How do you clear snow and ice? Sand, Icemelt, something else?

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Snow and Ice

This winter has been particularly bad in regards to snow and ice. I know I have been spending plenty of time clearing snow and ice off of my sidewalk, paths and driveway. I'm hoping this lens will help everyone share their best hints and techniques to clear paths quickly.

Melting Supplies

Sometimes elbow grease isn't enough to remove a walkway. Everything is all frozen to the ground. When that happens, you need something to help melt the mess. Here are some products that can help clear your walkways and stop icedams.
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Be careful with salt

There are lots of things that are great with melting ice. But make sure you don't put those items on plants or grass, because the plants will die.

Shovels and other snow clearing tools

The cheapest way to handle snow is a shovel. Also, you can have an extra shovel in your car trunk if you will be out when it is snowing. You never know when you may be plowed in!
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Good de-icing tips

  1. If you go to a hardware store and they don't have any rock salt/ice melt there are other things you can use -- pool department has pool salt, and the plumbing department has water softener. (information from Tammy Donroe)
  2. If you spray your snow shovel end with a lubricant, like Pam cooking spray, it will help snow slide off easier. (information from Bob Vila)

Dealing with Snow/Ice Poll

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Don't use hot water

Hot water may melt the snow -- but it usually turns it into black ice!

Everything you would ever want to remove snow

Snow shovels and snow blowers are great for snow removal.

Snow blowers can be electric, or run on gas.

Snow shovels run on people power. :)
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Other ways to keep things clear

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Snowy Guestbook

Take off your boots, have some hot chocolate and let us know what you think! Do you have any secrets that helped you clear snow or ice?

  • kellywissink Feb 17, 2009 @ 5:36 pm | delete
    Welcome to Twitterville Group!-Kelly

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DesignedbyLisa

DesignedbyLisa feels like she has been putting ice melt out every day this winter. Ugh!

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