How To Get Traction on an Icy Driveway

How Do You Get Traction on an Icy Driveway?

To get traction on an icy driveway, clear loose snow first, then spread an abrasive material over the slick surface so shoes and tires have something to grip. If the ice is bonded to the driveway, use salt or ice melt to help break it up first before adding the traction layer.

Be sure to keep in mind that salt and abrasives work differently. Salt lowers the freezing point of water, which helps melt the ice and loosen it from the driveway. Abrasives don’t melt anything, but they sit on top of the ice and create a rougher walking or driving surface, giving you more traction. Used together, they can make the path safer.

However, prevention still makes the biggest difference. As Kevin the Mover explains:

That means if you know you’ll be moving, you should work on clearing snow early, scraping down to the surface when you can, and treating the driveway before packed snow turns into a sheet of ice.

Salt vs. Sand: Which Should You Use?

Sand and salt serve different purposes when you’re dealing with ice on your driveway or walkways. Salt helps melt the ice, while sand gives people and tires something rougher to grip.

Salt works by helping ice melt, but it isn’t instant. Regular rock salt is most useful when temperatures are around 15°F to 20°F or warmer. Once it gets much colder than that, it slows down and may not do enough on its own. Calcium chloride or magnesium chloride ice melts can work better in lower temperatures, but they can harm pets, plants, concrete, and metal, so they need to be used carefully.

Sand is different because it doesn’t melt the ice. It just gives people and tires something rougher to grip. That’s why it can be so helpful on moving day. If you need some instant traction when you don’t have time to wait for salt to melt the ice, sand can come in handy. You may need to add more as it gets packed down or tracked inside, then sweep up what’s left after the ice melts.

Best Materials for Traction on Ice

The best materials for traction on ice are coarse, gritty, and easy to spread evenly. Their main job is to create a rougher surface on top of slick ice for shoes and tires to grip. Sand, traction grit, chicken grit, kitty litter, and small gravel can all help.

Pet-safe here means plain and untreated. Even products labeled pet-friendly can bother paws or make pets sick if they lick too much from their feet.

No matter what option you choose, you should start with a shovel first so the sand, grit, or gravel lands on the icy surface instead of getting buried in loose snow. After that, spread a thin layer where people will walk, where tires need traction, and anywhere someone may need to turn while carrying something heavy. As the day progresses, you may need to add more if it gets pushed aside, packed into slush, or tracked into the house.

Sand

Sand adds grip on icy driveways, but it doesn’t melt ice. The best options are coarse traction sand, all-purpose sand, or masonry sand from a hardware store. Skip play sand because it’s too fine and smooth to help with grip.

Sand works right away, which makes it useful if you don’t have time to wait for anything to melt, but it can get packed down or pushed into slush as people walk over it. Reapply it as needed, and sweep up leftover sand after the thaw so it doesn’t wash into storm drains.

Traction Grit or Chicken Grit

Traction grit and chicken grit work well on ice because the small, sharp pieces dig into slick surfaces and give shoes and tires more grip. They don’t melt ice, but they’re a good option when it’s too cold for regular salt to work well.

You can usually find traction grit at hardware stores or winter-supply sections. Chicken grit, sometimes called poultry grit, is often sold at farm supply stores or garden centers. Look for plain grit without additives, especially if pets will be walking through the area.

Kitty Litter

Non-clumping kitty litter can help with traction on ice in a pinch. It won’t melt the ice, but the rough texture can make a small slick patch easier to walk or drive over until you can clear it properly. Avoid clumping litter because it absorbs moisture and turns into a heavy, muddy paste.

Kitty litter is easy to find and can be useful in an emergency, but it’s messy, less effective than sand or grit, and easy to track inside during a move.

Gravel

Small gravel can add traction on icy driveways, especially in tire paths or at the bottom of a slope where cars need extra grip.

The downside is cleanup. Gravel can scatter into lawns, storm drains, garages, and entryways, and sharper pieces can scratch floors if they get tracked inside. If you use it near the moving path, lay down floor runners and sweep it up after the ice melts.

Salt and Ice Melt

Salt and ice melt help by melting ice and loosening it from the driveway, but they don’t give you any traction right away. For safer footing, especially on moving day, pair them with sand, traction grit, or another abrasive while the deicer has time to work.

Rock salt is cheap and easy to find, but it works best when pavement temperatures are around 15°F to 20°F or warmer. Ice melt blends with calcium chloride or magnesium chloride can work better in colder weather, though they can still be hard on concrete, metal, plants, and pets if overused. Use the smallest amount that works, keep pets away from treated areas, and clear away slush before it refreezes.

How to Drive Up an Icy Driveway

If you need to get a car up or into an icy driveway, start by making the surface as clean and gritty as possible. Then use slow, steady movement instead of speed to move the vehicle.

The steps below can help if the driveway is slick but still safe to attempt.

Clear and Pre-Treat the Path

Before driving on an icy driveway, clear away as much loose snow as you can. Once tires pack snow down, it can turn into a harder, slicker layer that’s much tougher to break up later. Shovel or snow-blow first, then scrape any icy ridges in the tire path.

