There are different models of liquid melt spreader, each of which is generally designed to be able to spread a variety of products to improve pedestrian and vehicle traction on snowy, icy services. Amongst the different products that can be used for this purpose in a liquid melt spreader are ice melt, dry sand and rock salt.

However, although a liquid melt spreader can sometimes be used to spread salt and grit, they are not specifically designed for these products and – if you are applying any of these using a liquid melt spreader – you should use them immediately and then thoroughly clean the machine afterwards, to prevent salt drying up and clogging the hopper. Furthermore, you should make sure to always break the salt up before applying it, as lumps of salt or sand will damage a liquid melt spreader. Ice melt is by far the most common solution used in these spreaders, as most are designed to work with this product.

When it comes to applying these products using a liquid melt spreader, it is best to try to clear as much of the thicker snow away first, using a plough or snow blower. Then you should fill the hopper with your chosen liquid melt solution and make sure the feed is fully open. When it comes to spreading the melt you should walk or drive the liquid melt spreader at a mid-pace rate in order to get the best, most even application of the liquid melt over the surface. The preferable rate of spread is about a half or a quarter cup of liquid melt solution for every square yard of surface. Next, after giving the solution time to work, you should remove melted ice and slush from the road surface in order to ensure that it does not freeze over again. Finally the solution should be reapplied using the liquid melt spreader as required.