Tips for Applying Ice Melt Correctly

Slipping on ice usually isn't this cute.

Ice Melt Protects Your Business as
​Well as Your Patrons...
Do not make the potentially expensive mistake of skipping ice melt in winter months. We recognize the temptation to save money and/or time where you can. However in the long run, not taking care of your walkways could cost you a whole lot more than the price of ice melt. Slip and fall accidents are a huge liability concern.

Many states have legislation that requires businesses to take action to prevent slips and falls. For instance, Ohio business owners are required to remove as much ice and snow from their property as possible and to warn patrons of dangerous conditions that could cause injuries. Owners or possessors can be held liable for a slip and fall accident if they knew of the condition and neglected to correct it or if the condition existed for such a length of time that the owner/possessor should have discovered and corrected it prior to the slip and fall incident in question.

Some might not see the need to put down ice melt as long as the parking lots and sidewalks have been shoveled, but in cold temperatures there is typically a thin yet dangerous layer of ice. Additionally, people may only use ice melt when there has been a bad storm but even light dustings can create slick surfaces particularly if the snow melts and refreezes throughout the day.

In short, don't skip the ice melt. Now that we have that out of the way, here's some tips to using ice melt efficiently and effectively. Use these to come up with an ice melt policy or training guide for employees.

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Clear First, Deice Second
Whether you're shoveling, plowing, blowing or sweeping, fresh snow needs to be removed before the application of ice melt. If this is not done, you are essentially just wasting product by using ice melt to "burn off" snow that could easily be cleared. There is no ice melt out there that can take down a foot of snow!

More Does NOT Equal Better
It's a common mistake with many cleaning products. Cleaners believe that if a little does good than a lot must do an even better job! The only person benefiting from that would be your salt provider. Less usually equals more here. Overusing ice melt leads to more product being unnecessarily tracked into your facility, which damages your floors. Additionally, this overabundance of ice melt can burn vegetation around where the product is used. 

That being said, there is no one-size-fits-all. Every product is different and cleaners must read the instructions to determine the proper amount of ice melt necessary for the job. For example, a label may say that you need 5 pounds of ice melt for 250 square feet of area.

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Speaking of the Label... Make Sure to Read Directions
It's not only important for determining quantity, but also safety and application. Certain ice melts, such as calcium or magnesium chloride, recommend personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves or goggles.

Most ice melt brands recommend shaker spreaders as opposed to scoops or shovels that waste product. A shaker spreader can help assure that product is distributed evenly and not over-applied. You can also find:

• Instructions on pre-application (when you apply the ice melt before the storm as an initial deterrent). 
• Warnings of where not to use the product can protect your facility. Some materials, such as brick, are very porous and ice melt is not recommended. Cleaners with these types of surfaces should talk to their cleaning provider.

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Choose the Right Ice Melt for You
You don't necessarily have to buy the most expensive option out there. First determine what type is right for you. How fast a deicer works, at what temperatures and whether it is exothermic or endothermic is dependent on which ingredients are used. 

Exothermic deicers - release heat to melt the ice. Quickest and most effective in a broad range of temperatures.
Endothermic deicers - absorb the sun's heat and use it to break the ice down to a liquid brine. Work more slowly and are effective at a smaller range of temperatures.

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Almost all of the ice melt options out there are made from sodium chloride (rock salt), calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, urea or calcium magnesium acetate (CMA). Products can be made from one of these or a blend of them- the latter being which is more common. A blended ice melt takes two or more deicing granules or chlorides which will work together to provide ideal melting performance. This means that the properties listed here are not absolute when looking at a blend of two or more that is meant to bring out the best of those materials, but are meant to give you a base for each material:

