Shoveling Vs Salting Your Sidewalks In Winter: Which Job Comes First?

When a snowstorm hits, homeowners hurry outside to clear their walkways with a bag of ice melt and a perfect snow shovel that meets all their needs. That's the ideal situation, anyway. It's tempting to just throw down some salt the second you step outside and start shoveling. But doing these two tasks in the right order is the difference between a clean, safe walkway and a slippery mess. If you don't do it right, you might have to spend hours chipping away at stubborn ice. In what order should you do these jobs? The answer is simple: shovel, then salt.

You need to shovel a driveway, pathway, or sidewalk before adding salt because deicers aren't actually made to melt snow. They're designed to melt thin layers of ice — usually the last bit of ice that is stuck to a surface after you've shoveled away the snow. Ice-melt salt works by lowering the freezing point of water, then dissolving into the water, creating a brine. What's more, ice-melt salt only works above 15 degrees Fahrenheit. If the surface is colder, you'll need to find a more powerful melting agent — like calcium chloride — or scatter sand to maintain traction.

To make sure ice-melt salt works efficiently, you need to clear your walkway down to the pavement. The best time to shovel snow for easier removal is when it's between 2 and 4 inches thick. A good shovel-then-salt strategy is just one of many essentials to have on hand before snowy weather hits, too. Get ahead of the chore by applying a light coating of salt before a storm arrives. It creates an initial non-stick layer that makes the first pass of shoveling easier.

Once the snow's gone and your sidewalk is clear, you can step in with your deicer. It's a common misconception that you need piles of rock salt to be effective. Always apply ice-melt salt sparingly — 10 sidewalk squares needs just a bit over one cup of salt. A small amount easily dissolves into the brine that stops the pavement from icing over. If you see crystals of ice on the pavement for hours, you've used too much.

You should also consider the environmental and structural drawbacks of applying too much deicer. Ice-melt salt is typically sodium chloride. It can lead to spalled concrete surfaces, defoliate or even kill plants, and cause soil compaction. Deicer runoff contributes to groundwater pollution. Additives in ice melt can irritate or burn paws. Choose a pet-safe alternative if you have pets that go outdoors. To avoid these issues as much as possible, always apply your deicer after you've shoveled, use the smallest amount possible, and sweep up any remaining salt soon after application.