topic Re: How to break up driveway salt? in Among Friends

How to break up driveway salt?

Mom2Dogs — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 22:07:15 GMT

I cannot seem to break up a bag of driveway salt - any hints. I have tried dropping the bag on the garage floor....scraping it with a garden tool - it won't budge. My drive way is a glare of ice.

Re: How to break up driveway salt?

Kachina624 — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 22:15:49 GMT

@Mom2Dogs. Hammer? Did you just buy it? If so, I'd return it. It has obviously gotten wet and has become a block of salt.

Re: How to break up driveway salt?

Anonymous032819 — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 22:16:37 GMT

Hitting the bag with a hammer or mallet????

Re: How to break up driveway salt?

Mom2Dogs — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 22:19:35 GMT

I tried! It's like a rock - I'll bring the container in the house and maybe warm it up a bit, that might help. To bad it's not like brown sugar and I could add a piece of bread to soften it up!

Re: How to break up driveway salt?

SilleeMee — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 22:53:59 GMT

I would buy another bag. Store it in place where it doesn't freeze (freezing and thawing can cause condensation inside the bag) and keep it inside an airtight container away from sun and moisture. In the meantime you can try this DIY quick thaw:

In a bucket, combine a half-gallon of hot water, about six drops of dish soap, and ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol. Once you pour the homemade ice melt mixture onto your sidewalk or driveway, the snow and ice will begin to bubble up and melt.

Re: How to break up driveway salt?

riley1 — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 22:46:00 GMT

I don't think there is any way to break it up. It seems like it either got wet - either return it if this is how you purchased it or buy a new bag and store it off the floor.

Re: How to break up driveway salt?

Mom2Dogs — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 23:01:10 GMT

@SilleeMee Great tip, thanks!

Re: How to break up driveway salt?

IamMrsG — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 23:33:33 GMT

@Mom2Dogs If it's as cold where you are as it is here (<20º), salt won't do you much good anyway. Besides, saltwater from melting during sunlight hours will just re-freeze overnight. Additionally, it's corrosive.

Although more expensive, magnesium chloride will work in temperatures as cold as -25º and is also less environmentally damaging.

How many days 'til Spring?

Re: How to break up driveway salt?

eddyandme — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 00:12:44 GMT

I only buy pet safe stuff, but assume they're alike: gotta get 'clog free' - if it doesn't say that forget it - it turns to cement and doesn't work.

Re: How to break up driveway salt?

Still Raining — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 02:08:27 GMT

Ladies, my heart breaks for all of you. Don't know how you do it.

Some of my family wonders how I can stand the rain here in Oregon, this is why. No tornadoes or hurricanes either. Just the odd earthquake.

Re: How to break up driveway salt?

Jo1313 — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 13:46:48 GMT

Newbe here..

I have used an electric drill to break off chunks..put the chunks in a plastic pail..then use the drill to break some of the chunks down into smaller pieces..I have done that many times.

Re: How to break up driveway salt?

chrystaltree — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 20:51:06 GMT

Just buy a new bag. It got wet or damp and now it's one frozne block, you can't do anything with it now.