How to Clear a Driveway of Sleet

Sleet or freezing rain can form slick, dangerous patches of ice when it hits pavement. Clearing sleet from a driveway is difficult, especially when it hardens on contact. Combining a homemade de-icing solution with traditional snow removal methods helps clear sleet before it hardens. Always wear good boots with traction so you don’t slip while shoveling, and use gritty materials that will both add traction and help melt ice.

Snow shovel
Calcium chloride de-icing product
Alfalfa meal
Cup
Gloves

Instructions

- 1
  Begin at the garage end of the driveway and skim loose sleet and snow from the surface with a snow shovel. Dump it to the side of the driveway. If possible, begin shoveling before it gets dark to remove as much sleet as possible before temperatures drop.
- 2
  Shake pellets or flakes of a calcium chloride de-icing product over any ice patches on the driveway. The material produces heat while melting ice and continues to work until temperatures drop below minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit. Let it melt ice patches and fallen sleet for about half an hour.
- 3
  Remove loose chunks of ice and melted snow by scooping it up with the snow shovel. Clear the driveway in small sections.
- 4
  Scatter alfalfa meal over each clear section by shaking it from a cup or sprinkling it with a gloved hand. Alfalfa meal is dry and gritty and will continue to melt falling sleet while creating traction for shoes and cars. This natural fertilizer is also less corrosive to metal, plants and pavement than rock salt and some other common de-icing agents.
- 5
  Add a generous layer of alfalfa meal at the street end of the driveway to prevent vehicles from sliding onto the street when trying to stop.

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