As the UK is hit with a mix of rain and snow, and temperatures drop below zero, it’s crucial to ensure the pavement around your home is safe. The winter season brings ice, which can lead to slips and falls resulting in injuries.
If the home is becoming a hazard due to ice, there’s a simple and affordable trick you can use to de-ice your property without using harmful chemicals. Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a readily available mineral that can effectively lower the freezing point of ice, accelerating the melting process.
The experts at Lottomart recommend baking soda because, unlike traditional salts used in commercial de-icers, baking soda is less alkaline. This means it’s gentler on surfaces and won’t corrode materials like bricks, concrete, or metal, reports the Express.
To use this solution, mix about half a cup of baking soda with four-and-a-half litres of warm water until the baking soda completely dissolves. Once dissolved, spray the mixture on driveways, paths and patios to melt ice quickly and efficiently.
To start making the solution, gather 100g of baking soda (about half a cup) and four-and-a-half litres of warm water. Begin by combining the baking soda with the warm water in a large container, stirring until the soda dissolves completely.
Once mixed, pour or spray the solution directly onto icy surfaces like driveways, pathways, garden walkways, or patios. For extra traction and to prevent the melting ice from refreezing again, you can apply sand as an additive once the solution has worked.
This will aid in enhancing grip and further minimising the risk of slipping, proving particularly useful on driveways or garden paths where additional traction is required.