I see this question is several years old, and some answers simply don't address the initial question. I have used a urea product for over 25 years. Available in 50# bags, it was about $40 back then, maybe over $100 now, but I still have enough left from 12 years ago to fill several 1-gallon milk jugs. I keep one jug in car (also a kid-size plastic shovel neither of which I have ever had to use), another jug in garage for ease of application. How much you will use depends on how much concrete you have and how often you get actual ice as compared to snow. It works best if scattered on walks and drive PRIOR to icing up, and maybe several times during. Don't bother using it in snow--you're wasting money. Keep the bag tightly closed, it tends to clump but can be broken up without too much difficulty. It is worth the investment if you are planning to stay in your home for 10 or more years and don't want scaled concrete or the expense of replacing. Otherwise, go for the cheap.

I've gone through 3 rotary spreaders. Each one was "better" than the last (more $$ too). Currently I have an AgriFab tow behind for a riding mower. My 2-cents? Buy cheap, use 2 seasons, toss! Why? Because I haven't been able to find a good one. To me good = one that works and lasts. The previous rotary (Scott"s) was ate-up by corrosion even with washing out after use. This season I've had to replace the trap door on the AgriFab and now I need to replace the sling-er. In both cases the "plastic" pieces died, they came apart in my hands - not good. Also the adjustment for the dump slot on the AgriFab is poor - it won't open smoothly, nor square and the adjustment goes up to 10. The 10 is a least 1/2" wide, what would I spread through a 1/2" slot? Chattahoochee stone?? I'd rather see the adjustable slot be up to 1/4", maybe a little over, have a Stainless Steel blade and adjust in 1/10" increments. cvt

There are several--but none should be directly applied to grasses or they can all damage them. Urea is the safest in that regard as it'll generally be gone by the time the grass wakes up. CMA (calcium magnesium acetate) is, per reports, good for trouble spots but too expensive to throw around willy-nilly. Potassium-based salts are rather soil-friendly and also do far less damage to concrete surfaces. Calcium chloride can also be used. It's a salt, but amounts used are smaller so the chlorine load is smaller, and it doesn't dump sodium into your soil. Good old fashioned urea at $15 for fifty pounds is a good de-icer on modest ice and near-freezing tempertures; it's ineffective when temperatures are very cold. The nitrogen can, however, cause issues in the environment if it washes into a waterway, so this is definitely not recommended if your home is near a lake, stream, creek, or pond, or if the runoff from your driveway ends up in one. Modest use is generally not a problem. Sand is generally harmless and can be used to gain traction on icy surfaces.

In reading this thread I cringe at the though of what people are putting on there cement driveways. Many salts like Sodium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride, Calcium Chloride, and similar material will slowly destroy your cement. When I have to use something on my drive way, I always used sawdust. It is dark in color so absorbs the heat from the sun, and provides traction on the ice. It was easy to come by as I am a wood worker and there was no negative effects on the drive way. The ultimate solution is what I did; move from Indianapolis to the Piedmont region east of Raleigh NC. ;-)