Surprising Options That Get Rid Of Stubborn Ice Better Than Salt
We have all been there on a freezing morning. You step outside with your coffee and realize the walkway is covered in a sheet of ice that looks like glass. You grab the bag of rock salt from the garage and toss it around, but it just sits there. Rock salt is great, but it has limits. It struggles when the temperature drops really low, and it can ruin your concrete. Sometimes you need something a little stronger or just smarter to get the job done. Here are a few of the best options.
The DIY Alcohol Spray
If you need to clear a windshield or a small patch of icy steps quickly, look in your medicine cabinet. A mixture of rubbing alcohol and warm water is incredibly effective. The science is simple because alcohol has a much lower freezing point than water. Mix about one part alcohol to two parts water in a spray bottle with a drop of dish soap. The solution works instantly to turn that hard bonded ice into slush. It is perfect for those mornings when you are running late and need to clear ice quickly.
Sugar Beet Juice
This sounds like a weird health food trend, but it is actually an industrial strength de-icer. Many cities have started using sugar beet juice on roads because it works in extremely low temperatures where salt fails. The sugars in the juice lower the melting point of the ice significantly. You can buy it online or at some hardware stores. It is safe for your pets and plants, which is a huge bonus. Just be careful because the red color can stain your shoes if you walk through it immediately after you spray it.
Calcium Chloride Pellets
Most of us grab the cheapest bag of salt we see, which is usually sodium chloride. But if you are dealing with thick ice in a bitter cold, you want calcium chloride. The difference is that rock salt needs to draw heat from the air to work, while calcium chloride actually generates its own heat chemically. It can melt ice in temperatures way below zero. It costs a little more, but you use less of it than salt. It works fast enough to save you some back breaking chipping too.
Alfalfa Meal Fertilizer
This is one of my favorite tricks because it serves two purposes at once. Alfalfa meal is a natural fertilizer that you can find in the gardening aisle. It is grainy and dry, so it provides immediate traction for your boots like sand. But it also contains nitrogen, which helps melt the ice over time. When the spring thaw finally comes, you won’t be left with dead chemical spots on your lawn. Instead, you have actually fed your grass and plants just by clearing your driveway.
A Propane Weed Torch
Sometimes you just want to have a little fun while doing chores. If you have a long driveway with stubborn ice patches, a propane weed torch can be a game changer. It connects to a standard propane tank and lets you apply heat directly to the ice. You do not need to melt it completely dry. You just need to heat it enough to break the bond with the pavement so you can shovel it aside. Just be super careful not to overheat concrete, as it can crack.
Used Coffee Grounds
Before you throw out your morning coffee grounds, take a walk outside. Spreading them on icy patches is a surprisingly effective way to get some grip. The dark color of the grounds absorbs sunlight, which helps heat up the ice underneath naturally. They also contain nitrogen like the fertilizer, which helps the melting process. It is not the fastest method in the world, but it is completely free and keeps your coffee grounds out of the landfill.
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Dealing with winter is always a bit of a battle, but you do not have to rely on just one weapon. It is worth keeping a few of these options in your garage for those days when the rock salt just isn't cutting it. Whether you go with the high tech chemical pellets or just spray some rubbing alcohol, you will be glad you have a backup plan. Stay warm out there and watch your step.
Bliss Donahue-Power
