Safe Ways to Melt Ice on Sidewalks and Decks

Ice on sidewalks and decks is a problem for many, and each year, countless people have slip and fall accidents that cause major injuries. You can prevent slip and fall accidents on ice that accumulates on your sidewalks and decks without the use of damaging salt and toxic products that pose a hazard to pets, wildlife, kids, or the environment. The following methods will safely melt ice on sidewalks and decks, and provide necessary traction to prevent slip and fall accidents. Make your sidewalks and decks safe with these easy ways to melt ice and provide traction on sidewalks and decks without endangering children, pets, flooring, or the environment.

Cracked Corn

I don't like using salt to melt ice on sidewalks since it can be tracked into the house, and it can etch many surfaces, even concrete. I'd never consider using it on my wooden deck, and I wouldn't consider using toxic and potentially harmful products either. I feed the birds and squirrels, and I wouldn't want any animal, domestic or wild to come in contact with something that wasn't safe.

When I had a wooden deck I used to scatter cracked corn after shoveling, and I used it on the sidewalks as well. The cracked corn provided plenty of traction, and if it was tracked in it wouldn't damage flooring. Besides providing much needed traction on the otherwise slippery deck, the cracked corn was also a great snack for the birds and squirrels. Nothing went to waste, and no one ever fell on my sidewalks or backyard deck.

Natural Clay Kitty Litter

I also used kitty litter on my wooden deck and sidewalks. This natural material didn't melt ice either, but it provided valuable traction when I was out of cracked corn. If the clay litter was tracked in it didn't cause damage either, and it was very easy to clean up when dry.

Choose all natural clay kitty litter without added color or scents. The ordinary cheap varieties work very well to add traction, and they won't discolor or damage wooden decking material. All natural clay litter will eventually disintegrate and wash away with the melting snow.

Environmentally Safe Product for Ice Removal

Not all products meant to melt ice on sidewalks and decks are safe to use around children and pets, but I've found a commercial product that's safe. Safe Paw Ice Melter is completely safe for use with pets and kids, and it's safe on all outdoor surfaces, even wood decking material. It's also environmentally safe, non-corrosive, and it's guaranteed to work at temps as low as minus two degrees Fahrenheit.

On the downside, Safe Paw Ice Melter isn't cheap. An eight pound bottle of this ice melting product is available at Healthy Pets, and has an original price of $19.99, but it is offered at a lower sale price. It sounds like a fantastic product, but if you have a lot of ice to melt it won't go very far.

I recommend using natural products for traction along with Safe Paw Ice Melter to melt ice and keep sidewalks and decks safe. You can keep your sidewalks and decks safe all winter long, and you won't go broke in the process. Shop around online or check your local pet stores for this amazing product to melt ice, even at very low temperatures.