Wally Wise Guy's Wise Words of the Week: Melting Snow May Form Ice, Salt Your Sidewalk

The Philadelphia Department of Streets recommends the following salting tips:

• Any commercial de-icer is acceptable for salting your sidewalk or driveway.
• Salt should be applied as soon as a light accumulation has developed on the surface. This will break the bond between subsequent accumulations and the pavement, thereby making it easier to shovel. A final light application may be required after removal to melt the remaining residual snow.
• During a sleet or freezing rain storm, de-icing of sidewalks and driveways will require multiple applications as dictated by the actual conditions.
• Be conscious of the environment. Use de-icing salts sparingly. One pound can be used to cover 100 to 200 square feet. For example, 30 to 60 feet of sidewalk with a width of three feet can be treated at this rate. The material can be spread manually or with the help of simple equipment such as lawn seed and fertilizer spreaders. If spreaders are used, they should be rinsed out once the application is completed.
• Kitty litter can also be used to generate temporary traction.