Salt-Free Winter Solutions for Your Home?

Traditional rock salt (sodium chloride) can wreak havoc on pavement, plants, and pets. And while it’s not always possible to entirely eliminate, it’s smart to find ways to at least reduce our use of it. 

Shoveling Early & Often.

When snow piles up or is driven on before it is plowed or shoveled it causes ice build up. When this happens, many homeowners end up using a disproportionate amount of rock salt to permeate thick ice build up. By staying on top of the clearing of snow you’re staying on top of your dependence upon salt. 

Prioritize Traction. 

Before depending upon salt for your paved surfaces, consider that the biggest goal is traction and safety. Because of this, solutions like kitty litter, salt, or gravel can help solve the biggest issues without negatively impacting your ecosystem or damaging your property.

Leverage Nature.

By clearing sidewalks and paved areas of snow, you’re exposing those surfaces to sunlight during optimal hours. This allows you to leverage solar warming for thawing, as pavement absorbs, stores, and distributes heat. This doesn’t always work throughout the entire winter, but it can create significantly less icy surfaces during the warmer winter months. 

Spring Clean. 

Remember that most plant life in Minnesota is dormant in the winter. This means that much of the damage caused by salt begins when plants move into their growing season. Because of this, it’s important to flush and rinse your landscaping as soon as the weather warms up. This can help neutralize the negative impacts of sodium chloride. 

While many businesses and public spaces need to use salt for their ice treatment and snow removal strategy, many homeowners and property owners are looking for ways to eliminate (or at least reduce) the use of it. As you look for snow removal and ice mitigation for your home or business, talk to the professional team at the Upside Down Movement. We’ll help you find the solution that’s exactly right for you.