly and environmentally conscious but concentrates on melting ice effectively without using toxic chemicals.

For example, it is possible to mix safer ice melts with more traditional methods such as sand for additional traction in order to manage ice during winter season. What matters here mostly is that safety has to be ensured at all cost besides keeping down any ecological threats and property losses.

Bulk Purchase With Safe Paw

Safe, Salt-Free Ice Melt

Most of the ice melt in the market contain chloride in one or the other form. According to the American Concrete Institute (ACI), there are several chemicals, some of which are present in ice melt formulas that actually attack concrete, and are best avoided. They are – Aluminum Chloride, Ammonium Nitrate, Ammonium Sulfate, Ammonium Chloride, Calcium Sulfate, Magnesium Sulfate, Magnesium Chloride, and Sodium Cyanide. Different chemicals react with the concrete differently. For example, Sodium chloride attacks the metal rebar contained within the concrete when it is soaked-up into the concrete. 

Luckily, there are chemical-free and salt-free options made with urea or crystalline amide solution and are 100% safe for your kids, pets, and concrete. Such salt-free ice melt is not only pet-safe but is also non-corrosive as it doesn’t cause damage to the concrete driveways and sidewalks. These non-corrosive are also environment-friendly, 100% safe for your plants, pets, and children. 

Learn more about the best practices that should be followed while using common salt or an ice melt without salt.

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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