3 Easy Ways To Get Instant Traction On Icy Surface
Winter months are beautiful, but they can be dangerous too. When the white snow on your driveway turns into a treacherous layer of ice, it becomes difficult to walk on ice. It can lead to serious slip and fall accidents. As a house or business owner, It’s your responsibility to provide safe access to your driveway during the snowy winters for your family and visitors.
Most of the time, we use salt or ice melt to get rid of the snow. But ice melt does not serve the need for people to cross the icy or snowy surface immediately. One million Americans are injured every year. Nearly 600,000 are hospitalized every year due to falls on ice. In such cases, a traction agent works better than an ice melt or salt.
Using a traction agent doesn’t help in melting the ice, but it increases the traction and prevents the chances of slip and fall accidents.
In this article, we will discuss quick ways to get instant traction on an icy surface. Let’s get started-
1- Organic Items
If you want to walk on ice immediately, you can use organic traction items like sand, wood shavings, sawdust, and kitty litter. Organic tractions agents are less harmful and cost-efficient as compared to salts, but they are also not that effective in making the surface non-slippery.
These items have an abrasive quality which makes them an anti-slip traction agent. Excessive amounts of sand and sawdust can accumulate in drains and drainage areas. It’s critical to sweep them up after storms, or you’ll have problems in the spring.
Moreover, using organic traction agents helps, but you may not want to clean the mess they make. Post melting of the ice, they may stick to the bottom of your shoes and create a mess.
2- Natural Traction Agents
The solution lies in using natural traction agents.
As a house or business owner, you need to be more cautious about the compounds you use on your driveway, walkways, parking lot, and backyards. Since these natural traction agents are free from salts and chemicals, they provide you instant traction without damaging your property.
These agents create a solid layer on a surface to provide better footing for traction on snow. Firstly, they absorb excess water that makes ice less slippery. Then, the gripper granules dig into the ice and create a dry, non-slippery layer.
3- Snow Melting Mats
Another option that you can explore is using a snow melting mat. Simply place a large size mat on your driveway, plug it in, and it will start melting the snow. The mat contains a heating element that is placed between two layers of durable non-slip rubber. Snow melting mats reduce your snow-removal efforts significantly.
Although you may get the traction on your driveway, these mats are expensive and heavy on your electricity bill too. Moreover, the mats have a limited life, like any other equipment that is subject to regular wear and tear. Moreover, if you want to access any other icy surface, you may still need non-slip walk-on-ice boots.
Therefore, you must choose a solution that can provide you traction anywhere, anytime, and that does not harm your surroundings too.
4. Best Kitty Litter for Ice Traction
Kitty litter is a popular backup option, but not all types perform the same way. The best kitty litter for ice traction tends to be the coarse, non-clumping kind. It provides a gritty surface that helps shoes and tires grab better. The downside? It can turn messy fast, sticking to shoes and paws and leaving a trail into your home. It’s handy in a pinch, but it doesn’t give the clean, instant grip that a traction agent provides.
There’s also the issue of cleanup. After the ice melts, the litter gets tracked indoors or scattered across the driveway, creating an extra chore. So while kitty litter might be useful in a pinch, it’s better viewed as a stopgap rather than a reliable, long-term solution.
5. Does Sand Work on Ice?
Sand is another popular choice, and the question often comes up: does sand work on ice the way people think? The answer is yes, but with limitations. Sand does not melt ice or make it less slippery — it simply increases friction for as long as it stays in place. The trouble is, sand scatters easily, either from wind, snow blowers, or the movement of people and cars. That means you may find yourself reapplying it constantly.
Another factor to consider is the cleanup. By springtime, all that sand can end up clogging drains, coating lawns, or creating muddy, messy patches. Municipalities often have to sweep up leftover sand from roadways for this exact reason. For homeowners, it’s a trade-off: inexpensive and readily available, but time-consuming and messy in the long run. If you need a quick, budget-friendly fix, sand works — but for convenience and effectiveness, specialized traction agents do a much better job.
6. Cleats for Walking on Ice
Even with the best driveway prep and traction products, some days are simply too slick to risk walking without backup. That’s when cleats for walking on ice make sense. These strap-on grips attach to your regular shoes, giving you a set of spikes or textured rubber grips that bite directly into the ice. They’re especially helpful for older adults, delivery workers, or anyone who needs to be outside frequently in winter.
The one catch is remembering to remove them indoors. The same spikes that help you outdoors can scratch floors or become a slipping hazard on tile and wood surfaces. Still, cleats are an excellent layer of defense in your winter safety toolkit. Pairing them with a reliable traction agent on your driveway or steps ensures you’re covered both for your environment and your personal footing.
Get ready for winter with Walk On Ice instant traction on snow and ice
How to Make Stairs Less Slippery for Dogs
Driveways and sidewalks aren’t the only hazard zones in winter. Steps, particularly wooden ones, can be treacherous, and pets are especially at risk. Owners often ask: how to make stairs less slippery for dogs during icy months? One of the simplest fixes is installing rubber stair mats or textured anti-slip treads. These create a reliable grip for both humans and pets.
Another solution is to regularly clear snow before it compacts into a dangerous icy sheet. When paired with a pet-safe traction agent, this routine makes a huge difference. Unlike chloride salts that can burn paws and irritate skin, products like Walk On Ice are chloride-free and safe for animals. For dogs, that means no paw irritation, no residue that gets licked off later, and a much safer walk outdoors. Keeping your stairs secure isn’t just about convenience — it’s about ensuring every family member, furry ones included, can move around without injury.
Beyond Driveways: Hidden Danger Zones
It’s easy to focus only on driveways, but slippery conditions creep up in other places too. Mailbox paths, garbage bin areas, and even patio steps can be just as dangerous. These small areas are often forgotten until someone takes a fall. Keeping a canister of Walk On Ice handy means you can treat those hidden zones in seconds without hauling out heavy bags of sand or litter.
Another overlooked issue is vehicle access. Driveways that look clear may still hide black ice patches, and tires spin helplessly without traction. A sprinkle of Walk On Ice under the tires provides immediate grip, helping you pull out safely without the mess of sand or kitty litter grinding into the pavement.
Conclusion
So while the original three fixes — organic items, natural traction agents, and snow mats — are a strong foundation, winter safety often comes down to the small details. Choosing the best kitty litter for ice traction (if you must), knowing whether sand works on ice, figuring out how to make stairs less slippery for dogs, and even strapping on cleats for walking on ice all contribute to keeping you, your family, and your pets safe.
The truth is, no single method solves every problem. Kitty litter and sand may work in emergencies, but they bring mess and constant reapplication. Cleats add personal protection but aren’t practical indoors. And stairs, especially for dogs, need dedicated care to stay safe. That’s why traction agents like Walk On Ice remain such a smart option — clean, instant, portable, and safe for everyone.
Winter will always bring icy challenges, but with the right combination of tools and habits, you can shift from reacting to preventing. A few thoughtful choices today make all the difference in avoiding slips tomorrow. Stay prepared, stay safe, and let winter be a season of beauty, not bruises.
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