‘What should I use on my icy driveway?’
The Car Doc weighs in.
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I always carried kitty litter or ice melt with me just in case I needed it on my long icy driveway. The problem is, the kitty litter clumps in the bag and the ice-melt seems to suck the moisture out of the air and over time becomes a useless bag of mush. Any up-to-date suggestions?
A. I have always used oil absorbent that is used in garages; it’s basically dried clay granules. Cat litter comes in both clumping and non-clumping formulas, so you might try a different kind from what you’ve used before. I recently found another possible solution, a bucket of Traction Magic. This product doesn’t melt the ice but rather absorbs the thin layer of water that makes the ice slippery and thus adds traction; it’s almost like sandpaper. It is easy to clean up and safe around kids and pets. Although it is a good product, it is a bit pricey; $25 for a 15-pound bucket. Compare that price to $10 for a 40-pound bag of clay-based oil dry or sand that could be sometimes free at your local DPW garage.
John Paul, AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor, answers questions from drivers every week. He has 40+ years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE certified master technician.
