How to Melt Sleet on a Driveway Without Salt

Watch the weather and try to get a jump on sleet and freezing rain before it occurs. Spreading sand on your driveway before you get sleet makes it more difficult for sleet to solidify into ice.

Shovel off the sleet as quickly as you can after it falls. The longer it sits on your driveway, the better chance it has to solidify and the harder it will be to remove.

Spread another layer of sand on your driveway if sleet has already turned to ice. Sand attracts heat from the sun and helps melt and soften ice, making it easier to break up and shovel away.

Try salt alternatives in extreme conditions. In extremely cold conditions, sand may not be enough to melt sleet and ice. Salt alternatives include calcium chloride and magnesium chloride, both of which are technically types of salt but are more effective than rock salt and less harsh on plants, cars and sidewalks.

Throw down another layer of sand after removing sleet and ice. This keeps new ice from forming and prevents your driveway from becoming slippery.