# What to use for sidewalk ice melt?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-use-for-sidewalk-ice-melt/332700>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 25, 2005, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-use-for-sidewalk-ice-melt/332700 "2005-11-25T17:17:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-use-for-sidewalk-ice-melt/332700/21 "2005-11-27T15:14:49Z")

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> [@Musicat](#):
>
> I don’t think so, but she does have her priorities, and they may be different from yours.

Fair enough. In any event, I apologize for referring to your boss as an idiot. It’s apparent that this came across as inflammatory. This is why I always preview my posts, and attempt to tone down any comments that seem out of line upon previewing. Stupid “submit” button!  
:smack:

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-use-for-sidewalk-ice-melt/332700/22 "2005-11-27T16:40:37Z")

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> [@robby](#):
>
> Water softener pellets are just sodium chloride, or less frequently, potassium chloride. Besides being less effective than calcium chloride, they are generally made of fairly large marble-sized pellets, so you end up using way more than is necessary. Such large pellets are also not the best thing to put down on a walking surface.

Thanks for the lecture. 😉 I wasn’t suggesting they be used, just making a comment.

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**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-use-for-sidewalk-ice-melt/332700/23 "2005-11-27T22:39:19Z")

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[Molasses?](http://www.ketv.com/news/5402986/detail.html)

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