6 hot tips for ice melt application

If it only cost $10 to improve safety for your employees and customers, plus avoid paying $100,000+ in damages, would you do it? Most people would say, “Of course!” Yet this expense (the average cost of one bag of ice melt) is often overlooked or delayed.

Ice melt helps minimize slips, trips and falls in snowy or icy conditions. While there are other methods for de-icing, ice melt works faster and lasts longer than products like rock salt thanks to its mix of sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, and calcium chloride.

Whether you’ve used ice melt for years or this is your first time, the application process can bring up several questions and challenges. As you’re preparing your facility for the cold, keep these six tips in mind to melt away the ice and all your winter weather worries.

BEFORE APPLICATION

1. Choose the right product.

Not all ice melts are created equal. Some are effective, eco-friendly and non-toxic. Others can harm people and the environment or corrode the surfaces they touch.  

Choose an ice melt product with a low melting point of -10 degrees and an environmentally friendly formula that’s easy on vegetation and surfaces—it’s a good fit for almost any property and region.

2. Determine the right amount to apply.

When applying, channel your inner Goldilocks, and aim for the amount that’s “just right.” Too little won’t work well, and too much is wasteful and could hurt the environment. It’s important to find the sweet spot based on the conditions and product you’re using.

DURING APPLICATION

3. Don’t wait to buy or apply.

Ice melt works best when applied before a storm, not after. Plan ahead, and stock up weeks or months in advance so you’re ready when the forecast changes.

4. Suit up.

Even the friendliest ice melts can cause damage if they get in someone’s eye or make contact with skin for too long. Make sure to wear protective eyewear and gloves during application.

AFTER APPLICATION

5. Use a three-mat system.

Ice melt helps prevent accidents outside, but when it’s tracked inside, it can damage floors and hurt your facility’s image. To reduce tracking or eliminate it altogether, implement a three-mat system:

• Mat 1: outdoor scraper mat to capture large dirt and pieces of ice melt before they enter your facility

• Mat 2: a scraper mat just inside the front door to catch anything the outdoor mat missed

• Mat 3: interior wiper mats beyond the front door to grab any lingering moisture or dirt

6. Store sealed bags in a cool, dark, dry place.

Open bags of ice melt can lose their effectiveness if they aren’t stored properly. Make sure to tightly seal bags, put them in an airtight container and store them in a dark, dry place until the next storm or winter season.

With these hot tips before, during, and after ice melt application, you can make sure your facility doesn’t get left out in the cold.