You are getting late for work, the cold outside is freezing your bones, and you can’t take your car out because your driveway is fully covered in snow and ice. If you happen to live in any of the snowiest states of the U.S.A, this could be a common experience for you every winter. There are enough troubles to deal with in any icy winter, and a frozen driveway should not be one of them.
To help you out of this difficult situation and save your time, we have developed a small guide on how to melt ice on driveway – a very frequently asked question. While there are quite a few ways of doing the job, we share the most time-tested and trusted method, broken down into small steps for your ease. But before that, take a look at what items you may need for melting ice on your driveway.
Table of Contents
Things You Will Need
Many items make the job easy – melting ice on your driveway is no exception. Here is a list of items you may need to get your driveway functional again.
Pet-friendly Rock Salt
- SAFER FOR PETS - Made in the USA. Our proprietary, eco-friendly formula is safer for your pets, children, and carpet and tile when little feet or paws track some in the house. The safe deicing formula is easier on a pet paw and works better on ice.
- SAFER FOR PETS - Made in the USA. Our proprietary, eco-friendly formula is safer for your pets, children, and carpet and tile when little feet or paws track some in the house. The safe deicing formula is easier on a pet paw and works better on ice.
- WORKS FAST AND LAST 3X LONGER - Our fast-acting, time release formula lasts longer and helps prevent re-icing on your driveway, sidewalk or patio. The jug has up to 25% more ice melt than our competitors, so our 10 pound jug will last even longer.
- SAFER FOR CONCRETE, METAL, AND WOOD - ProtectRx, our proprietary, organic technology, reduces corrosion rates by up to 75% compared to regular ice melters and rock salt. It is safer for your vehicles, equipment, and other surfaces.
- LESS HARMFUL TO LAWNS AND GRASS - Safer for trees and other vegetation. Our non-hygroscopic ice melt is environmentally formulated with biodegradable soil supporting compounds, making it less harmful to plant life compared to competitors.
- NO NEED FOR A SHAKER BOTTLE - Our easy-to-apply cap allows you to use the perfect amount every time. Plus, the green colored crystals wont clump and help you see exactly how much you have applied. Simple and effective, it saves you time and money.
Calcium Chloride Pellets
- MELTS DOWN TO -25°F: MELT professional strength calcium chloride pellets effectively melt ice and snow on contact, even at temperatures as low as -25°F
- Instant heat: melt calcium chloride pellets contain 94% pure calcium chloride to quickly generate heat upon and penetrate snow and Ice up to 3 times faster than conventional ice melt
- Long lasting: formulated to last up to 24 hours, melt calcium chloride pellets go to work immediately upon contact with snow and Ice and stay on the surface area longer for added protection and better control of the freeze/thaw cycle
- Fast acting: melt professional strength calcium chloride pellets go to work immediately upon contact with snow and Ice to accelerate the deicing and melting process. Pre-treating surfaces with melt will also prevent ice and snow from accumulating
- Professional strength: Contains 94% pure CaCl2 pell
Sturdy Snow Blower
- Briggs & Stratton 1150 Snow Series Engine specially Designed to start strong and Power through in the toughest winter conditions
- Push button electric start offers quick and Easy starting, down to 20 degrees below Zero
- Dual trigger steering releases the left or right wheel to help make tight turns at the end of a driveway or pathway
- Free Hand Control offers one handed operation of the snow blower, allowing a Free hand to rotate the chute or adjust the speed
- Dash mounted chute rotation and deflector Controls allow for Easy adjustment of snow throwing direction on the go
- Sturdy construction with a durable steel frame, chute and Control panel and Notched steel auger so it can Take on snow and ice with ease
- Heated hand grips with on/off switch keep Your hands Warmer while clearing away the cold snow
- Large 16 inch x 4.8 inch tires provide superior traction
- LED headlight provides Better visibility. Ground speed forward is 6
Metal Snow Shovel
- Maximum length means, you can do the work without bending much. Also, there are more length alternatives suitable for people of different heights.
- Handle made with durability that will outlast years of use. Treated with advanced coating technical methods, the surface is smooth, environment-friendly and less likely to be scraped off in use.
- Made of superior Aluminium alloy. The material is thicker and the connections are more stable. The coating remains almost intact even after dozen uses for sand removal.
- The specially-designed D-shape handle provides easy, pain-free shovelling.