• Sodium Chloride (Rock Salt)
  • ​Widely used - readily available & inexpensive
  • Residential & commercial use
  • Endothermic
  • Lowest practical melting temperature: +20°F (-7°C)
    • ​Relatively slow and ineffective ice melt in very cold temperatures
  • Moderately corrosive to unprotected common metals
  • Minimal to moderate asphalt/concrete damage
  • Can harm vegetation if over-applied or applied directly in large quantities
• Calcium Chloride
  • ​Most common non-sodium chloride deicer
  • Exothermic
  • Residential & commercial use
  • Lowest practical melting temperature:  -25°F (-32°C)
    • ​Hygroscopic material attracts moisture, speeding creation of brine that gives melting a fast start
    • As it dissolves in contact with moisture, it releases a significant amount of heat making it fast & more effective in cold temperatures
  • Moderately corrosive to unprotected common metals
  • ​Minimal to moderate asphalt/concrete damage
  • Can harm vegetation if over-applied or applied directly in large quantities
• Magnesium Chloride
  • ​Hygroscopic (like calcium chloride) but solid magnesium chloride is a hexahydrate salt, meaning that it is more dilute
    • More must be applied to deliver ice melting capacity equal to calcium chloride or sodium chloride
  • Exothermic
  • Residential & commercial use
  • Lowest practical melting temperature: -13°F (-25°C)
  • Moderately corrosive to unprotected common metals
  • ​Moderate to significant asphalt/concrete damage
  • Considered to be safer around vegetation and animals
• Potassium Chloride
  • ​Endothermic
  • Residential, especially homes with pets
  • Lowest effective temperature: +25°F (-4°C)
  • Works more slowly than calcium chloride, rock salt and magnesium chloride with relatively low melt volume capability
  • ​Minimal to moderate asphalt/concrete damage
  • Moderate potential for corrosion & harm to vegetation when over-applied, like all chloride materials
• Urea
  • ​Endothermic
  • Residential, especially homes with pets
  • Lowest practical melting temperature: +25°F (-4°C)
  • Relatively slow and low melt volume capability compared to other materials
  • Minimal to nonexistent asphalt/concrete damage
  • Lower toxicity to vegetation and animals if not over-applied
• Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA)
  • ​Sometimes blended with other materials
  • Does not create a brine like rock salt, but keeps the snow lighter and drier improving traction
  • Residential & commercial use; Great on new concrete, sidewalks, driveways, bridges & parking ramps/garages
  • Lowest practical melting temperature: +20°F (-7°C), will act as bond-breaker to temperatures near 0° F
  • Low Corrosion (about as corrosive as tap water)
  • ​Moderate asphalt/concrete damage if not used correctly
  • Low toxicity and biodegradable - has little impact on plants and animals

You may also see an ingredient called "meltium" listed, as is the case for one of the ice melts we carry​. Meltium is a formate-based deicing solution that melts snow and ice in a fast, effective and environmentally friendly way. It is free of chlorides and regarded as not harmful to the environment.

Clean It Up
Tracked-in ice melt is unsightly and potentially harmful to floors. If never removed, any type of ice melt can eventually harm floors by drying them out which could lead to splintering and dry rot issues on carpets/rugs. Sodium chloride (rock salt) leaves a white powdery residue that can dull the finish if it sits too long. Calcium chloride and magnesium chloride leave an oily residue that can damage urethane or wax finishes on wood floors. This oily residue can also turn slippery and attract dirt to carpets.

Proper matting is essential in the winter and is your floor's first defense to ice melt residue. However, this won't keep all residue off your floors. Once an ice melt product is tracked in, it needs to be cleaned up in a timely manner. Use a vacuum or mop to clean up sodium chloride (rock salt) products. Mop up calcium chloride or magnesium chloride ice met with a good detergent. If dirt has been tracked in with a deicer, a mildly acidic cleaning agent works best. We make a product called Freedom that neutralizes ice melt residue in one application where other floor cleaners may take 2-3 applications.

Ask For Help
Give us a call at 1.800.589.2526 or drop us a comment if you have a question regarding ice melt.