One teaspoon of salt is enough to permanently pollute five gallons of water, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Knowing how to salt properly can help keep local streams, rivers, and lakes clean and healthy.
Shovel First
Shoveling early and often during snow storms limits the chances of the snow on the ground turning to ice. Once the storm has passed and you’ve finished shoveling, you can assess how much salt you really need to use, if any.
Know When To Salt
Most salt doesn’t work below 15 degrees. Sand is an alternative when temperatures are too cold.
Know How Much To Use
Experts say there should be 2–3 inches between each grain of salt. Pick up a hand spreader from your local hardware store to make the job easier and more accurate.
Sweep Up Leftover Salt
If there is no ice left on your driveway, sweep up the remaining salt for future use and to keep it from flowing into storm drains.