Although some parts of the world are enjoying mild, beautiful weather and blue skies this time of year, there are others that are facing the brutality of winter and all that goes along with it. For those individuals, looking out the window at the winter wonderland may be beautiful, but going outside to the icy sidewalks, snow-filled driveways, and frigid temperatures is not always a welcome daily trek.
More than likely, you have an arsenal of ice melting product at your disposal, but there is another option you can make it home with some common household items.
In fact, you only need three ingredients to create this DIY ice melting solution: warm water, rubbing alcohol, and dish soap.
Start the solution by putting six drops of dish soap and 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol in 1/2 gallon of warm water. That’s all there is to it. Just pour the solution on an icy area and watch the magic happen.
There are numerous benefits to this homemade ice melting solution. Most people appreciate the safety of using this, not only on a personal level but also for their sidewalks and driveways. In addition, it’s a lot less expensive than the commercial products you might find at your local hardware store.
In South Carolina, a local news station tried the recipe for themselves in 2014. Watch the video and see just how quickly it works.
According to Bob Vila, a home improvement expert, you don’t even need soap. Rubbing alcohol can be poured directly on ice or you can use a spray bottle to mix rubbing alcohol with water. Rubbing alcohol works by speeding up the melting process since it has a freezing point that is lower than water.
If you have a car door that is frozen shut or if your windshield is frosted over, rubbing alcohol and water in a spray bottle is the solution you need.
The video below shows it in action. It is from a news station in Tennessee that recommends a mixture of 2/3 rubbing alcohol and 1/3 water in a spray bottle. Don’t use hot water, because it can cause your windshield to break. Watch the video below: