How do I keep outdoor steps from icing over?

The steps stay clear when you take the snow off early and treat only what is left. Ice on steps is usually packed snow or melt that refreezes, so the best defence is removing snow before it is walked flat, then putting down a thin layer of de-icer or sand on the bare surface. The rest of this page covers the order to do it in, which product to pick, and how to keep your steps, concrete and plants from paying for it.

Remove the snow first

Salt melts ice; it is not a substitute for a shovel. University of Minnesota Extension advises that you shovel, scrape and sweep snow often to remove as much snow as possible to prevent ice buildup.^[1] It also says: "Do not apply deicers to snow. Remove the snow first."^[1] Product poured onto a snow layer gets used up melting snow you could have lifted off in a minute, and what is left refreezes.

On steps, work from the top down so you are not stepping on cleared treads, and scrape each tread and riser edge down to the surface. Begin early, while the snow is light. Orthopaedic surgeons recommend wearing shoes or boots that have slip-resistant soles, and if you have a medical condition or do not exercise regularly, speaking with your doctor before shoveling.^[6]

Pick the right treatment

De-icer. Deicing salts are applied onto icy surfaces and reduce the melting point of water from 20°F to -30°F depending on the formulation.^[1] The City of Richmond notes that salt and chemicals can speed up the melting process when the temperatures are above 20 degrees.^[3] In a deep freeze, a de-icer may sit there doing little.

Sand. Sand can increase traction on icy surfaces, but does not melt or remove ice.^[1] That makes it a fair choice on very cold days, when you want grip and not melting. Sweep it up when the ice is gone so it does not wash into drains.

What to avoid on new concrete. The Town of Berryville notes that concrete has a curing period of approximately a year, and that treating with salt and other deicers can lead to chips and cracks, discoloration, and surface weakening.^[5] For new steps it suggests alternatives such as sand, sawdust, clean kitty litter, and birdseed, which do not melt the ice but improve traction.^[5] Older concrete is not immune either, so keep the dose modest.

Use less than you think

More is not better. University of Minnesota Extension says a coffee mug of salt (about 12 oz.) is all that is needed for about 1,000 sq. ft., and to spread it evenly, leaving about 3 inches between salt grains.^[1] A set of steps is a tiny fraction of that area, so a small handful, thrown by hand in a sweeping arc, is plenty. Avoid spilling piles.

Afterwards, sweep up any salt grains you see on dry surfaces to prevent them from washing or blowing into plants and waterways, and save them to reapply later in the season.^[1]

Protect the plants and lawn beside the steps

Salt can be absorbed by plant roots, causing dehydration.^[1] Do not pile salty shoveled snow where it will melt onto shrubs: the same advice is to avoid depositing snow onto nearby shrubs, as it may contain salts or break branches.^[1] To cut the total salt, Virginia Cooperative Extension suggests using a 50/50 mix of sand and granule or pellet de-icing product, and calcium, potassium, or magnesium products instead of sodium-based products.^[2]

Watch for refreezing

Even small accumulations of ice can be extremely dangerous to motorists and pedestrians, the National Weather Service warns, and black ice is most prevalent during the early morning hours.^[4] A step that was wet at 5 p.m. can be a skating surface at 6 a.m. Sweep meltwater off the treads before dark, and recheck at dawn on any day that started below freezing.

Water that keeps coming back is a hint that something upstream is wrong. A downspout that empties onto the steps or a low spot on a landing can keep re-icing a spot no matter how much you treat it. Redirecting a downspout with a simple extension is a small fix; changing the slope of a concrete step is not.

Stop and call a pro if

• The steps are crumbling, cracked or loose. Salt will not fix them, and a damaged tread is a trip hazard even in summer. A mason or concrete contractor can assess the repair.
• Water seeps from the same spot every day. A leak or poor drainage is feeding the ice and needs diagnosis; see salting and de-icing services.
• You cannot safely do it yourself. If a medical condition makes shoveling a risk, or the steps are steep and unrailed, hire someone to handle them; see what walkway clearing costs.
• There is ice on the roof edge above the steps. That is roof work, not a job for a shovel from a ladder; see roof snow and ice dam services.

Getting help in Virginia

For more on choosing a product, read which ice melt is safe for concrete. To prepare before a storm, see getting your driveway ready before a snowstorm, or browse snow and seasonal answers and walkway clearing services.

When you would rather not do it, describe the job once and local businesses quote it.