Best Way to De-ice a Driveway

During winter, it can be challenging to maintain your property. You have to ensure that your driveway is safe and clear from snow and ice so that you can safely walk and drive on it. So, regularly salting the driveway is important to melt the snow, improve traction, and maintain safety throughout the winter season. But you might be wondering the best way to de-ice a driveway to get the best results. In this article, we will explore driveway deicing in detail. Let’s get started!

Steps to Deice Your Driveway

• Choose the Right Salt: There are various types of salt available for deicing to melt the ice and snow. The most commonly used ones are rock salt, magnesium chloride, and calcium chloride. Each salt comes with its own benefits. Of all the salts, rock salt is the most affordable and commonly used.
• Preparation of the Area: Clearing the ice or snow from the area is important. This will make sure the salt reaches the surface and is effective. For light snow, using a shovel is enough, whereas if the snow is heavy, use a snow blower to clear the area.
• Spread the Salt: If the area is smaller, you can spread the salt by yourself by using a shovel. But if the area is vast, you should use a spreader or shovel to spread the salt quickly and evenly. Ensure to cover the total surface, including corners, edges and other areas where there is a possibility of ice buildup. Use gloves and protective equipment to prevent the salt from getting on the skin or eyes.
• Reapply if Required: Once you have covered the area with salt, wait for some time until the salt starts to work on the surface. It all depends on the temperature and the amount of ice. Even after application of salt, if you find some areas icy, you have to reapply the salt.
• Clean Up: Once all the ice or snow is melted, it’s better to clean and dispose of the excess salt

Deicing Alternatives for Your Driveway

Apart from rock salt, there are other deicing alternatives which you can use for removing ice or snow from the driveway. They are as follows:

Rubbing Alcohol (Isopropyl Alcohol)

Rubbing alcohol is a fast-acting and DIY deicer which can be used on your driveway. Isopropyl alcohol has a very low freezing point of -128°F, which allows the ice to melt quickly and prevents it from refreezing. Just add 2 parts of alcohol and 1 part of water in a spray bottle and spray it directly on the ice.

Magnesium Chloride

Magnesium chloride is one of the best rock salt alternatives that can be used on driveways. They are effective, eco-friendly and gentle on surfaces like concrete than rock salt. It works in temperatures where rock salt even stops working.

Calcium Chloride

Calcium chloride is a powerful deicer available and remains effective even at temperatures below -25°F. Unlike other deicing materials, it produces heat that allows the ice to melt even faster during extreme cold weather. But, you have to keep in mind that frequent usage can damage the concrete surfaces, and it can be harsh when compared to magnesium chloride.

Liquid Deicers

Municipalities and snow removal contractors commonly choose liquid deicers for pretreating the surfaces. Some liquid deicers have water and salt melted in them, whereas others have alcohol in them. So, choose according to your choice. They can be spread more evenly than rock salt. Liquid deicers cause less damage to the concrete surface than rock salt. You can use a watering can or a pump sprayer to water the surface.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Let the Ice Build up: Most of us wait too long for the ice to build up on the driveway, which is more time-consuming and dangerous. It’s better to act fast and apply pretreatment procedures to reduce the risk.
• Overusing Deicing Products: Overusing deicing products doesn’t mean effective deicing. In fact, it causes much harm to the nearby plants, vegetation and infrastructure. It’s better to use the recommended amount to ensure effective coverage.
• Using Metal Tools to Remove Ice: Do not use metal tools to remove the ice from the driveway. These metals can crack and damage the driveway surface.
• Pouring Hot Water: Do not use hot water on the surface to melt ice. It can melt the ice, but refreezes into a clear ice layer, which is way smoother and more dangerous.

Conclusion

By following the above steps, you can effectively de-ice your driveway throughout the winter. Following the precautions and applying the salt correctly can reduce the buildup of ice, improve traction and keep your driveway safe. Keep your properties safe and winter-ready with reliable bulk road salt from Canada Salt Group Ltd. Contact us today for a free quote!