How to Make Brine for a Driveway

Move the cars off the driveway before spraying your brine solution.

Rock salt used for de-icing sidewalks can be expensive when applied to larger areas, such as your driveway. You can make your own brine, or water and salt solution, which will melt the ice just as effectively and costs less. Before you spray the brine onto the driveway, remove the snow layer so the salt will have immediate contact with the ice layer underneath. Take care not to spray any surrounding plants.

Things You'll Need

• 5-gallon bucket
• 3 gallons hot water
• 50-lb. bag pool salt
• Spoon
• 3-gallon garden sprayer

Instructions

1. Fill a 5-gallon bucket with 3 gallons of hot water. Pour in 24 to 32 ounces of pool salt and stir until it is completely dissolved.

2. Pour in an additional 24 to 32 ounces of pool salt and stir until it is dissolved. Repeat once more.

3. Pour the brine mixture into a 3-gallon garden sprayer. Take the garden sprayer out to the driveway.

4. Spray the brine onto the driveway with the sprayer, using wide strokes with the sprayer to cover the middle of the driveway. Leave a 12-inch margin of unsprayed area on each edge of the driveway so you do not damage any plants.

References

• Lake Gaston Today: "Make Your Own Lake Gaston Salt Brine Treatment"; Hank Dewald; Jan. 10, 2011