What Household Products Can You Use to Melt Ice on the Driveway?

Wood Ash

• Wood ash from the fireplace or outdoor fire pit will melt ice on a driveway. The ash must be wood ash and cannot be ash from charcoal. You can save all your ashes during the summer for use during the winter, or you can save the ashes whenever you need to clean out your fireplace. Spread a thin coat of ash on the driveway to melt the ice.

Fertilizer

• If you have a concrete driveway, you can use urea fertilizer to melt the ice. The temperature must be 11 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for this fertilizer to work on ice. If you have an asphalt driveway, you can use ammonium sulphate fertilizer to melt ice when the temperature is as low as -25 degrees Fahrenheit. However, you cannot use ammonium sulphate fertilizer on concrete driveways or sidewalks.

Traction

• Cat litter and sand will give the icy driveway traction while the fertilizer or wood ash melts the ice. After spreading a thin layer of fertilizer or wood ash on the driveway, sprinkle a thin layer of sand or cat litter in the area where you need to drive or walk.

Cleanup

• Wood ash and fertilizers may stick to the bottom of your shoes or boots. If you use sand or cat litter with the products, these also will stick to the bottom of your footwear. You need to place a foot mat by the doorways to your home for wiping off the bottom of shoes. These products are environmentally safe for de-icing driveways, but can make a mess of hardwood and carpeted floors. Whatever product is left over after winter can be swept onto the lawn or placed in the garbage.