Get out the shovels and snowblowers! Most of Minnesota received 6-12 inches of snow in the past week, which means the season of snow removal from our roads, driveways and sidewalks is here.

To make the roads and sidewalks safer, we usually use some form of road salt and/or gravel. When salt is applied to ice and snow it creates a brine that has a lower freezing temperature than the surrounding ice or snow. Salt is good for de-icing because it is readily available, inexpensive, easy to spread. Salt is also necessary for winter travel in Minnesota. [Read more…]