Wow - over the past couple of weeks, we have developed true ice sheets over the front walkway and the one around to the back door. Those are the only places here at the farm that have cement, and they are slippery as all get-out! I don't want to use any of those icky and hazardous ice melters, but I want that ice gone! Do any of you resourceful farmgirls have some safe and effective ice-melting solutions?
Try sprinkling kosher salt on your sidewalk. It has large crystals so they will "grab" the ice and prevent you from taking yet another spill!! Be careful Libbie!!
Kosher salt is damaging to your plants! We sprinkle coarse sand on icy walks to give some traction, or dh uses calcium chloride to melt ice -- that is less harmful to plants and also works at lower temperatures than sodium chloride does.
I have beens sprinkling cat litter..not the clumping type..and it helps gain some traction. I have never trusted the ice melt stuff either..it HAS been icey here in Utah..really a big old ice slick in front of our garage..I am amazed I havn't " bit the dust" out there yet this winter..it is really hazardous. You be careful Libbie!! You sure don't need any more bruises like that last one!!!!
Around here we use sand and cat litter(clean of course!) for traction when it's icy. We get some bad spots out near the laundry room because of a poorly placed downspout. Both are easily swept out into the yard or scooped up into the compost.
I keep a big bag of cheap clay cat litter out in the milk barn too. I throw it on any wet spills (or accidents!!!) and by the next milking I can sweep it right out. AND it soaks up smells. Sweeping it out the doorway makes that area anti-slip too!
Slippin' and Slidin' all over the place!
Posted - Jan 25 2007 : 08:38:06 AM
