Hey all, it's almost our favorite time of year here in Michigan (for some of us anyway).

If you're like me and absolutely hate the short gray sky days where it's dark when you wake up and dark when you leave work, the next 6 months can be trying on our mood!  Soon enough, snow will be falling and our driveways will be covered in snow and ice.

When it comes to snow and ice removal and maintenance, we as homeowners have several avenues to seek for getting snow and ice to melt.  The question is:  what's best for my concrete? 

Depending on where you look, there are many answers.  Are all salts the same?  What is an ice melter? This can be overwhelming when going to the store and looking at all the options.

Here are some options you may see at the store:

·  rock salt

·  calcium chloride

·  magnesium chloride

·  sodium chloride

·  pickle juice

·  sugar beet juice

According to the Michigan Concrete association, plain old table salt (sodium chloride) is best for concrete.  In particular, for concrete that has been set for over a year.  While this salt may be great for your concrete, it can pose problems for your grass and plants that this may melt into.  Pets also have particular needs when it comes to this, so if you have pets, seek a pet friendly solution for your walkways or areas they will have access to.

Here's a quick link with more info:

https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/why-you-shouldnt-use-salt-on-concrete/