By Roberta Modena

January is upon us and Mother Nature is unveiling her presence in a big way. And while the wintry white stuff is great for toboggan runs & making snow angels, not to mention a great excuse to miss a day of school or work, it’s still a major nuisance if you have to get around. This is the time of year when last year’s shovel purchase really pays off. But, you’ll need more than a shovel to actually help the snow melt. And while there are lots of “de-icing” products available, be sure to choose one that best fits your environment keeping the safety of your pets and vegetation top of mind! Here’s a rundown on “de-icers.”

Shoveling

Investing in a good shovel is the best way to break up ice and the least harmful to our environment. A bigger shovel means the snow loads are heavier so buying a smaller shovel is actually smarter. It also expends less pressure on your back, even though you should always bend at the knees when shoveling. You can minimize snow and ice by regular shoveling right after the snow stops falling. Be sure not to over-do it and take several breaks in between while drinking plenty of water, since shoveling is extremely strenuous work.

Natural Clay Kitty Litter or Cracked Corn

It won’t melt the snow, but it can prevent slip and fall accidents from ice that accumulates on your sidewalks. Both kitty litter and even cracked corn provide good traction on wooden decks and sidewalks and are effective if you have to create a path to go back and forth on, but neither actually melts the snow. They’re pretty inexpensive and don’t hurt the harmful or winter wildlife.

Sodium Chloride (Rock Salt)

Lots of people use traditional rock salt for their driveways because it works well, but rock salt is not particularly safe around your pets because it dries out their paws causing cracking. Be careful walking your dog around salty sidewalks, and consider investing in dog booties to protect their paws. In addition, de-icing salts can cause severe damage to concrete that has not been mixed, installed or finished properly. While salt may seem like the most effective product because it lowers the temperature of the ice so the air around it melts it quicker, salt is corrosive and can cause damage to sidewalks, our vehicles and even vegetation.

Ice Melt

If you have thick layers of ice that only a “de-icer” will do, Ice Melt is the best eco-friendly ice melting product from Earth Friendly Products. It melts ice up to -15o F and contains magnesium chloride, a safer and less corrosive salt than the more common sodium chloride. This product works very well in extremely cold temperatures and is safer around your pets so it’s the best alternative out there to balance effectiveness and earth-friendliness!

Ethylene glycol

Alcohols reduce the freezing point of water and will effectively melt the snow but ethylene glycol is the syrupy component of antifreeze automotive products and is a very toxic substance to pets, especially cats. In fact, a teaspoon of antifreeze can be deadly to a cat while less than four teaspoons can kill a 10-pound dog. Stay away from anti-freeze!

Urea

Urea refers to a commercial product often utilized as fertilizers and found in many ice-melters. While rock salt can be detrimental to grass and flowers, urea acts as a fertilizer so if you have a garden or flower bed nearby, it does boost plant growth by providing needed nitrogen to the roots. The downside is it can destroy stone and concrete and is less effective in extremely frigid temperatures.

Roberta Modena is one of the nation’s leading authorities on healthy and sustainable consumer marketing. She is founder of World of Green, the leading gateway site for inspired green living. A leading thinker in consumer behavior  and retail trends, she is known for her keen ability to transform concepts into action. She has hosted an eco-friendly show on HSN and is a regular feature in the green media. As the senior marketing executive, she led an effective, $100 million+ annual marketing effort for General Nutrition Centers, the world’s largest health and nutrition retailer, and the marketing-driven turnaround and green transformation of Garden of Life, an innovative organic food and nutrition supplements company. Following her true inspiration for sustainable living, she partnered with longtime colleague Greg Horn to found Eco Shoppe (now owned by Vitamin Shoppe), the first green retailer offering simple solutions for living green. Roberta lives in North Palm Beach, Florida with her beloved husband Larry and their two dogs, where she leads a sustainable and healthy lifestyle and continues her search for new and innovative eco-friendly products. Roberta holds a B.S. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Education from the University of Pittsburgh.

Tags: de-icing products, Earth Friendly Products, environment friendly, green, ice, ice melt, shoveling