7 Best Eco-Friendly Ice Melt Products
Taking care of icy sidewalks is just one of those wintertime tasks you sometimes have to deal with. But traditional rock salt products can harm your pets, soil, and nearby waterways. That’s why it’s so important to choose the best eco-friendly ice melt.
But what should you look for when it comes to pet safe and Earth safe ice melt products? You’ve come to the right place to find out!
We’ll take a look at how conventional ice melts harm the environment. Then we’ll go over the best options for eco-friendly ice melts so you can choose one that will safely keep your sidewalks clear.
How Is Ice Melt Bad for the Environment?
We all know that having an icy sidewalk can be dangerous. After all, slippery surfaces can result in fall accidents that can cause serious injuries.
Unfortunately, conventional ice melts not only have a terrible environmental impact, but they can also make our pets sick.
Traditional ice melts use harsh chemicals like calcium chloride, potassium chloride, and sodium chloride. When temperatures naturally start to warm up and the ice and snow melt, these dangerous chemicals get mixed in with the run-off.
In addition to harming the plants and vegetation around your sidewalks, these chemicals can also go down storm drains and seep into the water supply. Not only can this pollute the water, but it can also harm aquatic life.
(As a side note, this is also one reason why some communities are switching to calcium magnesium acetate instead of using road salt to keep roads clear during winter.)
Additionally, pets can get these chemicals on the bottom of their paws when they walk outside. This can cause a burning feeling on their paws. Plus, when they come back inside and start licking their paws clean, they ingest the chemicals and can become sick.
Related: The Best Pet-Safe Houseplants That Naturally Purify Your Air
Best Eco-Friendly Ice Melts
Obviously, we don’t want to harm the environment or our furry family members. But we also can’t have dangerous icy sidewalks.
Fortunately, there’s a better option: eco-friendly ice melt. Learn more about the top eco-friendly products and how they work so you can choose the most effective ice melt to suit your needs.
1. Sunday Pet Safe Ice Melt
Instead of using harsh rock salts and calcium chloride, this Pet Safe Ice Melt from Sunday uses pure magnesium chloride from the Dead Sea. It’s gentler on paws, less corrosive to lawns and driveways, and better for the natural spaces around you.
Related: How to Create an Eco-Friendly Lawn That Will Make Your Neighbors Jealous
Since Dead Sea salt can prevent water molecules from freezing all the way down to -13°F, it’s also more effective at colder temperatures than rock salt.
For best results, pre-apply before a winter storm. You can also use snow shovels to remove any existing snow on your sidewalk and apply a uniform layer, using around a half cup per square yard.
If you have packed snow or thick accumulations of ice, apply directly on the spot as needed. Then simply sweep up and dispose of the melted snow and ice.
Remember that you don’t want to apply too much. Plus, while this ice melt is gentler on natural spaces, you still don’t want to apply it directly to grass, shrubs, or vegetation.
A handheld spreader can help you ensure you’re applying the right amount of ice melt in the correct areas. If you don’t have a spreader, this ice melt pack includes an easy-to-use handheld one.
2. Organic Melt Granular Ice Melt
Organic Melt Granular Ice Melt doesn’t use chemicals like magnesium chloride or calcium chloride to keep sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, entrances, and more clear of ice. Instead, it uses the power of sugar beets.
Yep, that’s right. This deicer does a great job of melting ice and snow by using sugar beet extract. Since it uses sugar beets, it can melt 25% more ice and snow while using less product. It also resists re-freezing, so you can enjoy effective results with fewer applications.
It’s the least corrosive de-icing products available, which makes it people safe and vegetation safe. Plus, it’s non-staining, so it’s safe to use on all surfaces, such as concrete, pavers, and asphalt.
This pet-friendly and eco-friendly ice melt is extremely fast acting and effective in low temperatures all the way down to -22°F.
3. Green Gobbler Pet Safe Ice Melt
You might be familiar with Green Gobbler because they make an excellent natural drain opener that can effectively break through hair, grease, soap, paper, and just about anything else that might be clogging your pipes. But did you know they also make an ice melt?
