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Last minute company coming and you have a icy sidewalk? A fast way to make it not slippery is to use cat litter or fireplace ash if you have a fireplace. Just spread either along the sidewalk and your guests will have better traction.
By Sam N. from Tacoma, WA
Every year, I replace the sand in my daughter's turtle sand box because it gets leaves and pine needles from the yard, but I thought there should be something else I can use this sand for. Then I thought, in late October in Maine it is beginning to get cold and we are all stocking up on salt for icy driveways and walk ways. I started mixing half salt and half sandbox sand in the big kitty litter buckets.
Sprinkle on with a cup when needed and this has been working great got us. 2 bags of sand at the beginning of spring, a summer of fun for a 4 year old, then safe walking during the winter for our family. Boy I guess I got my money's worth for that sand.If your sidewalk or driveway are ice and the sand keeps blowing off, try wetting the sand in a bucket with just enough water to moisten then put down. The sand won't blow away and you've got traction!
Try using cracked feed corn on slippery sidewalks instead of salt. It doesn't damage your lawns and it provides food for the birds. It's very reasonably price, too, about seven dollars for fifty pounds at any feed store.
When dealing with ice or any type of slippery areas, just remember rubber bands. Take some rubber bands and place them around your shoes from the toes to the heels. Just make sure they're snug but not cutting off circulation.
Birdseed is a green alternative to salting your stairs and walkways to prevent slipping on ice. This is a page about using bird seed to prevent slipping on ice.
