How To Safely De-Ice Your Walkways This Winter

When snow piles up and steps turn slick, an inexpensive alternative to road salt sounds like a winter lifesaver. The suggested recipe combines one teaspoon of Dawn dish soap, one tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, and half a gallon of warm or hot water. Its appeal is understandable: repeated use of some deicing salts can contribute to concrete deterioration, particularly on vulnerable surfaces. But the claim that this homemade treatment prevents refreezing is not reliable.

That small amount of alcohol, diluted in so much water, will not meaningfully protect a walkway from freezing again. Warm water may briefly melt ice, but it can leave behind another hazardous layer as temperatures fall; soap may also make footing slippery. A safer approach is to shovel promptly, use a deicer suited to your surface and outdoor temperature, and add sand for traction where needed. Winter shortcuts should never come at the expense of secure footing.