Traction Agent vs Rock Salt Which Is Best?
In winters the most undesirable task is to remove snow in the extremely cold weather outside. Removing snow and giving safe passage to your family and visitors is essential after a snow storm. Fresh snow melts during the daytime and freezes back into an ice layer in the evening. The treacherous icy layer thus formed is very slippery and is the main cause of major slip and fall accidents. Sometimes these accidents can be very dangerous and might cause bone fracture or injury to your head.
Therefore if you’re still struggling to choose the best method to walk on ice without slipping then let’s get some winter lessons on how to walk on ice.
Let’s compare traction agents and rock salt and see which is the best option for you.
Rock Salt
To get rid of ice most people use ice melts like rock salt. When the snow melts, rock salt (sodium chloride) combines with water to form a brine solution that has a lower freezing temperature. It thus prevents the formation of an icy dangerous slippery layer. The benefit of rock salt is that it is a cheaper option to get rid of ice.
But it has its own disadvantages too. Rock salt is a chloride-based salt and is very harmful to your concrete. These chemicals can corrode the concrete and weaken the rooftops. They can also be harmful to kids, pets, and vegetation. They are capable of causing rashes, irritation, and dryness to paws and skin, as well as inflammation and stomach pain when mistakenly ingested. These salt-based compounds tend to accumulate in nearby run-offs and streams and thereby contaminate the water sources too.
On top of this rock salt is an ice melt and takes hours to show some results. But what if you need immediate traction to walk on ice without slipping and that too without damaging your concrete.
Don’t worry. The right product that you need is a Traction Agent.
– Traction Agent
Traction agents provide immediate traction for safe walking on the snow. They don’t melt the snow but gives a sandpaper effect that increases the friction between your foot and the ice surface. Ice becomes slippery due to the presence of excess water on its surface. Good traction agents absorb this excess water and increase traction.
There are different options that you can choose when it comes to traction agents. Let’s have a look at the most commonly used ones.
– Sand or Kitty Litter
You can use sand or kitty litter as a traction agent to add friction and prevent slipping. They do absorb some water but creates a lot of mess. Kitty litter is basically clay granules of varying sizes. Once the ice melts, you are left with sticky lumps of clay that get stick to your shoes and creates a mess everywhere.
Sand also creates a sludge that contaminates the water. Once the ice and snow are gone, an excess of remaining sand can become slick, making sloping surfaces hazardous.
Get ready for winter with Walk On Ice instant traction on snow and ice
– Walk On Ice
Walk on ice is mainly composed of two types of granules. The absorber granules maximize the absorption of the free water on the surface of the ice, and the gripper granules with their spiky structure bury themselves into the ice and create better traction for walking. Walk on Ice provides immediate traction as compared to rock salt. Walk on ice is made of micronutrients. They allow the product to be swept into the lawn or garden for greener grass and a lush garden in the spring.
Apart from being a highly effective product that enables you to walk on ice without slipping, Walk on Ice is 100% environmentally safe, chemical-free, and pet safe. It contains all-natural minerals and chemicals that are completely safe to use around pets, kids, and plants.
FAQs
Other Ice Melt Products
Safe Paw
The Original and the #1 Pet and Child Safe Ice Melt for over 20 years. Guaranteed environmentally safe – will not harm waterways and sensitive wetlands. Safe Paw can change how winter affects our planet.
Safe Thaw
Imagine an ice melt you can put down and never worry about. It won’t harm pets, kids and your property. That’s Safe Thaw. Unlike anything else on the market, Safe Thaw can change how winter affects our planet.
