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Even an extremely thin layer of ice on pavement can pose a serious safety hazard, putting family, friends, and passers-by at risk of dangerous slips and falls. Eliminating ice buildup should be a top priority of any homeowner, and one of the belt ice melts will get the job done effectively and with minimal effort on your end. Calcium Chloride Is
We've researched dozens of snow and ice melts to find the best options and consulted with two experts in the field: Don Adams, general manager of Regional Foundation Repair, and Russell J. Kendzior of the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI). We chose the Safe Step 6300 Enviro-Blend Ice Melter as the best overall ice melt due to its quick-acting formula, EPA certification, and affordable price. For a pet-safe option, we like the PlaySafe Ice Blocker because of its liquid formula instead of a pellet or rock, which can be painful for your pups to walk over. However, it needs to be applied before snowfall.
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Best overall: Safe Step 6300 Enviro-Blend Ice Melter - See at Amazon This blended mix quickly and effectively melts ice to -10 degrees Fahrenheit and only costs about 50 cents per pound.
Best magnesium chloride: Safe Step 8300 Magnesium Chloride Ice Melt - See at Walmart If you need to break up hazardous ice on your roof, our expert recommends these magnesium chloride pellets, which melt ice while minimizing potential damage to your shingles.
Best pet-safe: PlaySafe Ice Blocker - See at Home Depot Unlike chloride-based ice melts, this PlaySafe product is less irritating to your pet's paws and will prevent ice buildup when applied before a snowfall.
Best rock salt for snow: Safe Step 3300 Rock Salt/Halite Ice Melter - See at Walmart If you're on a tight budget but still want to ensure your pathways are free of ice, Safe Step 3300 Rock Salt could be the perfect choice.
Best calcium chloride: Green Gobbler Snow and Ice Melt - See at Amazon Green Gobbler Snow and Ice Melt works extremely quickly and is effective in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit, making it well-suited for frigid climates.
Pros: Includes a catalyst to prevent refreezing, designated as a "Safer Choice" by the EPA
Cons: Less effective at extremely low temperatures, can leave white residue if tracked inside
Our expert Don Adams recommended potassium chloride as the best ice melt ingredient overall. He explains that it's particularly well-suited for use on concrete since its slow melting time gives the liquid more time to run off or evaporate and is less likely to result in the freeze/thaw cycles that are so harmful to concrete. This chloride blend also uses an additional melting catalyst (MG-104) to make it effective on a wide range of surfaces and, most importantly, helps prevent refreezing.
Safe Step 6300 is also an EPA "Safer Choice" product, so it's less corrosive to steel, doesn't contain cyanide as a caking agent (which can be harmful to aquatic life as well as vegetation), and still works effectively at temperatures below the freezing point of water.
Application is simple as well. Like other granule-like ice melts, simply sprinkle a layer on your driveway or sidewalk before precipitation freezes. To mitigate the amount of concrete damage, use only as much as you need.
Keep in mind that the sodium chloride in this product can leave white residue if tracked inside your house, and although it's safer than other options, it can still be harmful to vegetation. When shoveling ice melt, try not to toss any slush onto your plants.
Like other Safe Step products, Safe Step Enviro-Blend is available in a range of sizes and containers, so it should be easy to find the right option for you.
Pros: Doesn't produce white residue, won't burn your skin, less toxic for plants and animals
Cons: Can leave an oily residue when tracked indoors
According to Adams, magnesium chloride is a great choice for roofs, and Safe Step is the top brand of melts he recommends. These granules are made of 100% magnesium chloride, and, unlike sodium chloride, they won't damage the shingles on your roof. Since it dissolves completely, it won't leave a white residue that can cover your boots and get tracked inside.
Magnesium chloride is also uniquely suited for use on or near aluminum components, like wheelchair ramps. It won't corrode the aluminum sheeting or bolts, unlike other compounds like sodium chloride. This product is also naturally lower in chlorides than other chloride-based ice melts, making it less toxic to pets and vegetation and more environmentally friendly overall.
Safe Step 8300 is effective in low temperatures, too. Although it's advertised as being non-irritating to your hands, the product safety sheet does recommend washing your hands after use.
Pros: One gallon replaces 10 jugs of ice melting pellets, safer for pets
Cons: Must be used before snowfall to work, requires separate pump sprayer
Although this product isn't technically an ice melt — it's marked as an ice "blocker" — it does prevent ice from forming in the first place. Its lack of chlorides makes it safer for your pets than any other option on our list. It's also a liquid instead of a pellet or rock, which can be painful for your pups to walk over.
Although it's not as convenient to use as pellets, this liquid product is still relatively straightforward to use with a little preparation. Pour the contents into a pump sprayer and apply to any areas where you want to prevent ice from forming. You'll need to monitor the weather and keep an eye out for upcoming snowfalls for it to be effective, but if you have pets, it's worth the extra effort.
Cons: Not effective at negative temperatures, harsh on concrete, can be harmful to pets and plants
Significantly cheaper than other types of ice melt, Safe Step 3300 Sodium Chloride Crystal Halite/Rock Salt, commonly known as rock salt, is a fast-acting, effective way to prevent ice buildup. Plus, its large granules add traction to the surface, making it less likely you or your family members will slip and fall, which is really the whole point of getting rid of ice in the first place.
Adams recommends sodium chloride as the best ice melts for asphalt specifically, making this product ideal for those with asphalt driveways, parking lots, or walking paths.
Rock salt does have its drawbacks. The granules can irritate your pets' paws and skin, and if ingested, it can cause serious health problems. It's also more harmful to vegetation than other ice melts, so it's not ideal for those with plants, flowers, or gardens in close proximity to their driveways or sidewalks. Because of these issues, its important to use as little rock salt as is needed. Sodium chloride isn't effective when used in negative temperatures either, so if your outside temperature drops below 5 degrees Fahrenheit, you'll need to go with a different option.
