What Can I Spray on the Ice on My Sidewalk & Driveway?

Homemade Liquid Deicer

• A homemade liquid ice treatment can be made using widely-available and inexpensive standard deicer crystals. The Washington State Department of Transportation suggests simply mixing the solid deicer with hot water. However, they do recommend applying this solution as a pre-treatment, or anti-icer, rather than as a deicer following ice formation. Additionally, a warm water solution can be prepared and used to remove thin ice from small areas like steps or short walkways. Mix table salt, salt from a water conditioner or the briny backwash from a water conditioner with warm water and spray this solution to the icy area.

Calcium Chloride

• Calcium chloride is commonly available as a liquid, pellet or flake that performs better as deicer than most other chemicals, especially at low temperatures. This agent actually gives off heat as it melts and has the capacity to attract and retain moisture from its surroundings. Calcium chloride is typically more expensive than other deicers but can melt ice at temperatures as low as -25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Urea

• Urea, which is primarily used as a fertilizer, is made from carbon dioxide and ammonia. Urea fertilizer can be found commercially in solid or liquid forms and can melt ice effectively as long as temperatures remain above about 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Urea must be applied at a higher rate than most other deicers to be effective.

Additional Deicing Salts

• Sodium chloride, or rock salt, magnesium chloride and potassium chloride are additional deicing agents that may be found as solids and liquids commercial or dissolved in hot water and then applied as a spray to melt ice. Sodium chloride is widely-available and inexpensive but it becomes less effective below 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Magnesium chloride can melt ice at lower temperatures but is more expensive and may work best as a pre-treatment agent. Potassium chloride can work to about 12 degrees Fahrenheit. This chemical is also used as a fertilizer but has relatively limited use as a deicer because it can harm vegetation easily.