January 17 2023
Winter weather often leaves us dealing with snow and ice on our sidewalks and driveways. Currently the most common substances used for this are salts. However, salts can be harmful for the environment.
Here are a few ways you can de-ice your sidewalks and driveways without using salt to help keep our waterways and stormwater system safe from pollutants this winter:
- Hot Water – If the ice is thick and won’t come off, boil a large pot of hot water and apply it to the chunk of ice, making sure to sweep the water off the surface so that it doesn’t get cold and freeze on the driveway. This can be effective to remove ice from the driveway in stubborn areas.
- Sand – Sand doesn’t melt ice, but it offers extra traction for your wheels on slippery surfaces like ice. This can serve as a quick-fix, but it is still recommended to learn how to deice your driveway without salt.
- Shovel with Aluminum Edge Strip – When buying snow shovels, make sure you buy a shovel with a sharp aluminum edge strip on the end of the shovel scoop. This metal strip is used to break up and remove ice from your driveway. This simple technique is often overlooked when trying to remove ice from the driveway, but can be tremendously effective with some elbow grease!
- Homemade Solutions- You may not know that you can learn how to remove ice from your driveway with simple household items. Combine a solution of a half-gallon of hot water, six drops of dish soap, and 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol into a bucket. This is an effective and satisfying way to learn how to get rid of ice on your driveway as you watch the ice bubble up and melt away. Simply spread the solution on your driveway and shovel the newly melted ice, and your property will be safe once more!