How to Get Rid of Ice on a Concrete Driveway

Driveways Under One Year Old

• 1

  Use a shovel or snow blower to remove snow from the driveway. Snow blowers work well and save you time if you need to remove a large amount of snow.

• 2

  Sprinkle an even layer of cat litter, sawdust or sand over the icy concrete driveway. These are safe for new driveways and will not damage the concrete.

• 3

  Sweep up and remove the sand, cat litter or sawdust after the ice melts.

Driveways Over One Year Old

• 4

  Remove snow from the concrete driveway with a snow blower or shovel.

• 5

  Sprinkle rock salt, also called sodium chloride or water softener salt, on the driveway. This salt works well in very cold temperatures. Avoid sprinkling salt on your yard; it damages plants and soil.

• 6

  Spread urea on the driveway to melt ice if you prefer not to use salt. Urea works when the temperature stays over 11 degrees Fahrenheit; if the temperature drops below 11 degrees, it no longer melts the ice. It is safe for concrete driveways over one year old.

• 7

  Sprinkle a balanced plant fertilizer, without iron, on the driveway to remove ice if you don't want to use urea or salt. The potassium and nitrogen in the fertilizer melts the ice and is safe on older concrete driveways.