What are safe ice melting solutions for concrete?

While all ice melting solutions carry some risk, some safe options include urea (carbonyl diamide), sodium chloride (rock salt), potassium chloride and calcium chloride. The first is a somewhat ineffective melting agent, while the latter can cause minimal to moderate damage to concrete and kill plants if over applied.

Potassium chloride is relatively safe around pets, but even a tiny amount can be lethal to a pet with kidney disease if ingested. If such a pet is present, it may be best to opt for a substance that provides traction without melting the ice, such as sand or kitty litter. Calcium chloride works the fastest of the four options.