Pre-Season Preparedness: Ice-Melts

As we officially say goodbye to summer and hello to autumn, it’s time to take stock of your ice melt and ensure it is in peak condition. When it comes to ensuring the safety of your clients and employees, you want to be sure as the temperature shifts, you are prepared when winter comes calling.

Did you know that annual compensation and medical costs associated with slip-and-fall accidents are approximately $70 billion annually (National Safety Council Injury Facts). Checking your existing stock of ice melt now, as the retail stores are pulling out their holiday decorations, is a great way to proactively reduce risks and utilize ice melts their maximum effectiveness.

Below are a few things to take into consideration from purchase to application of ice melt. Read on to find out how best to store, utilize, and clean up after the storm:

1. Store your ice melt off the floor, on a pallet. This will ensure that no moisture gets into the product from concrete and cause clumping, rendering the product unusable.

2. Nearly all deicers are made from one, or a blend of, five materials; calcium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, and urea. What makes these products distinctive is how rapidly they work and at what temperatures. This is determined by whether the deicer releases or absorbs heat upon contact with snow and ice.

3. Follow the application directions on your ice melt. Often they are manufactured by different companies and the information regarding temperature- distribution-storage and clean-up is specific to that brand.

4. As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Pre-application works best if you know of a storm or adverse weather conditions are coming in advance. Pre-apply and allow the product to stay on walkways, driveways, and other areas that need to be de-iced.

5. To reduce tracking on your floors during the harsh weather, pre-spray your entrance and interior mats lightly with a Hydrogen Peroxide base product. Make sure to follow the guidelines on the product and use it lightly. This will reduce the white tracking marks left on your clean floors. Using a Hydrogen Peroxide cleaning product on your matting and mopping will neutralize the ice melt and salt.

6. Never vacuum the ice melt or salt up with a vacuum. Over time, the moisture will destroy the vacuum. Utilize a wet/dry vac or a standard broom and dustpan which will assure damage-free equipment and clean-up.

7. For clean-up of excess ice melt or salt on your sidewalks, read the instructions on the product. Generally, the guidelines are to sweep the excess or rinse it when temps are above freezing and will remain that way, to eliminate chances of further sidewalk hazards.

Ready to stock up? Have questions on which product is best for you? We’re here with solutions. Contact us today!

Focused on you,

Weiss Bros.