GREENSBORO, N.C. — Editor's note: original VERIFY inquiry and experiment were in 2018, before and after a record-setting Dec. 9 snowfall.
VERIFY QUESTION
Ahead of a record and unseasonably early snowfall, a Good Morning Show viewer inquired about a homemade de-icer that is cheaper and less harmful on concrete surfaces than salt.
Rose Chilson shared this article from Homemaking.com. It claims, "For icy step and sidewalks in freezing temperatures, mix 1 teaspoon of Dawn dish soap, 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, and 1/2 gallon of hot water. Pour over walkways. They won't re-freeze. No more salt eating at the concrete in your sidewalks!"
VERIFY PROCESS
To VERIFY, Good Morning Show anchor Meghann Mollerus tested out the solution on her own front steps, before and after the Dec. 9, 2018 snowstorm. She followed the instructions and mixed half a gallon of hot water with one teaspoon of Dawn dish soap and a tablespoon of rubbing alcohol (a generic brand she already had in her cabinet).
Meghann treated two of her steps with the solution and left two steps untreated for comparison.
Since the article was not specific as to when to pour the solution, she poured it once before the snowfall. She found the solution did not stop the snow from accumulating on her steps. But, could it stop the steps from re-freezing (as the article claims)?
After the snowfall, she shoveled the steps, re-mixed the solution, and reapplied it. The morning after the second application, she noticed ice had formed on the steps she had not treated, but no ice had formed on the treated steps.
VERIFY CONCLUSION
Meghann can VERIFY the homemade solution does seem to work, as it appeared to stop her steps from re-freezing. She has not yet observed the long-term impact of the solution on her steps, so she cannot VERIFY if it is less corrosive on surfaces than salt.
As always, use caution and watch your step when walking in icy conditions.
Do you have a VERIFY inquiry? Reach out to Meghann Mollerus:
E-mail: Mmollerus@wfmy.com
Facebook: Meghann Mollerus News
Twitter: @MeghannMollerus
FAQs
The freezing point of standard 70-percent rubbing alcohol is -20 degrees F, so it works pretty well as a de-icer. In fact, alcohol is used in many de-icing products for car windshields.
What is the best homemade car de-icer? ›
Mix 2 cups of isopropyl alcohol, 1 cup of warm water, and a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle. This solution swiftly melts ice and prevents refreezing.
Does Dawn alcohol and water melt ice? ›
Temperatures on the East Coast have dropped to brutally cold levels, which leads us to our next winter woe: ice. The combination of the dish soap, rubbing alcohol and hot water helps prevent further icing and speeds up melting process.
How to make deicer with Dawn dish soap? ›
Finally, you can mix up a homemade ice melt concoction. You need to take a half gallon of hot water, six drops of dish soap and 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol, according to Reader's Digest. You can pour directly from the bucket onto frozen walkways, or put some in a spray bottle and spray your car windows.
What melts ice the fastest off a windshield? ›
Mix three parts vinegar and one part water or two parts rubbing alcohol and one part water in a spray bottle. Turn on your car so the defroster can start warming up the inside of the vehicle. Spray your windshield with the solution and wait 15 to 30 seconds while the ice softens and melts.
What is the recipe for homemade de-Icer? ›
Mix one part water to two parts rubbing alcohol. Apply to the window and watch it peel right off! Recipe #2: Use a bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol (50% works, too, but not as well) with a few drops of dish soap.
What household items can melt ice? ›
Exploring the Ways to Melt Ice Without Salt on Driveway, Concrete, Sidewalks
- Rubbing Alcohol/ Isopropyl Alcohol: Rubbing alcohol is not as effective an ice melt as salt. ...
- Water And Vinegar Ice Melt: ...
- Fertiliser: ...
- Beet Juice: ...
- Sugar: ...
- Pickle Brine: ...
- Sand And Ash Or Coffee Grinds: ...
- Alfalfa Meal:
When you're searching for how to make Dawn Powerwash, you can't skip the rubbing alcohol. It is one of the ingredients that works to make it so powerful and effective at removing gunk and grime.
Will Epsom salt work as a deicer? ›
ice -- not just salt but also sugar, instant coffee, epsom salt and even baking soda!
Can you mix rubbing alcohol and dish soap? ›
For the multi purpose spray, all you need is isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol, water, and Dawn dish soap. Grab any spray bottle. and fill half of the bottle with isopropyl alcohol. and then fill the other half of the bottle with water.
Consider using a more environmentally friendly alternative, such as potassium chloride or a mixture of sand and salt. Corrosion: Salt can corrode metal structures and damage concrete surfaces. Use caution when applying salt near these surfaces and consider using a more gentle de-icer, such as calcium magnesium acetate.
Do coffee grounds melt ice? ›
Coffee grounds can also be spread on the ice instead of being tossed out. Like sand, the grounds absorb sunlight to make the ice melt faster and add a bit of traction. Wood ash, likewise, can be spread on the ice instead of disposed of. It absorbs sunlight to help ice melt and provides traction.
Does vinegar melt ice faster than salt? ›
Salt will always melt ice quicker than both of them.
Will isopropyl alcohol melt ice? ›
Turns out, rubbing alcohol has a much lower freezing point than water (128°F below 0), so it speeds up the melting process and prevents the surface from icing up in the future, Rossen says. He also recommends pouring the mixture into a spray bottle and using it to thaw your car windows.
