Greener Ice Melters

Ah, to heck with stereotypes!

Canadians are experts on winter.  We know how to dress for the elements. Depending on the province or territory, we know the how to dig ourselves out of our houses, chase recycling boxes down icy streets and chip ice from walkways and windshields.   

Not only do we know winter, we laugh at its attempts to keep us indoors.  Wahaha!  Shoulder high snow banks, -30°C temperatures and freezing rain cannot keep us down.  We grab our puffy snow pants, tuques and woolly mittens and reach for our toboggan, skates, skis or snowshoes.  We even call our friends and gather with sticks and a puck, or brooms and rocks in the name of sport and fun.  Try to stop us winter. 

(I must read this in six weeks when I am whining about winter popping my vitamin D tablets.)

Old-fashioned shovelling is the best and greenest choice for managing ice and snow.  Once freezing rain starts though and walkways/driveways become treacherous thick sheets of ice, shovelling simply does not cut it.  We need to call in the big guns.  Salt.  Rock salt (sodium chloride).

Although salt is effective at melting ice, we know it is not good for our gardens, concrete walkways and our pets paws.  Salt can also cause heavy metals like lead to leach into the soil and groundwater.  When storm sewers overflow, leaching causes damage to aquatic life in streams and lakes.

So what are some greener ice melting alternatives?  I went to our local hardware store to do some investigating.

Organic Melt – This is a less corrosive product made with degraded sugar beets and sodium chloride.  It reduces salt applications up to 50%.  It works in -30 C temperatures and uses 1/3 less that rock salt to work well.   Warning:  If you have patterned concrete or new concrete, this is not the product to use.

Magic Salt -  This is an interesting product.  It uses a liquid that is a waste by-product of vodka.  Mixed with magnesium chloride it is less damaging on concrete and vegetation.   Not only is it recycling a product that would end in the landfill, it is water-soluble and biodegradable too.  It has a smell though…kind of like molasses.  It costs more than plain salt, but you use half as much of it.

Paw Thaw - This product is sold in pet stores.  It claims to be kind to our pets, flower beds and garden critters.  Unfortunately, the manufacturer doesn’t exactly list the ingredients.  I wish I knew what the “fertilizer-grade ingredients” are…

Some suggest sand as a green option.  I hesitate to recommend it since sand does not melt ice.  If you suffer from asthma, fine sand particles pollute the air, not to mention clogs the sewers.  Others like using kitty litter or ash.  Yes, they provide traction, but they do not melt ice and aren’t great for the garden or the waterways.

Whichever product you decide to try, start with a minimal amount.  Certainly, my aversion to shoveling snow and chipping ice make me inclined to pile on the product.  I must remind myself the goal is to melt enough to aide in removal…not torch it.

There are many products advertised as eco-friendly, all natural options to help manage icy conditions.  Like all green products, it is important to read the labels.   

As we prepare for more winter storms, (we know they are coming!), you might want to consider trying a greener option for dealing with icy conditions.  Stay safe this slippery season.