Keep Your Stone Safe From Chemical De-Icers

Now that the winter is here, there’s a chance that ice will develop on the stone outside your home during especially cold nights. You’ll want to get rid of this ice as it is a real safety hazard. However, you may want to avoid using chemical de-icers.

Commercial de-icers usually contain variations of salt that help melt ice off of your stone. The thing is, the chemicals in these de-icers will create a salty brine once the ice is melted that can harm household pets, wildlife and fish. They can also cause damage to your outdoor surfaces made corroding brick, concrete and stone. If anyone steps in this salt, it can also damage carpets and wood floors if tracked inside.

To avoid these issues, look at the ingredients of the de-icer you are buying. Avoid anything with sodium chloride, which is harsh on the environment and isn’t effective at temperatures lower than 15 degrees. Instead, look for de-icers that contain calcium chloride or calcium magnesium acetate, which is a salt-free product.

Be careful when you choose a commercial de-icer this winter.