How to Keep Ice Off a Porch
- 1). Sprinkle magnesium chloride lightly but evenly on the porch when a storm is expected to prevent ice formation. Or cover the porch, particularly if it's small, with a waterproof material.
- 2). Sweep or shovel off snow often to keep the porch clear and prevent the snow from compacting and turning into ice.
- 3). Chip at any ice that forms with the tip of a shovel to break it up. Shovel the broken pieces of ice off the porch to prevent them from refreezing.
- 4). Pour warm water over the porch to melt thin layers of ice that won't break up easily. Shovel the melted ice off the porch.
- 5). Sprinkle magnesium chloride over any icy areas that won't break up with a shovel or melt with warm water. Shovel off the ice after it starts to melt.
