How to Dissolve Ice on the Sidewalk

Ice-melt products dissolve ice by decreasing water's freezing point. When possible, avoid purchasing rock salt, calcium chloride- and ammonium-containing melts, which can corrode the sidewalk, damage steel on nearby vehicles and harm area plants. Magnesium chloride melts, while more expensive, not only cause less collateral damage but work more quickly, eradicating the ice on your sidewalk in minutes.

Ice-melt product, preferably containing magnesium chloride
Bucket, 5 gallon
Gritty material such as sand
Water
Large hand scoop

Instructions

- 1
  Transfer your ice melting product into the bucket. Add only as much as directed by the deicer’s packaging for the square footage you plan to cover.
- 2
  Mix a generous amount of sand, soot or kitty litter into the bucket. While your product works, the gritty material provides traction, and during bright, sunny winter days, the darker surface melts more quickly than bare ice. Add a few cups of water into the mixture to accelerate the melting process.
- 3
  Scoop out the mixture and dispense it across icy surfaces. Cover the ice with a thin, even layer of the wet deicing mixture. Depending on which chemicals your ice melt contains, you may wait between several minutes and several hours before the ice completely dissolves.

How to Fix Ruts in Crushed Stone Driveways

What Causes a Crack in a Sidewalk?

Paving