Perhaps the two worst cold-weather chores are shoveling snow and chipping ice off the driveway. And if you live in an area where one storm always seems to follow another, these chores get old quickly. Thank goodness for ice melt, a chemical compound usually found in crystal form that melts away ice soon after application. Ice melt lowers the ice's melting temperature, much like rock salt, but many feature formulas that are much safer for your pets as well as your driveway. But which formulation is right for you? Here are our favorite ice and snow melts to keep your driveway safe. Green Gobbler Pet Safe Ice Melt Gobble the iceWith its fast-acting magnesium-based formula and excellent value, this pet-friendly pick is a standout.Best OverallFind on Amazon For a powerful melting formula that’s still safe enough for your pets to walk on, Green Gobbler Pet Safe Ice Melt is the one for you. Using magnesium chloride harvested from the Dead Sea, it’s also one of the more environmentally-safe ice melts. And you can be sure that if it is safe enough for your puppy’s paws, it’s safe enough for the concrete in your driveway. It comes in tiny pellets that work great in any spreader. Pros: Easy to use with most spreaders Non-corrosive & low-toxicity One tub can cover about 1,100 square feet Cons: It can be hard to remove the lid Can leave a residue Harris Safe Melt Iced outThis ice melt is perfect for people who live where the storms just keep coming.Best In BulkFind on Amazon If you live in icy and stormy areas, you’re going to need a lot of ice melt for the season. Fortunately, Harris Safe Melt comes in a 15-pound container for a price you may find for half as much ice melt. This magnesium-based product is listed with the Organic Minerals Research Institute for its organic qualities. Safe on your pet’s paws and less corrosive than salt-based ice melts, it’s made for patios, driveways, and anywhere your house turned into an accidental ice rink. Pros: Also available in a 10-pound bucket Plastic scoop included Effective temperature of -13 °F Cons: Lid is difficult to open Not effective on thick ice sheets Snow Joe Melt-2-Go A greener way to meltThis pick is one of the safest ice melts for the environment.Best Eco-FriendlyFind on Amazon If you are concerned about the environment and the chloride-based chemicals that are used in ice melts, then check out Snow Joe Melt-2-Go. Made from calcium magnesium acetate, which is shown to be safe for the environment, it’ll make you feel better about spreading it from one end of your property to the next. It’s still strong and effective to temperatures well below freezing, but it’s also so non-toxic you don’t need protective wear to use it, nor will it harm your grass if you spill some on the lawn. We love that it leaves no slimy residue that can be tracked into your home. Pros: Available in sizes up to 25 pounds Optional ice chopper and spreader available Anti-caking agent extends shelf life Cons: Can irritate pets Just For Pets Snow & Ice Melter Fit for furry friendsFree of chlorides and rock salt, this pet-friendly option won't hurt your pals' paws when they frolic on the ice.Best Pet-SafeFind on Amazon Though many ice melts on the market claim to be safe for pets, any formulation that uses chlorides can cause serious irritation. Just For Pets Snow & Ice Melter uses soft, round pellets free from all chlorides and rock salt so that they won’t hurt your furry friends’ feet. It’s safe to use on concrete, asphalt, and wood decks, and it won’t harm your interior flooring. You can sprinkle away knowing it won’t damage your flower beds, shrubs, or trees, either. This snow and ice melt is a great all-around choice, but the pet-friendliness makes it one of our top picks. Pros: Works on contact to speed the de-icing process Chloride-free formula Won’t damage concrete, asphalt, or wood decks Cons: Can clump if exposed to moisture Does not have a shaker top Branch Creek Entry Liquid Ice Melt and Manual Pump Sprayer Bundle Pump it upFor those who prefer the simplicity of a sprayer, this bundle is a great choice.Best SprayerFind on Amazon Some people prefer the accuracy and even disbursement that only comes from liquid ice melt shot through a sprayer. For them, there’s the Branch Creek Entry Liquid Ice Melt and Manual Pump Sprayer Bundle. The bundle includes a 1-gallon hand-pump sprayer along with a half-gallon of non-toxic ice melt. It’s a concentrate, so the half-gallon jug provides comparable coverage of 50 pounds of ice melt crystals. Entry’s formulation is chloride-free, so it’s safe for pets and plants and won’t corrode your concrete. Best of all, Entry works in as little as 30 seconds. Pros: Residue-free Chloride-free Sprays evenly Cons: Won’t work in temperatures below zero Not for snow thicker than 1/8″ Frequently Asked Questions I used ice melt for the first time on my driveway last night, and it didn’t work. What’s up with that? It may be because it was too cold outside. Ironically, ice melt only works within its “lowest effective temperature,” that is, the temperature at which the chemical compound in the ice melt will work. If the lowest effective temperature is 20 °F, the ice melt won’t work in temperatures lower than 20 °F. It’s important to check this measurement before buying your ice melt. I’ve heard that ice melt is polluting rivers and lakes. Is this true? Unfortunately, yes. Calcium chloride, the active ingredient in some ice melts, eventually finds its way to rivers or lakes or the ocean in the form of runoff when the ice melts into the sewers. This chemical can harm plant and animal life in the water. Fortunately, many brands are switching over to magnesium chloride-based ice melts, as they are far less toxic than calcium, potassium, or sodium-based products. Other products are moving away from chloride-based formulas entirely. Related posts: The Best Ice Buckets The Best Snow Sleds The Top 5 Ice Rollers