Ice on stairs or pathways around your building can be extremely dangerous for residents. In the cold winter months, rock salt is in high demand and can be difficult to find. Luckily, there’s another way to melt ice — no salt required! This homemade ice melt solution is easy to make with ingredients many already have on hand. Winter-proofing your building has never been easier with this cost effective trick.

Create your own ice melt solution with this easy homemade recipe!

What you’ll need:

• A bucket
• ½ gallon of hot water
• about six drops of dish soap
• ¼ cup of rubbing alcohol

Combine the ingredients into the bucket and stir. Pour the homemade ice melt mixture onto your sidewalk or driveway and watch the ice bubble up and melt away. Once the ice begins separating from the cement, it becomes much more manageable. Keep a shovel at the ready to scrape off any bits of ice that remain.

You can also pour the solution into a spray bottle for easy use on windows, handrails, and other small spaces! This mix will not damage glass or paint.

The Nitty Gritty

Rubbing alcohol actually has a lower freezing point than water (128°F below 0), so it accelerates the melting process while also preventing future ice from forming.