Key Takeaways

  • Salt is a convenient and effective way to melt ice, lowering its freezing point. Use 2 pounds of salt in 1 gallon of hot water for best results.
  • Baking soda works similarly to salt and won't damage concrete or bricks. Mix equal parts baking soda and hot water to create a DIY ice melt solution.
  • Fertilizer with ingredients like alfalfa meal can help melt ice quickly, but don't use it consistently as it can damage vegetation and concrete.

Winter can bring a lot of challenges, especially when it comes to keeping sidewalks, driveways, porch steps, and even your car clear of ice and snow. One of the most common solutions for this challenge is to use salt for ice or ice melting products. However, these types of products can be expensive and often contain harsh chemicals that can damage surfaces and harm the environment. Fortunately, there are plenty of DIY ice melt options that you can make at home using natural, non-toxic ingredients!

Discover 10 ice melt alternatives you can make with items you probably already have on hand, to keep your walkways safe and clear all winter long!

1 Rock or Table Salt

Conveniently prevents ice from re-freezing

Salt is the most popular way to melt ice and luckily, it's highly convenient! Salt doesn’t melt the ice so much as lower its freezing point from 32 degrees Fahrenheit to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. This means it doesn’t work well in extreme cold, but it is still very effective in places with temperatures in the 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit range.

To use salt as an ice melt:

  1. Add 2 pounds of salt to 1 gallon of hot water.
  2. Pour the salty water over the ice you’re targeting.

The hot water will melt the ice while the salt keeps it from refreezing. You can choose between rock and table salt to do this effectively!

Keep in mind that if you choose to use table salt, it will provide less traction when walked on in comparison to rock salt, due to its finer texture!

2 Baking Soda

DIY ice melt option that won't damage concrete or bricks

Baking soda in bowl

Baking soda works in a similar way to salt. It lowers the freezing point of water when it permeates it, working well in environments with cold but not freezing weather.

To make this DIY ice melt:

  1. Mix a 1:1 ratio of baking soda with hot water.
  2. Apply it to the ice you want to melt.

A benefit of baking soda is that it’s less alkaline than salt, so you run less of a risk of it damaging any parts of your home or property made of concrete or brick!

3 Alfalfa Meal, Urea, or Ammonium Sulfate

A temporary option that speeds up how fast the ice melts

Fertilizer as snow melt-1

Fertilizer works as a very effective ice melt when it contains ingredients such as alfalfa meal, urea, and ammonium sulfate. Although this is a great temporary solution, you shouldn't use it consistently over a long time. If you use it too often, it can:

To use fertilizer as an ice melt, spread a thin but even layer over any icy surface. Don't worry about covering the ice entirely, as it will still work effectively even if there are small patches of ice visible between the fertilizer pellets. Using a handheld fertilizer spreader instead of a shovel will help you achieve an adequate distribution and gain the best results.

This ice melt option won’t work immediately, but it will speed up the melting process!

4 Epsom Salt and Sugar

Fast-acting and safe for your garden and lawn

Ready to make a DIY ice met for driveways? Epsom salt is a perfect option for ice melt because it's:

  • Just as effective as table salt and rock salt.
  • Much safer to use around plant life.

Mix the Epsom salt with some sugar for the best results, because sugar also has great ice-melting capabilities! Aim for a 1:1 ratio of Epsom salt to sugar. Simply sprinkle the dry mixture on top of snow and ice to speed up the melting process.

For immediate ice melting, mix the Epsom salt and sugar with hot water for an effective DIY liquid ice melt option!

5 Beet Juice and Salt Blend

A pet-safe ice melt that's easy to rinse off

Beet juice in glass
Image credits: bhofack2 via Canva

Beet juice is a valuable ice melt option because it won't be harmful to your plants or corrode your sidewalk and driveway! If you're worried about its dark and rich red color dying parts of your property, keep in mind this all-natural juice will easily rinse off with soap and water once the temperature rises above freezing again.

