Better Options to De-ice Your Driveway

When it comes to removing snow and ice from your driveway many people turn to salt. But salt can damage soil and plants, contaminate groundwater, and corrode driveways, car bodies and even household floors.

The most sustainable way to de-ice your car or driveway is to physically shovel or scrape the wintery mix away. There are several other remedies that do not include harmful chemicals or too much back-breaking work.

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• To help clear your windshield, fill windshield wiper reservoir with one part water and two parts vinegar or use water and rubbing alcohol. Then make sure your windshield wipers are in working condition.
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• Spray or pour lukewarm (NOT hot) water over the windshield.
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• Cover the windshield with the vinegar and water mixture to help prevent ice buildup.
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• Cover the windshield with a rug or scrap piece of carpet the night before snow or ice.
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• Hire someone to shovel your driveway.
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Other ice melting products are available but can be harmful to the environment, children and pets, so be sure to read the label. Many of the pellets you put down on the driveway to melt the ice, such as Driveway Heat, contain chemicals that are considered to be nontoxic if used correctly but are still just as harmful as salt. Children and pets are especially at risk because these products heat up ? some to 175 degrees ? to break the ice away from the driveway. Pets can get the pellets stuck in their paws and end up burnt, or worse, ingesting them. The same is true for children. Anything you track onto your carpet can end up in children's eyes or mouths.