How to Melt Ice Without Destroying the Driveway

Eliminate hazards from ice on your poured concrete driveway by removing it as soon as possible after snow and ice storms. Both cars and people can slip on an icy driveway, so you may be tempted to dump an ice melt product everywhere and hope it works. De-icing your driveway the wrong way, however, can lead to a number of problems, such as staining, chipping, pock-marks and even enlarging existing cracks. Short of waiting for the sun to do the job, eliminate ice from the concrete driveway with care and precision, using the right equipment.

Rubber-edged snow shovel
Ice melt with calcium magnesium acetate
Seed spreader, optional
Sand

Instructions

- 1
  Start at the top of the driveway, and sprinkle ice melt in a thin, even layer. Use a seed spreader for the most consistent distribution.
- 2
  Walk across the width of the driveway, pushing the seed spreader. Turn around at the other side, then walk back across, just below the row of ice melt you completed. Continue down the length of the driveway in this back and forth pattern until you reach the end.
- 3
  Allow the ice melt to sit for about 15 minutes.
- 4
  Use the rubber-edged snow shovel to scoop up ice pieces and slush. Discard it off to the side, into the yard. Hold the shovel low and run it parallel to the driveway rather than drive it down forcefully to chip ice apart. Look for areas that the ice melt has created cracks, divots and breaks in the ice, and work the shovel in there.
- 5
  Watch for uneven portions of the driveway as you run the shovel along the surface. Avoid pushing the shovel into a raised lip of concrete and chipping part of it off.
- 6
  Clear the driveway of ice, then spread a little sand on the newly cleared areas to provide traction for cars and people.

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