Storing Ice Melt Pellets

[BikingBrian]

When I was younger, we used metal coffee cans to store sand and/or ice melt pellets.  What do people use nowadays?

[Wildman]

Today, we use plastic coffee cans.  We store our bulk ice stuff in a short metal trash can we bought at Mountain Hardware. 

[Wrightwood]

Old & clean 5 gallon plastic paint bucket

[Wrightwood]

I got a message from someone asking about icy walkways

2 main choices. Rock salt which will ruin things after while but works in a pinch or you can use ice melt. Mountain Hardware sells bags of ice melt. It's not cheap but better than a broken arm.

Another option I've heard is kitty litter or a little sand on top of the ice to help with traction.

Best bet is to buy a bag of ice melt and keep it on hand. I was out this morning spreading it around because it's so darn icy everywhere.

[Hillbillies]

Icy is right!  Don't try using one of your plastic snow shovels out there this morning. 

Ice melt does work well.  I try and use it sparingly on the places where we need it.

[D5]

Still sort of on topic. What is Ice Melt? Chemically I mean. Does it work like salt to change the freeze/thaw point?

[Wrightwood]

Here's information on the last 50lb bag I bought at Mountain Hardware:

http://www.nasalt.com/products/icemelters/safestep.htm

[Wrightwood]

MSDS:
http://www.nasalt.com/msds/Safe%20Step%20Ice%20Melter%20(English).pdf

[ForestGal]

I got Mt. Hardware's "Do It" brand, and it contains KCl (potassium chloride), NaCl (sodium chloride), NH2CONH2 (ammonium something), and C7O6H14 (can't remember my chemistry well enough to know what that is).  I got several small (20-lb. bags), as I can't lift a 50-lb. container.

As for storing it, I just leave it in the bag, and use a coffee can to spread it.  It doesn't clump just sitting there.

[Wrightwood]

The "Do It" brand is the same stuff made as a private label.

[Hillbillies]

Mountain Hardware currently has a pallet of the "Do-it" stuff out in front of the store.  They are the 20 pound bags on sale for only $6.29 each!  Better hurry....

[EJFudd]

Storage of the ice melt pellets is best in a plasic container and in a dry place.

This ice melt pellet stuff is more or less a mixture of rock salt and other salts.  Rock salt is halite or sodium chloride.      The other main component, potassium chloride is chemically similar to sodium chloride.  Both sodium chloride and potassium chloride are hydroscopic (absorb water).  Rock salt is corrosive to rebar and steel and therefore a metal container is not a good choice.

Here is a link that gives so information or ice melting products:

http://www.facilitiesnet.com/ms/article.asp?id=2078

I am not sure why C₇O₆H₁₄ is added.  It may be an anti-clumping agent.
By the way, urea's formula is NH₂CONH₂
and alpha-D-clucopyranoside is C₇O₆H₁₄

[Rojiin]

I would try and use something with mainly potassium chloride as it will not harm plants and such as much as straight salt. just my 

[FunkyGorilla]

is it safe for dogs 

[Hillbillies]

is it safe for dogs 

The "Do-it" brand says safe for pets when used as directed.  I would not store it where a dog or other pet could get to it.  It is harmful if swallowed.

[Surfer_Dude]

is it safe for dogs 

Only use it on them if they are frozen solid.

[FunkyGorilla]

no no no i mean if they eat it is it ok for them?

[ForestGal]

no no no i mean if they eat it is it ok for them?

No, it is NOT ok to eat it.  It contains potassium chloride, which can have serious effects on the heart if consumed inappropriately.  The warning on the bag says "harmful if swallowed".

[liz]

Does anyone know if any of these will not trash the paint on the deck? We are looking at what to do with the deck in front. Every time we paint it, within a year it starts looking bad, but it is pine and there is too much paint to get off and replacing it with cedar or redwood or the new plastic type materials will be expensive.
Thanks,