How to rid outdoor ice?

Question

I have a potty spot for me and my neighbor in our shared backyard where our 3 dogs would go piss regularly. It consists of several layers of rocks and sand with soil all the way at the bottom. Sometimes the dogs might piss outside of the rock area and unfortunately piss on the brick floor tiles instead. Normally in such situations we would wash the floor with water. However, due to the the recent freezing temperature, the water freezes before it sinks down or evaporate. When the dogs do piss in the selected area (with the rocks), the piss might freeze before it sinks as well! Therefore there are many icy spots and I really want to get rid of them but I do not know how. What would be the most efficent and easy way to do so?

Answer 1

The ice can be cleared by the application of a substance that will lower the melting point of ice known as freezing point depression. For an explanation of how this works, go to:
http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/solutions/faq/why-salt-melts-ice.shtml
and:
http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howthingswork/a/aa120703a.htm

Commercial available environmental friendly de-icer:
http://www.interstateproducts.com/Icemelter.htm

Or try sugar. Will not harm anything including the dogs. Just sprinkle it on and do not forget, don't eat the yellow snow. :-)