Although this heavy-duty formula isn't the most gentle, if your main priority is ice prevention, Safe Step 3300 Sodium Chloride Crystal Halite/Rock Salt could be the ideal option.
Pros: Effective at very low temperatures, less harmful than rock salt, works very quickly
Cons: Can leave an oily residue if tracked inside
If you live in an area where the temperature frequently drops into double-digit negative numbers, this 15-pound bucket of calcium chloride could come in especially handy. It starts working right away, creating an exothermic reaction that generates heat as it works its way into the ice. This effectiveness also makes Green Gobbler 96% Pure Calcium Chloride Snow and Ice Melt great for pre-treating surfaces before snowfalls.
Keep in mind that calcium chloride, just like other chlorides, can be harmful to pets. The granules can irritate their paws and, if licked off, can cause gastrointestinal issues like vomiting and diarrhea. Although this ice melt isn't harmless to plants, it's less damaging than other ice melt options. Just try to avoid over-applying.
Calcium chloride can also be corrosive to metal, so it won't be a good option for use in areas with exposed nuts and bolts or railings. If you do have it use it around metal, hose it off as soon as you can.
Type: Ice melt is sold in three configurations:
Granules (salt) are coarse salt crystals. They'll provide great traction and crumble into dust for easy cleaning in spring.
Pellets can penetrate ice more easily than granules, but they're also likely to roll down hills or off to the sides of paths and driveways. Because they're larger and more condensed, they're more effective than granules, but they have the tendency to move.
Liquids are the fastest-acting option. These usually work with a spray applicator and offer options like concrete- and pet-safe formulas.
Chemicals in Ice Melt: There are essentially six different salts that are used as ice melt, each with its pros and cons. Most brands use a combination of two or more salts, but the right type of salt will depend on the climate you live in and how you plan on using it.
Temperature Effectiveness: The outside temperature can affect an ice melt's ability to do its job, so look for options that are compatible with your climate. While basic rock salt (sodium chloride) is sufficient for use in temperatures above 5 degrees Fahrenheit, lower temperatures require a blend of chemicals to be effective. Calcium chloride, for example, is effective in temperatures as low as -25 degrees Fahrenheit.
Surface Compatibility: Different ice melt compounds are better suited for different surfaces, so make sure you're choosing the best option for your specific use. If you plan on using your ice melt on concrete, look for ice melts that use potassium chloride. Adams explains that due to its slower melting process, potassium chloride gives melted ice more time to run off and is less likely to refreeze and crack concrete. For asphalt, sodium chloride compounds are best, and for roofs, magnesium chloride.
The best ice melt for you depends on your situation and where you're trying to de-ice. For example, you'll want different options for a concrete driveway versus a shingled roof.
In addition to researching dozens of types and products, we also spoke with two experts: Don Adams, general manager of Regional Foundation Repair, and Russell J. Kendzior of the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI). They offered advice on how to choose an ice melt and the benefits and drawbacks of different types. Adams recommended potassium chloride ice melts in general and the Safe Step brand in particular.
Adams recommended potassium chloride as the best ice melt for concrete. Since it's slower acting than other melts, it gives the liquid more time to run off or evaporate. This reduces the amount of water to be absorbed by the concrete, which is what leads to those unsightly cracks. It's worth noting that any ice melt can potentially damage your concrete. "Any chloride-based chemical will absorb into the porous surface of concrete and eventually damage its surface," said Kendzior. "They work fast but cause damage."
According to Adams, sodium chloride — also known as "rock salt" — is the best ice melt for asphalt. This is the deicer you probably see being distributed on the roads and highways during snowstorms. Adams added that it's also cheaper than most other ice melts and can be used effectively on gravel surfaces. Keep in mind that although asphalt isn't totally safe from potential damage, it's generally more tolerant of chloride-based ice melts than concrete.
"Pet-safe" is a bit of a broad term, but when it comes down to it, any ice melt is going to be potentially harmful to your pets. Calcium chloride and sodium chloride can irritate and burn their paws. Most melts can be toxic if ingested, so take care not to expose your pets to these products. Adams explained that you should also take precautions when storing ice melt.
In large quantities, ice melt is not good for the environment. "When large quantities of deicing chemicals find their way into the storm sewer system and eventually into a waterway (i.e., river or lake), they often react with other substances in the water, which can cause harm to fish and wildlife," said Kendzior. This is why it's important only to use as much as you need to get the job done and avoid spreading it in areas of vegetation.
According to Adams, magnesium chloride is the preferred option for roofs because, unlike other ice melt options like sodium chloride, it's less likely to damage your shingles. He added that since it's a bit safer for the environment than sodium chloride, magnesium chloride will pose less of a risk to your lawn or landscaping if it runs off the roof. If you'd prefer not to use ice melt on your roof, we've had great success using a roof rake to prevent snow and ice buildup in the first place.
Yes, you can easily make an effective ice melt with products you probably have on hand in your home. For smaller areas that need deicing, like your walkway or windshield, Adams recommends mixing a large quantity of isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. This is safer for your pets as well. Kendzior added that regular table salt can be effective but will most likely kill your grass and damage your sidewalks or driveway.
Sprinkle your ice or snow melt in a thin layer on concrete. If you're going to cover an area larger than a small walkway or driveway), consider a wheeled spreader like this one from Scotts. The most important thing to know about ice melt is that it performs best when you lay it down before a storm and prevent ice from forming altogether. If there's already snow on the surface, clear it with a shovel or snow blower.
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