The Green Gobbler Pet Safe Ice Melt is made in the United States using natural magnesium chloride harvested from the Dead Sea. It uses exothermic heat to melt thick ice and snow and is effective in very cold temperatures as low as -10°F.
While it instantly melts frost, ice, and snow, it’s non-corrosive to pavers and concrete and won’t irritate paws or cause stomach problems. Plus, since it comes in round pellets, it works well with both handheld spreaders and rotary spreaders.
4. Safe Paw Salt-Free Ice Melt
Not only is Safe Paw Salt-Free Ice Melt completely safe to use around pets, but it’s also safe for people, property, and the planet. In fact, you can use this ice melt on stone, concrete, brick, pavers, wood decking, metal ramps, and other outdoor surfaces.
Since it’s salt and chloride free, it’s non-toxic and biodegradable. That also means it won’t harm grass, plants, or foliage on your property or any nearby waterways and wetlands.
It works by pulling frozen water molecules apart and creating a barrier so they can’t reform. The ice melt does this without any type of harmful chemical reaction, making it incredibly safe to use.
It can melt ice at temperatures as low as -2°F, and it has a long shelf life, so you know it will offer the same effective results from season to season.
If you only have a small area to treat, you can get Safe Paw ice melt in a jug with a convenient shaker cap. On the other hand, if you have large areas to cover, you can get a big 35-pound bucket and use a scoop or spreader.
5. Ecos Ice Melt
Ecos Ice Melt is a 100% natural, plant-based, non-toxic, and biodegradable ice melter that’s made in the USA using renewable and cruelty-free ingredients. Since it’s made with magnesium chloride, it’s gentler for skin and paws.
It’s also less corrosive than typical sodium chloride-based products, so it’s safer to use on concrete, wood decking, and lawns. In addition to never being tested on animals, this ice melt is manufactured using zero waste guidelines in plants powered completely by renewable energy.
The best way to use this product is to apply the ice melt pellets before snow or ice has a chance to form. Remove any loose snow or ice, and sprinkle your walkways and driveway evenly with about a half cup per square yard. Then shovel away any resulting slush.
Ecos Ice Melt works fast and can melt ice up to -13°F.
6. Natural Rapport Pet Friendly Ice Melt
Natural Rapport Pet Friendly Ice Melt uses an eco-friendly formula that’s not only safer for your pets and children, but also safer for your carpet and tile floors when little feet or paws track some inside.
The natural ingredients reduce corrosion rates by up to 75% when compared to regular ice melters and rock salt, which makes this ice melt safer to use around concrete, metal, wood, vehicles, and equipment.
It also has a biodegradable formula with soil-supporting compounds that’s less harmful to grass, trees, and other plant life.
The ice melt comes in an easy-to-use bottle with a convenient shaker cap, so you can ensure you’re applying the right amount every time you use it.
Plus, the green-colored crystals won’t clump and make it easy for you to see where you’ve already applied the ice melt.
7. Northern Salt North Pro Nature Sub Zero Deicer
Northern Salt North Pro Nature Sub Zero Deicer uses an eco-friendly de-icing formula that’s 100% chloride free. That makes this deicer safe for concrete, landscape, and vegetation.
It doesn’t rely on the sun for activation, so you can spread it day or night and get immediate results. Yet the cruelty-free ice melt is kid friendly and won’t irritate your pet’s paws.
This ice melt is made and tested in the heart of Minnesota, so you know it can handle those lower temperatures. In fact, this ice melt can eliminate snow and ice in subzero temperatures.
It comes in a convenient jug with an easy-pour lid that locks out moisture yet makes it easy to disperse.
The Best Ice Melt for the Environment and Pets
You don’t have to choose between safely keeping your walkways and driveway clear of ice and protecting the environment. Instead, you can go for the eco-friendly option and select one of these top natural ice melts.
More Helpful Eco-Friendly Tips
Did you enjoy learning about the best eco-friendly ice melt? Interested in even more tips that can help you live a sustainable life? Then please be sure to take a look at some of our other popular posts:
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