To use beet juice to melt ice:

  1. Mix 20 percent beet juice with 80 percent salt brine.
  2. Put the mixture in a spray bottle.
  3. Apply it over any icy areas.

Beet juice will help the salt brine lower the water’s freezing temperature even more!

This method is not only all-natural but also pet-safe because dogs, cats, and other pets can consume small quantities of beet juice safely!

6 White Vinegar, Wood Ash, and Water

Gentle on plants, sidewalks, and driveways

White vinegar in bowl

This gentle white vinegar, wood ash, and water ice melt method is highly effective and all-natural! To make this ice melt:

  • Collect 2 cups of wood ash from your fireplace, fill a bucket with a gallon of water, add the wood ash, and let the mixture sit overnight.
  • In the morning, clear out all the bits of wood ash still floating.
  • Pour the mixture into a new bucket, leaving behind the clumps of wood ash at the bottom of the old bucket.
  • Next, add 2 cups of white vinegar and stir the mixture well.
  • Once it’s sufficiently mixed up, pour it into a spray bottle.
  • Then you can take it outside and spray the snow and ice you want to melt.

Not only will this blend melt old ice, but it will also prevent new ice and snow from accumulating!

7 Sugary Drinks or Soda Pop

Be cautious of artificial dyes and sticky messes

Because sugar is so effective at melting ice, beverages that contain a lot of it can also function as a liquid ice melt. You can choose:

  • Kool-Aid
  • Soda
  • Fruit juice
  • Or any other beverage with a large amount of sugar

Simply spray or spill it on the ice and snow to get it to melt more quickly. This option is good to use if your house is out of salt and sugar, and you need a quick fix to deice your sidewalk and driveway!

Be mindful that soda pop or sugar drinks should be used with caution! Artificial dyes can cause a mess if they get on the bottom of your shoes and you track them into your house.

8 Water, Dish Soap, and Rubbing Alcohol

A DIY-friendly ice melt spray for your entire car

This three-ingredient DIY ice melt spray is one of the most effective ice melts you can make! Not only is it easy to make, but it’s also perfect for removing ice from cars!

To make it:

  • Fill a bucket with ½ a gallon of hot water.
  • Add 6 drops of dish soap and 2 ounces of rubbing alcohol.
  • Mix well and then pour it into a spray bottle, so you can easily apply it anywhere ice has formed.

If there’s any snow on your car, brush it off first and spray this mixture on the ice below it. You can then gently push all of the ice off your car or use your scraper to give it a nudge. It should fall right off, and no heavy scraping is required!

9 Isopropyl Alcohol

Immediately clears your car's windshield, windows, and doors from ice

This super simple ice melt method is perfect for removing stubborn ice from car windshields. To make it, combine 1 cup of water with 1 cup of isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle. Shake the bottle well before each use. For immediate results, you can spray it right onto your car’s:

  • Windshield
  • Windows
  • Door handles

Keep a bottle of this ice melt near your front door, so it's conveniently ready to use! This way, you won't have to deal with the timely and arduous process of scraping ice off your car.

10 Water and Vinegar Ice Melt

A very gentle and gradual ice melt solution for cars

This easy DIY ice melt is particularly gentle on your car! To make it, all you need is:

  • A spray bottle
  • Water
  • White vinegar

The water and vinegar mixture should be one part water and three parts vinegar, or simply combine 1 cup of water and 3 cups of vinegar. Before using, shake the bottle well so that the water and vinegar are thoroughly mixed. Apply a few sprays onto your car’s windshield, and the ice should gradually melt away.

Vinegar contains disinfecting properties, so as you melt ice off your car, you can simultaneously kill harmful germs and bacteria!

These 10 DIY ice melt alternatives are great for removing ice from your driveway, sidewalk, and car. What's best, is that you can make these super simple but extremely effective ice melt recipes at home with items you probably already have!

If you found this guide helpful, share it with your friends and family, and let them know your thoughts on your favorite ice melt option!