We have around 4 inches of snow/ice mix (it rotated between snow, hail and freezing rain) which is now frozen solid. We cleared off our driveway yesterday but I need to clear a 100 foot pathway to my back yard, for my dog. I do not have ice melt to sprinkle on it, and I cannot go out to get any.
Hot water was helping to melt the snow and ice enough so that I could shovel it, but it is taking a long time to do it this way. I need suggestions on what else would work to get through the snow. My only other ideas are adding some baking soda (since it is salty) to the hot water, or mixing table salt with it, but I dont know if that would be effective unless I used a lot.
It is extremely difficult to move because it is frozen solid, and it will not get above freezing for at least a week.
2007-02-15 03:07:48 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
Salt can also ruin concrete and it burns grass and plants into not growing back... my father, who lives in NJ, has since replaced his brick stairs (sidewalk salt made the mortar crumble!) with wooden ones and had to recondition the soil surrounding his driveway and sidewalks because the salt was so harsh. He now uses safer ice-melts. I live in VT and I just deal with the weather. As does my dog. If she's gotta go, she's gotta go and she's quick about it. It's only a few days - everyone will be OK. The kitty litter idea isn't bad for grip, but don't count on ever cleaning it up. I suggest taking it slow and rotating shifts on who chops the ice and who makes the hot cocoa.
2007-02-15 03:29:45 · answer #1 · answered by Smitty 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You stated you had cleared your driveway. With what? Did you shovel it? If so, you must have a car or someone you know has one. Get in the car and go buy some rock salt. It will melt the snow and ice but as stated before can be harmful to concrete and landscape. Alas, the shovel is still best.....
2007-02-15 11:45:54 · answer #2 · answered by auto.jerry 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get some Stock Salt. It's just rock salt. MFA sells it for about 3 bucks for 50 pounds. Just spread a bunch all over your driveway. In a few hours it will break up the ice enough to get a shovel under it.
2007-02-15 11:16:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you want an easier way to break up the ice first use a garden hoe or some kind of a metal gardening tool with a metal edge to crack the ice some. Then put down salt. the cracks in the ice will help it break up easier.
2007-02-15 11:21:55 · answer #4 · answered by pink_haired_gurl 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
be careful using icemelt or salt to melt the ice to take your dogs out. you can really mess up their paws with the chemicals. Even salt is caustic (have you seen a 1978 buick lately?) and can cause chemical burns.
2007-02-15 11:12:04 · answer #5 · answered by Shredded Cottage Cheese 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Straight table salt may help . Mother natire must run it's course.
In Pennsylvania, we use a product called " QUIK-JOE"....it comes in a bag and is bought at hardware stores.
2007-02-15 11:17:38 · answer #6 · answered by shitstainz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a cat... which you probably don't.... non clumping kitty litter works well to prevent slipping on ice until you can get out and find something.
2007-02-15 11:11:36 · answer #7 · answered by Rachies 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lots of table Salt should work fine
2007-02-15 11:11:50 · answer #8 · answered by Doz 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