To pre-treat the driveway, apply salt or ice melt where the tires need to travel and give it time to loosen the ice. Add sand, traction grit, or small gravel on top so the tires have something rough to grab.

Use Momentum and Low Gears

Momentum is necessary to get up an icy driveway, but too much speed can make the car slide. Start from the flattest safe spot you can, line up the vehicle with the driveway, and move forward slowly with steady pressure on the gas.

If possible, use snow mode, low gear, or a lower-speed setting if your vehicle has one. These settings can help reduce wheel spin and keep the car more controlled. Avoid flooring the gas, stopping halfway up the slope, or making sudden steering changes. If the wheels start spinning, ease off the throttle instead of pressing harder.

Adjust Traction Control and Drive Slowly

The car needs grip under the tires before traction control can do much, so make sure you’ve followed the other steps of clearing snow, de-icing, and putting down something gritty before you start.

For normal icy driving, leave traction control on. It helps limit wheel spin while you accelerate. If your vehicle has a snow mode, use that before changing traction control settings. If you’re already stuck and the system keeps cutting power, your owner’s manual may tell you how to briefly reduce traction control so the tires can move enough to rock free. Turn it back on once the car is moving.

Drive slowly and keep every movement smooth. Avoid sudden braking, quick acceleration, sharp turns, and cruise control. Winter tires, AWD, traction mats, or tire chains can help, but they don’t make an untreated icy driveway safe.

Stop if the wheels spin without moving the car, the vehicle slides sideways, or you can’t keep a straight path. At that point, back down slowly if it’s safe, add more traction material, or wait until the driveway can be cleared better.

Eco-Friendly and Pet-Safe Alternatives

Calcium magnesium acetate is usually one of the better options if you want something that melts ice and is gentler on concrete, but no ice melt is completely risk-free. If you’re trying to avoid regular rock salt, you can also use some alternatives.

Here are a few options to consider:

• Calcium chloride: Calcium chloride works in colder temperatures than regular rock salt and can melt ice faster because it releases heat as it dissolves. However, it can leave a slick residue and may be corrosive to metal.
• Magnesium chloride: Magnesium chloride also works in colder weather and is often used in pet-friendlier ice melt products. It still needs to be used carefully, though, because too much can bother paws, damage plants, or affect concrete over time.
• Kitty litter: Plain, non-clumping kitty litter with no added chemicals can add traction on small icy patches. It won’t melt ice, but it can help in a pinch.
• Heated driveway mats: Heated mats prevent snow and ice from building up where they’re placed. They cost more upfront, but they can be useful for creating a safer path from the house to the moving truck.

Natural materials can also help with traction, especially if your main concern is avoiding chemical ice melt:

• Beet juice: Beet juice is sometimes used with salt brine to help lower the freezing point of water, mostly in road treatment.
• Coffee grounds: Coffee grounds have a gritty texture that can add light traction on small icy spots.
• Sawdust or wood ash: Sawdust and wood ash can both add grip on snow or ice, but they’re messy and need cleanup after the thaw.

The nonprofit media organization Grist lists some pet-friendly salt alternatives, Chemical CEO has a list of rock salt alternatives, and Earth Guardians Online also offers eco-friendly ice melt options. If a product claims to be pet-safe or eco-friendly, check the ingredients before using it around pets, plants, or concrete.

Dealing With Ice on Moving Day

An icy driveway can increase the risk of injury on moving day because every box, piece of furniture, and appliance has to cross the same slippery path. Winter moves can have some upsides, including easier scheduling and off-season pricing, but if you’re still choosing your date, it helps to think through the best time to move before you book.

Here’s what helps most:

• Clear the driveway and walkway first: Shovel loose snow before it gets packed down into ice. Salt and sand work better when they can reach the surface underneath.
• Treat icy spots early: If you can, salt and sand the day before your move. Kevin the Mover says, *“Salt and sand the day before your move, if you can. Clear away any chunks or other bits of snow to keep it from refreezing overnight.”*
• Keep supplies nearby: Have a shovel, sand, and salt ready in case the path gets slick again or a truck tire loses traction.
• Protect indoor thresholds: Lay down floor runners near entryways so wet shoes don’t make the inside path slippery, too.
• Wear the right footwear: Boots with good tread help. Crampons can give extra grip outdoors, but take them off before walking on indoor floors.
• Move slowly on ice: Carry heavy items low and slow, and avoid rushing or turning quickly while holding furniture.
• Plan for the truck: Favor flat routes over hills when possible, drive slowly, and keep winter supplies in the cab. If you’re handling the truck yourself, read HireAHelper’s guide to driving a rental truck in the snow before moving day.

Ice adds one more thing to manage when the move is already busy. If you’d rather have extra hands for the loading and unloading, HireAHelper lets you compare and book local moving labor so you can find movers who are used to real moving-day conditions, including winter weather, slick walkways, and tricky truck access.