Anyone have any suggetsions on relatively inexpensive Liguid ice melt something like the cities etc use. I have a 700ft or so long driveway that's real steep.
I've been using the regular ice melt but it like everything else keeps going up and it's somewhat of a PITA to set up the spreader on the larger tractor especially with the limited need as we normally don't get a lot of Ice ( knock on wood )
I have 15 Gallon tow behind tank sprayer that would be perfect and could set it up behind the small 4WD mower.
Don't want to use anything that would damage the concrete or lawn I've looked several times and most of what I've found seems pretty $$ so i thought maybe someone here might have an answer
TIA

When I worked at the airport, we used pelletized Urea. (fertilizer)

Non corrosive, will not harm concrete.

It can be mixed with hot water to dissolve it, we had an old GMC tanker truck with a 24 foot wide folding spray boom for the runways and taxiways.

I know they have used beet juice on roads. No idea where to get it or what it costs. If I still lived in Ohio I would ask the director of the local roads department.

I've seen people put down cat litter and sand on sidewalks/driveways. Doesn't really melt anything, but it does provide some traction. Have to sweep it all up in the spring.

I worked for the city here for 16 years. We used to make brine from plain old rock salt, then mix it with beet juice and spray it on the roads BEFORE a snow storm. The theory is the the water evaporates and leaves the salty, sticky beet juice in all of the tiny cracks and crevices in the pavement. Then when it snows and cars pack the snow down, it doesn't "bond" to the pavement and can be easily plowed off. The urea spray at the airport is the same theory. it will melt an inch or 2 of snow as it falls, but the big benefit is that you can use a snow broom (20' wide) to broom the runway clear. Either the salt brine or urea is extremely corrosive to anything metal, and you'll need to wash the heck out of your vehicles and tractor on a regular basis if you use it.

For a few years my city was using pickle juice and the whole city smelled of that sweet vinegar whenever they sprayed it. But its questionable about how long it lasts. They only used it if we were expecting freezing rain. The pickle factory's been gone for a few years now so no more pickle juice - we're back to road salt.