Organic Ways to De-Ice a Driveway

Shovel

• Prevention is sometimes the best cure. Shoveling your driveway as soon as possible after the snow stops falling is one way to prevent driveway ice and refrain from using harmful chemicals.

Sand

• Sand will increase traction in your icy driveway. It will not melt the ice, but will make the area a bit safer to traverse until it goes away.

Birdseed

• Like sand, birdseed increases traction. Purchase organic birdseed at a pet supply store to ensure you're not placing any unsafe ingredients on your driveway ice, which might harm the children, pets and plants that come into contact with it.

Gravel

• Gravel also increases traction, and may create less of a mess than sand or birdseed when the weather warms up. The tiny rocks should be easily shoveled away when the ice melts.

Kitty Litter

• Kitty litter comes in many forms. To ensure your de-icing is organic, check the kitty litter label for organic, biodegradable and natural ingredients. Cat litter is another way to increase traction over ice. It may, however, make for a messy cleanup when the temperature rises.

Calcium Magnesium Acetate

• CMA will melt driveway ice, but only to temperatures just below freezing. CMA is a greener alternative to salt, since the mixture is both biodegradable and salt-free.

Potassium Acetate

• Another ice melter, potassium acetate has the benefit of being biodegradable, non-corrosive and non-toxic, and is an effective alternative to salt. If you use potassium acetate in extreme cold, however, it's unlikely to work.