The Wrong Ice Melt Can Hurt Pets and Plants—Here’s How to Pick a Safe One and Apply It Properly

Winter weather brings with it hazardous icy conditions. More than a million people suffer injuries each year from slips due to ice and snow, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The best way to keep your family safe when conditions become icy is to treat your walkways and driveways with an ice melt or deicer. But you shouldn't just throw down any old product. Whether you're making ice melt yourself or purchasing one from the store, there are options that are safer for pets and plants and work better in certain climates. Ahead, we break down everything you need to know about ice melt and deicer types and how to properly apply them to safely remove ice from a driveway or walkway.

The Best Ice Melt and Deicer Products

Choose a deicer based on your budget, climate, and whether you have pets. 

Sodium chloride (rock salt): Rock salt is the cheapest deicing solution, but can also corrode concrete and asphalt driveways over time, damage grass, and irritate pet’s paws. It also stops working when temperatures fall below about 15 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Magnesium chloride: This mid-priced deicer isn’t as corrosive to concrete or metal as rock salt and is safer for pets, plants and wildlife. It also works down to -13 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA). CMA is an environmentally friendly alternative to other deicers. It’s biodegradable, so it won’t harm plants or pets, and it’s less corrosive than other deicing options. However, it’s pricier than rock salt, melts ice slowly, and becomes less effective once temperatures drop below 15 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Potassium sodium acetate: This advanced deicer melts ice quickly and works down to -75 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s also easier on the environment, though not as environmentally friendly as CMA. Potassium sodium acetate is also much more expensive than other deicer options. 

Related: DIY Ice Melt: How to Make Homemade De-Icer Spray for Walkways and Windshields

Liquid vs. Granule Deicers

Granules: Granule deicers, which are applied with a spreader or by hand, are more effective for breaking up thick ice and also help to provide traction. They're more difficult to spread with precision as the granules bounce and scatter over hard surfaces.

Liquid: Liquid deicers are applied using a sprayer. They adhere better to surfaces than granules and work faster to melt ice. They are also easier to apply precisely, making it easier to prevent run-off into grass and landscaping. 

How to Salt Driveways and Walkways

• If possible, treat your walks and driveways just prior to a winter storm. If you’re deicing post storm, remove any loose snow from the ice using a snow shovel or snow blower before applying the deicer. 

• Apply a thin layer of salt to walks and driveways. Use a broadcast or handheld spreader to get even distribution over the area and don’t oversalt. A cup of deicer is enough to treat about 90 square feet of driveway. Be frugal. High concentrations of deicer can damage concrete and asphalt and kill plants. If you have a large area to cover, use colored salt to help you see where you have and haven’t spread it.
  
  Note: Make sure the spreader is rated for salt (many garden spreaders are not) or you could damage the spreader’s impeller. If you don't have a spreader, you can spread the deicer by hand. 
• Add an abrasive. If you want to maximize traction on these surfaces, you can also add an abrasive, such as sand or cat litter. Add the abrasive after spreading the salt or mix the salt with an abrasive prior to spreading it. Abrasives won’t melt ice, but they will create a rough surface that improves traction. 

Related: 9 Best Winter Garage Maintenance Tips for Homeowners

Can salt damage my lawn and landscaping?

Yes, de-icing salts can burn out your lawn and plants. Avoid this problem by using de-icing salt sparingly. Also make sure to remove snow before putting deicing salt on walkways and your driveway to avoid piling salty snow on your lawn when you shovel it. 

Can I pour hot water on my driveway to melt ice?

You can, but it’s not necessarily a good idea. If you spray your driveway with hot water in freezing conditions, the water can refreeze after you apply it. Applying hot water to a frozen driveway can cause the concrete or asphalt to crack due to the sudden temperature change.