- Ideal emergency kits for your car, truck, SUV, recreational vehicle, or snowmobile, when in winter days of snow climates, blizzard or unexpected snow. Excellent tool for those living in snowy areas for digging out of snow and getting yourself out or into a parking sp
Walk-behind Garden Spreader
- PATENTED EVEN-SPREAD DROP SYSTEM FOR AN EVEN SPREAD EVERY TIME. Earthways 3-hole-drop system, with side-spread control, promotes an even spread pattern with feathered edging for accurate applications. You can adjust the drop rate directly on the spreader.
- SIDE-SPREAD CONTROL ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR SIDE DEFLECTORS. This patented design protects your flowerbeds, sidewalks, and walkways. It allows you to control the left side spread pattern, which lets you maintain the correct application rate even when close to paths and other places you dont want to spread material.
- PREMIUM MATERIALS. Engineered with ingenuity; deep lug poly wheels, epoxy powder coated chassis, and high-speed gearbox.
- MADE COMPLETELY IN THE USA. EarthWay products are 100% Made in the USA by our manufacturing personnel. Every part of the assembly process is completed in the United States. You will not find any assembled in America with globally sourced materials products here.
- PRE-ASSEMBLED. 2030 Single comes pre-assembled for your easiest convenience. Store it just as quickly as you set it
How to Melt Ice on a Driveway in 6 Steps
Step 1: Clean the snow from the top to get to the ice underneath.
What a lot of people get confused by is the fact that snow and ice are two different things. If you are melting ice on your driveway for the first time, understand that the ice you want to melt is hidden beneath a layer of snow. Therefore, before you do anything to melt the ice, you have to shovel the snow off from the top.
You need not get rid of all the snow but try to remove at least 2 inches (5 cm) of snow to bear the ice underneath. There are several ways to get rid of the snow on top, and using a metal shovel is just one of them. It is also slightly labor-intensive, so if you are looking for an easier option, you can invest in a durable snow blower to get rid of snow every year.
Step 2: Make sure any plants and pets are protected from rock salt.
Before you begin to sprinkle the rock salt, know where your plants (if any) are so you do not accidentally sprinkle the salt on them. It can be very harmful to plants. Similarly, if you have any pets outdoors, make sure they do not ingest any rock salt as it can get them sick or even cause death. For this reason, we suggest pet-friendly rock salt because we always believe in ‘better safe than sorry.’
Step 3: Let the sprinkling begin (evenly).
If you are wondering whether there are any measurements to follow when melting ice on your driveway with rock salt – yes, there are. You neither want to overdo it nor be so sparing as to leave areas uncovered with the salt. The standard recommended quantity is 1.8 kg (4 pounds) of rock salt per 1000 sq ft. of the driveway.
The most common way to sprinkle rock salt is by using a cup or small container – you keep filling it from the packet and spreading a thin layer of it evenly on the entire driveway. However, if you’d like things to be done faster, you can invest in a walk-behind garden spreader. If you’d like to skip rock salt altogether, you can also use calcium chloride pellets – they are equally effective.
Step 4: Catalyze the melting process by splashing some hot water.
While this step is not necessary, it can definitely quicken the melting process. all you have to do is to fill a spray bottle with lukewarm water and completely mist your driveway with it. You can directly pour the water too, but that may not result in an even spread. Either way, melting ice on your driveway will be much faster if you use this technique.
Step 5: Patience is a virtue – wait for the ice to soften.
Even though spraying warm water quicken the melting of the ice, you still need to wait a few minutes before the ice is completely melted. Thinner ice will melt in about 5-10 minutes, but thicker ice can take anywhere between 20-30 minutes. Therefore, we’d suggest you factor in 30 minutes out of your morning routine for this job. You may want to do this first thing in the morning so you can spend the waiting time preparing breakfast or taking a shower.
Step 6: Shovel the melted ice away before it refreezes!
Finally, once you notice the ice has begun to melt, use your metal shovel to remove the melted ice completely off of your driveway. You can also use a large floor squeegee to wipe the melted slush off. Leaving it on the driveway means it can refreeze there, resulting in wasted time and effort.
Our Final Thoughts
How to melt ice on driveway is a frequently searched question, and we have tried to answer it in a comprehensive yet easy way. Going to work or college can become such a hassle when it’s snowing (not to mention the less than pleasant coldness freezing one’s nose). Investing in some equipment like a snowblower and garden spreader can come in handy every winter season. With a little planning and time management, you can easily clear up your driveway following the simple steps we have shared above.
