What to do instead of salt in winter? This is a question many people ask themselves when they see damaged plants, discolored sidewalks, and stains on shoes. If you want to avoid this, turn to an alternative remedy. Not only will it melt the ice, but it won’t have a negative impact on the environment.
The temperature is dropping more and more every day. The nights are getting colder and the thermometers are already showing several degrees below zero. Because of this, sidewalks and roads are becoming very slippery. Ice on the road is a serious hazard and is a frequent cause of falls. Therefore, it needs to be taken care of as soon as possible. The most popular solution in this situation is to sprinkle salt on the road. However, this has a number of disadvantages, so it is worth looking for an alternative method.
What can be done instead of road salt? Salt has many negative effects
For many years, road salt has been the most popular means of dealing with icy sidewalks. It is more than 90% sodium chloride, but anti-caking agents, fine gravel or sand are also added. This mixture lowers the freezing point of water, which reduces slipping on the sidewalk. It is a good fall protection, but it is important to remember that it is very harmful to plants. This is important news for lot owners who want to sprinkle salt on walkways near the garden. Salt slush prevents plant roots from absorbing water from the soil, which causes them to wilt. In turn, young shrubs and trees may not germinate in the spring because salt reduces germination. It also affects the appearance of the road surface and contributes to corrosion of car bodywork and other metal parts. To prevent this, it’s best to replace road salt with another substance. Calcium chloride can be an excellent substitute.
Is calcium chloride harmful to paving stones? A better alternative
Calcium chloride is much more effective than road salt. It works even at very low temperatures down to -20 degrees Celsius and retains its properties for 72 hours after application to the road. The flakes adhere firmly to the road surface, so they do not spread out over the area as salt does. In addition, they do not harm plants or corrode metal parts of cars. Another benefit is that calcium chloride does not discolor road surfaces and paving stones. It also does not leave marks on shoes. It is not difficult to apply. Just clean the surface from snow and spread calcium chloride flakes on the icy surface. The remedy will begin to act in a few minutes. It is worth noting that it is easily available. You can buy it in almost any store of goods for home or garden. For a 25 kg package you will pay about 20 dollars.
