Salt tends to be the go-to solution when it comes to de-icing sidewalks, but you may be protecting your hips at the cost of the environment. As a de-icer, salt isn’t very eco-friendly. Want to go green?
- Remove snow from your sidewalk as soon after a snowfall as possible, preferably using a shovel. The sooner you remove it, the less de-icing you’ll have to do. While a snow blower may handle the removal job more efficiently than a shovel, keep in mind that using one completely defeats your environmental intentions!
- For traction, sprinkle some birdseed on your freshly cleared sidewalk. As this is a rather costly approach, limit it to small paths only – and don’t sprinkle seeds on the road as this will put hungry little birds in danger.
- Looking for a cost-effective solution that allows you to de-ice the parking pad outside your garage, as well as other large areas? Visit your grocery store or local hardware store and ask about non-toxic alternatives that don’t have the same harmful side effects as rock salt.
While we’re on the subject of ice, if you missed last month’s post on how to prevent your garage door from freezing, check it out here.