Photo: Suzanne Tucker (Shutterstock)
Black ice is a thin, barely visible layer of ice that often masquerades as water and can really ruin your day if you come across some unexpectedly. It usually shows up when there’s moisture in the air and the temperature drops below freezing quickly, creating an ice slick across the coldest surfaces. While black ice is a menace, it can be both avoided and dealt with when it does form.
How to prevent black ice from forming
Keeping an eye on the temperature outside is the first step to keeping black ice in check. If the temperature will be above freezing by the time you need to use your walks or driveway, you might not need to de-ice at all—you can just wait for the sun to do the work. As long as the surfaces you’re concerned about warm up above 32 degrees, you shouldn’t need to worry.
One way to proactively keep black ice at bay is to shovel regularly to prevent melting snow from running onto surfaces and refreezing. Of course, melting snow isn’t the only source of water, so this method isn’t foolproof: You can also pre-treat your driveways and walkways with a liquid ice-melting product or you can use a granulated product like magnesium chloride to pre-treat, which will cut down on the amount of ice that can form overnight (and result in less work for you in the morning). Although rock salt is a common pre-treatment for ice and snow, it’s not a good idea to use it on concrete because it can degrade the surface. You should also never let pets lick the treated surface, and rinse their paws off after they’ve been walking on it. While these products are safer than other de-icing chemicals, they’re still not good for pets to ingest.
How to get rid of black ice
If you miss your window to pre-treat, you can use magnesium chloride after the ice has formed to melt it, as well. If it’s difficult to get around to spread the de-icer, spread down some cat litter, sand, or sawdust to add traction so you can walk more safely. (Those materials can also be useful to get a vehicle unstuck if there is ice behind the tires.)
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To make shoveling and spreading your deicer easier, choose some snap-on ice soles for your shoes or boots, which are designed to be anti-slip. This method of gaining traction has the added advantage of not leaving any material or chemicals on the ground, so it can be a great option for people with pets or small children. The downside is that the soles won’t actually melt the ice—and no non-slip sole is foolproof.
If you live in an area where ice is a common problem, you can also consider using a de-icing system that uses heat to melt the ice off of your walkways and drive. Heated grids or mats can bring the surface temperature of your icy area up. While this is useful for limited areas, it isn’t practical for larger applications because of the sheer amount of material you would need to cover the ground. It’s a great solution for front door or garage door access, though, especially if ice is a regular occurrence in your area during winter.
