Ice build-up is a real problem during the wintertime. When ice builds up on your sidewalks and your driveways, it can become hazardous and can increase the chance of slips and falls. While it can be a hassle to deal with the ice build-up on sidewalks and driveways, decreasing this build-up is paramount for your safety. Here are some of the best ways to decrease ice build-up on your sidewalks and driveways to prevent injuries from falling.

 

Use Your Muscles to Get Rid of Ice and Snow

Sometimes there’s just no substitute for good, old-fashioned muscle. If you see ice and snow building up on your sidewalks and driveways, take a shovel, dress warmly and then manually shovel the snow away. The key to decreasing the inevitable build-up of ice after snowfall is to quickly shovel the snow away. If you let the snow just sit there, it will partially melt in the daytime, but then refreeze during the night when the temperatures are so much colder.

 

Use an Electric Snow Blower

If you’re incapable of shoveling snow for whatever reason, then you can always fall back on an electric snow blower to decrease ice build-up. Utilizing an electric snow blower beats relying on a gas-powered snow blower. While you will be using up electricity, you at least won’t be utilizing a machine that contributes to air and noise pollution. Remember, removing the snow shortly after it falls ensures that the snow can’t partially melt, refreeze overnight and then turn into ice build-up the next day.

 

Have You Ever Tried Coffee Grounds?

This is something of a folk-remedy approach to decreasing the ice build-up on your sidewalks and driveways, but it works! You’ve probably heard of sprinkling salt on the ground for traction and footing purposes. Spreading coffee grounds on the sidewalk after freshly fallen snow works in the same way. It will give you solid traction as you attempt to remove the snow by either shoveling it manually or using a snow blower on it.

 

Give Ice Clear a Try

Ice Clear is a product that will effectively decrease the ice build-up on your sidewalks and driveways. Another great thing about it is that it is 100 percent biodegradable and organic, without any corrosive salts or toxic materials. In other words, it’s environmentally friendly. The way it works is that it stops ice from bonding to either the sidewalk or the driveway, thereby making the removal of ice and snow more efficient. You can be preemptive by applying Ice Clear prior to a winter storm, so that ice doesn’t bond to the surface of the walkways. Alternately, you can apply Ice Clear after snow falls to melt ice and snow.

 

These are the four best ways to decrease ice build-up on both your sidewalks and driveways. There are many ways at your disposal for the removal of ice build-up. It’s always a good idea to decrease any ice build-up because it will be a hazard for you and your family that can potentially result in injuries.

 

If you have been injured because of another person’s failure to remove snow and ice on their property, contact a legal professional to review your case.  David Resnick & Associates, PC is a slip and fall law firm with experienced attorneys working for New York communities.  For more information about slip and fall accidents, visit the website at www.NYC-SlipAndFall.com.