How to Melt Snow from Driveways Without Harming Them

Decide which de-icing product you want to use. For example, rock salt melts snow and ice, but once temperatures drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, they don't work. They also pollute waterways with chloride and are harmful to plants. Calcium chloride is another de-icing product and works to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, but it damages concrete and promotes the growth of algae in waterways. Magnesium chlorate works to minus 13 degrees and uses less chloride than other products and is therefore safer for the nearby plants and waterways.

Apply the de-icing product carefully as indicated on the label. Wear gloves, especially if you are working with calcium chloride. Do not apply more than as indicated on the label. Broadcast the de-icing product with your hands, avoiding the lawn and garden area, and any vehicles or equipment parked in the driveway.

Remove the snow once it is a manageable level, if possible. After the de-icers have melted some of the snow and the ice underneath, shovel or blow it away so you don't have to use any more de-icing products. Also, removing the snow prevents it from freezing and thawing repeatedly, which can damage your driveway in time. You can also provide traction, such as sand, when the snow is shallow enough to walk and drive on.