Snow might be beautiful while it's falling, but it can be downright dangerous when you walk on it. It often melts and then refreezes, which leaves a barely noticeable but incredibly slippery layer of ice on your walkway and driveway. If you have ever slipped and fallen on an icy sidewalk, then you understand the importance of making your walkway less slippery in the winter.
Use salt on your walkways when they are icy or if they may turn to ice. Add sand or even kitty litter on top of your paths to add traction. Sweep away debris before a storm and fix large cracks and uneven sections of sidewalk to mitigate hazards. Ensure you have ample lighting at night, and use mats or outdoor rugs to make your stairs and entryway safer.
An icy sidewalk or driveway can cause serious injury, and can also put your vehicles at risk. The last thing you want is a broken bone when walking to your car in the morning. To ensure you are never injured while walking in and out of your home throughout the winter, follow the list of tips below.
13 Ways To Make Your Walkways Safer And Less Slippery
1. Salt Your Concrete Walkways When Ice Is Likely
One of the best ways to keep your driveway free of ice, and in turn much safer, is to use salt or ice melt. Salt works particularly well on concrete walkways, as it melts the ice layer above, allowing you to walk safely on the easy-to-traverse concrete.
You can sprinkle salt or ice melt before a storm, but it’s usually best to add it after you have shoveled. After some snow melts and then the temperatures drop, ice can form. This is when you want to add salt or ice melt, as it will break up the ice so you can shovel it away. Keep in mind, using too much ice melt or salt can damage concrete.
2. Use Sand Before And After Shoveling To Add Traction
Even when you do a fantastic job shoveling, it’s still possible to have slippery surfaces. Even a small amount of moisture can make your walkways very slippery when temperatures dip below freezing. This is where sand, gravel, or even kitty litter comes in handy.
Sand, gravel, or kitty litter add a layer of traction between your shoes and the slippery ground. This helps make your walkways safer, even when the sidewalk below is more slippery than normal.
3. Shovel Early And Often
Shoveling snow might not be the most fun winter chore, but it’s essential for your safety. If you want to ensure your walkways are safe and less slippery, you must shovel early and often.
Shovel as soon as it stops snowing, as this ensures snow won’t freeze or become compacted. When this happens, it’s harder to remove all the snow, and small compacted patches may be left over. After snow plows go by, or snow blows onto your walkways, you must return with your shovel to clean up the slippery mess.
4. Apply A Sealant To Driveway And Sidewalks
Adding a sealant to your driveway and your sidewalks is a great way to add an extra barrier between your walkways and slippery conditions. A sealant prevents moisture from absorbing into the material, which creates a barrier for icy conditions.
When adding sealant, you can even include a gritty substance like sand to the sealant to make the surface even safer in the slippery winter conditions.
5. Incorporate Outdoor Rugs On Steps And Near Entrance
If you are experiencing a particularly rough and icy cold snap, you may want to lay down additional rugs on highly trafficked outdoor areas. Your front steps and a walkway between your house and your car can benefit from outdoor rugs.
Outdoor rugs will help remove moisture from the bottom of your shoes, and act as a safe barrier between your feet and the slippery ground.
6. Keep An Eye On The Overnight Temperatures
Ground conditions become significantly more dangerous when temperatures dip well below freezing, especially after a snow melt. Keep an eye on overnight weather conditions and prepare accordingly.
If it looks like ice may form on your walkways, make sure you remove as much slush and water as possible before nightfall and then add sand, salt, or both.
7. Repair Large Cracks And Uneven Sections Of Your Walkways
Ice isn’t the only hazard that can cause you to slip and fall in the winter. Large cracks and uneven sections of sidewalk can be equally dangerous in the winter. In the warmer months, it's easy to spot imperfections in a walkway, but with a thin layer of snow, it’s almost impossible to notice gaps and uneven terrain.
Take the time in the fall to fix any gaps or uneven sections of the sidewalk. This will go a long way in making your walkways safer in the winter.
8. Sweep And Rake Away Leaves And Debris Before Storms
Twigs, leaves, and branches should all be raked away in the fall. Sometimes, however, additional leaves and branches fall in the winter. You must sweep or rake this debris off your sidewalk before it snows.
Not only does this additional debris make it harder to shovel, but it can also make your walkways more slippery.
9. Check Your Walkways Regularly For Ice
One of the best ways to keep your walkways safe and less slippery is to check on them each morning and evening. Snow banks can fall into your driveway, and ice can form in a matter of minutes on your sidewalk.
Check your walkways each morning for ice patches, and address them with sand, salt, and shovel the area as needed.
10. Roll Out Rubber Mats In Particularly Icy Areas
If there is a particularly hazardous section of your walkway, either on a hill or in a low-lying area where water and ice collect, then you may want to use rubber mats. Rubber mats are another great added protective layer that significantly reduces the likelihood of slipping on ice. Furthermore, rubber is easy to clean, dry, and then store afterwards.
11. Ensure You Have Ample Outdoor Lighting
Another way to make your walkways less slippery this winter is to shed light on the problem. It might not be possible to eliminate ice from your walkways, but it’s possible to make the remaining ice visible.
Ample outdoor lighting at night is a great way to make your walkways safer at night. It makes it much easier to navigate around slippery areas and stay on a safer path.
12. Add Railings Wherever There Are Steps Or An Incline
If you have a walkway leading to your home that has a sharp incline or lots of steps, then you may consider investing in a railing. Railings make it possible to shift some of your weight, as well as add increased stability when the ground is slippery.
Navigating a hill can be challenging and even dangerous after a snowstorm. Adding a railing makes this journey easier and much safer.
13. Always Wear Proper Footwear
Lastly, if you want to decrease how slippery your sidewalks feel when you walk on them, you must always wear winterized footwear with plenty of tread and grip. Never run outside in your slippers or running shoes to start your car, as tempting as this may be.
Dressing in boots designed for the hard and slippery winter conditions is a great way to keep yourself safe when walking on slippery winter walkways.
Wrapping Up Making Your Walkways Less Slippery In The Winter
Walking on sidewalks and driveways in the winter, especially after a snowstorm, can be slippery and dangerous. If you have fallen on ice before, you understand the pain associated with this. You also know how important it is to prevent these slips from happening.
To make your walkways less slippery this winter, use salt or ice melt to melt layers of ice, and sprinkle sand, gravel, or kitty litter to add traction. You can place outdoor rugs or rubber mats in particularly slippery and highly trafficked areas near your front door. Consider sealing your driveway and walkways, and ensure you shovel and inspect your walkways regularly to help prevent ice patches from forming.
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