Be Salt Wise This Winter with These Tips

We all want to avoid slipping and falling on slick sidewalks this winter, but more salt doesn’t mean safer steps. Before you lay down buckets of salt on your driveway and sidewalks, read on for our salting safety tips.

We care about salting roads and sidewalks because once you put salt down, it doesn’t go away.

• Salt changes the composition of soil, slows down plant growth and weakens the concrete, brick and stone that make up our homes, garages, bridges and roads.
• Salt washes into our waters, putting our freshwater resources at risk. 

When snow and ice hit, follow these tips:

• Shovel snow promptly. Be sure to clear walkways and other high traffic areas before it turns to ice. The more snow that’s removed, the less salt you need.
• Use the right amount of salt. You only need a coffee mug of salt to treat an entire 20-foot driveway, or 10 sidewalk squares. Scatter only what you need, ensuring there is space between the grains. We love this video that shows you how:

• Switch to sand when it’s extra cold. When temperatures are below 15 degrees, salt doesn’t work. Switching to sand helps add traction and ensures no salt is wasted.
• Hire a certified snow removal contractor. If you decide to hire someone to clear your snow, check to see if your contractor completed the Winter Salt Certification Program.
• Educate yourself about salt.
  • Our partners at Wisconsin Salt Wise have much to teach us all about the impacts of over salting. Check out their website to learn more about reducing salt pollution in our environment.
  • Download this “Shovel, Scatter, Switch” cheat sheet and keep it handy when salting this winter! Want the nitty gritty? This handout has even more in-depth details.
  • Our Road Salt Report outlines how road salt works and digs into some local trends concerning salt use and the impact on our lakes.

Stay up to date all season by following Wisconsin Salt Wise on Facebook and Instagram (@WISaltWise). Thanks to our friends at Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District for suggesting and reviewing this blog post!