To clear snow or not to clear, that is the question?

[selfraising]

OH is intent on clearing the snow from our pavement but I'm not sure if he will make things worse by making it more slippery. What are other peoples views?

[SarzWix]

Clear it - it will be less slippy than compacted snow, which, incidentally is harder to clear than it is soft. If you vave an open fire/stove, sprinkle some 'clinkers'/cinders over the cleared bit. Or some gravel if you have any, anything a bit gritty will help to stop ice-rink conditions forming

To anyone thinking of spreading table salt all over the pavement, please don't - my poor dog was in agony yesterday after walking over a patch liberally covered with the stuff

[di]

Also,please don't clear your drive putting the mountain of snow by the side of the road....a chap down the road from us does that and weeks after the rest of it's melted,making driving safer his mountain remains blocking half the road.

[Snadger]

Clear it - it will be less slippy than compacted snow, which, incidentally is harder to clear than it is soft. If you vave an open fire/stove, sprinkle some 'clinkers'/cinders over the cleared bit. Or some gravel if you have any, anything a bit gritty will help to stop ice-rink conditions forming

To anyone thinking of spreading table salt all over the pavement, please don't - my poor dog was in agony yesterday after walking over a patch liberally covered with the stuff

I know salt can be painful in a cut but ultimately it helps seal the wound? Rocksalt, as used by the council would have been even more painful.

Did the dog have sore paws to begin with?

[Dottie]

I cleared my pathway yesterday while the snow was still soft, and this morning it was still clear, so I was able to go out and feed the birds and clear the ice of the fish pond.

I didn't have the energy left to clear all the ground around my car, but as that will be hard icy snow now, then it will be difficult to shift. No one on the Close is driving, so getting off the Close is risky.

As soon as you come off the Close to a road, then the road is clear. Just a deathtrap to actually leave the Close. I'm not needing to get out and about, but if I did, I think it would be easier to park on road while the snow and ice is about.

I shall contact the Council next year, to see if we can have a salt bin on the Close. Too late to get 1 for this winter, but it will be worth sorting things out for next winter.

[chris]

Everyone up my road has cleared our road, proper community spirit... really unexpected.

[lindypop]

clear it! especially if you live at the bottom of my road!!! we had knee high snow fall yesterday, all in one day. we at the top cant get out, til the bottom gets cleared- but in fact, the eople at the bottom are very good at clearing thier end- no complaints there.

ie dogs paws- when i worked as a kennel assistant/ dog carer, we always washed the paws in a warm water after a walk after gritting or salt. it helps ... but best to stay on unsalted areas if possible. or you could get some cheap doggie-boots off ebay

[Two_Sheds]

I'm salting our path for the postman, but that's it. It's pointless to keep clearing the road round the car

[selfraising]

Darn it looks like I'm going to have to concede that OH is right! I guess I was thinking that once snow is cleared black ice is more likely to form. I have a weak ankle through torn ligaments and thought I would at least see and be aware of the snow whereas black ice...not so sure

[Glutton4...]

I only clean it from where I need to. Like my car lights and windows, and the Chickens' and Horses' water. Yes, I do moan when it's all gone, and I'm left with ice where I've been walking, but it blows about here so much, I don't see the point.

My Dad has spent the morning clearing a 2' wide path to and from places he wants to get. But has left the snow at the side. One puff of wind, and it was a total waste of time, and it will be slippery as hell later!

[PAULW]

I'm salting our path for the postman, but that's it. It's pointless to keep clearing the road round the car

I would but our postman is so slow there is a danger of him turning into a ball of slime.

[bubblewrap]

We still have no snow.

[Hilary B]

It really depends exactly what it is like where you are. If you clear, and it then freezes, I reckon frozen 'remnants' tend to be more slippery than frozen 'fresh' snow, but if it gets compacted, the only difference is how much there is.
Salt shouldn't cause problems unless the quantity is excessive surely? The less snow you have left, the less salt it takes to keep it from freezing hard. We have used rocksalt on our path (unavoidable) and the dog shows no signs of distress.

[SueA]

I tend to leave it as I'm worried about ice forming too & it's easier to walk on fluffy snow but then I do have to hack at it with a spade if it turns colder & freezes into chunks of compacted ice like it did earlier this year so I suppose you take your chance either way.

[SarzWix]

This woman had a massive bag of table salt, and had cover her entire section of pavement AND road with it, from wall to wall. There was no way round it. And if the dog has been walking on snow frozen to ice, then they're more likely to have little tiny cuts in their pads/feet. I usually manage to keep her off the council grit, except for crossing the road, but there was no way of avoiding this stuff 3 steps later and she was walking on 3 legs and practically falling over trying to lift another one up. Had to stop, clean her feet off with my gloves, then clean snow before she could walk again.

Much more to the point than salt is having something gritty which helps to break any ice that forms, seeing as salt is ineffective anyway below -5c.