How to Defrost a Driveway

Shovel the driveway as soon as any snow or ice begins to accumulate. Don't let several inches build up on the driveway; the more accumulation there is, the more moisture there will be at night to freeze and turn into ice.

Chip away any large chunks of ice with a metal, flat-edged shovel. If it snowed or sleeted during the night, you are likely to find ice already stuck to the driveway. Do not try to loosen it with a regular snow shovel, as you will simply bend or break the shovel. Drive the flat-edged shovel straight down into the ice until you break it free, then shovel it out of the driveway.

Apply salt to you driveway if the temperatures do not drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Salt is ineffective once temperatures drop below 20 F. Use the large granular salt made for use on roads and driveways; do not use regular table salt.

Apply calcium chloride on your driveway if temperatures stays between 0 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the calcium chloride on your driveway just as you would salt granules.

Place a snow melting mat over your driveway. Plug the mat into an extension and outlet. Set the mat over an area of your driveway. The coils in the mat will heat and melt the ice. Move the mat to another section of driveway once the first part is cleared.