As winter shifts into high gear in the Northeast, our roads and driveways would clog with ice if not for the rock salt commonly spread on driving surfaces. Yet the traditional salt, sodium chloride, is effective only above 15-degrees Fahrenheit, and has a host of other drawbacks. Not only does it corrode metal, cars, concrete and our leather shoes, but it can harm vegetation- and even aquatic life if it mixes into waterways.
I've discovered a few all-natural ingredients that melt ice more effectively when added to salt--or even on their own. I've listed some of the most promising findings:
Organic sugar beet juice is environmentally friendly and can be used at 100% concentration (though it's actually most effective when mixed 50-50 with brine--a simple salt solution). This juice is especially good for colder temps because sugar lowers the freezing point of ice. When sugar is added to salt, the salt is able to melt at colder temperatures. My husband pointed out that beet juice on clothing stains, yet my research indicates the juice is really more brown than red, and is not supposed to stain. Still, I'll test a small patch of my brick driveway before I spread it all over. Also, make sure the beet juice you use is organic, as certain additives could compromise its effectiveness.
Pickle brine. Don't discard the salty solution once you've scarfed down all those dills and baby gherkins! The leftover pickle juice will work wonders on walkways, melting ice at temps as low as -6-degrees F. Even better: pre-wet driveways and sidewalks with it before a snowstorm to prevent snow and ice from bonding with pavement, making it easier to remove. Put the brine in a spray bottle and spritz slick surfaces. Another plus: your driveway will have the odiferous appeal of a kosher deli.
Cheese brine. Prefer the smell of a dairy to a deli? You may want to spread cheese brine around your walkways. If you make your own mozzarella cheese like my super-talented husband, you'll have plenty of salty waste product to repurpose as a road-salt substitute. Used extensively in our nation's cheese capital--Wisconsin--this solution melts salt down to -21-degrees F! Warning: this is by far the smelliest solution.
Get creative! When you combine salt with pickle brine or beet juice, add a bit of molasses, which provides "stick factor," ensuring ingredients adhere together and on sprayed surfaces. Mix really well before pouring into your spray bottle, then spritz those slick spots for a gentler de-icing, which will help protect your plants.
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