7 tricks to remove snow from driveways and roads this winter

Written By ندى ماهر عبدربه on 2024/01/19

This article was written originally in Arabic and is translated using a 3rd party automated service. ArabiaWeather is not responsible for any grammatical errors whatsoever.

Arabia Weather - The winter season is considered a beautiful and special period for many people, but with this cold period comes challenges such as snow accumulating on paths, roads and around homes, and snow removal becomes a necessary task to maintain our safety and the safety of the people around us. In this article, we will present seven effective tricks. To facilitate the process of snow removal and avoid problems related to it.

Use salt

In the past, huge trucks were considered the main means of removing snow accumulated on the roads, but this method was insufficient to prevent road closures due to snow accumulation or to avoid traffic accidents.

Fortunately, scientists have come up with a method that helps melt snow immediately after rain falls. We can simply sprinkle salt on the sidewalks and streets, but why do we use salt?

When the water temperature reaches 32°F (0°C), ice forms, which includes icing on roads. Salt helps lower the freezing point of water through a process called “freezing point depression.”

Simply put, salt lowers the freezing point of water, making it more difficult to freeze. Thus, a 10% brine freezes at 20°F (-6°C), and at 20% brine freezes at 2°F (-16°C). .

Dredging

This method is one of the traditional methods that many individuals prefer to get rid of the heavy accumulation of snow in front of buildings, or on paths. Although it is not the ideal method, as it causes annoying back pain, in addition to hardship and fatigue, the shoveling process remains widespread due to its low cost. And no environmental impact.

Shoveling requires a lot of time and physical energy, which contributes greatly to getting rid of accumulated snow. However, the shoveling process must be carried out repeatedly to maintain the entrance opening to the building and ensure that there are no snow barriers that impede entry.

Use of sand

Large amounts of sand or cat box sand can be dumped on areas covered with snow, as the non-smooth texture enhances stability and prevents falls during the winter, and if there is not enough time to clean the sidewalk with a snow blower or shovel, or if there is A solid layer of snow and ice. You can sprinkle some cat litter or sand on your sidewalk or driveway as this will contribute to giving some stability for people walking through those areas, reducing the risk of slipping and falling.

Wiping with alcohol

Alcohol has a much lower freezing point than water, making it an effective ingredient in melting ice. Alcohol commonly appears as an ingredient in commercial ice-melting products, but if you have medical grade alcohol at home for health purposes, you can take advantage of its effectiveness in melting ice in multiple ways.

To begin with, you can simply pour alcohol directly onto the icy areas you wish to break up. Additionally, you can mix alcohol with water inside a spray bottle, creating an ideal solution for melting ice as it lasts longer, is easily portable, and you can keep it in your car to take advantage of it. Next time your door gets stuck, or your windshield freezes up.

Pickle juice

Yes, these jars full of pickle juice can be of great help during the winter months to help deal with freezes, whether on sidewalks, windows, etc. Thanks to its high salt content, pickle juice can quickly melt ice from car windows and other surfaces. When using it on driveways, you just have to remember to remove the melted snow and juice to avoid it refreezing. It can also be used to get rid of ice on sidewalks and driveways, but you may need large amounts as the brine works to prevent the snow and ice from sticking to the surfaces.

Baking soda

Baking soda works in a similar way to using salt; As it reduces the freezing point of water, it works well in cold weather environments, and the use of baking soda is shown as an effective way to deal with freezing in cold weather situations.

Magnesium chloride

Magnesium chloride is an effective means of melting ice at sub-zero temperatures, and allows easy handling of thick layers of ice. In addition, this chemical compound is considered an environmentally friendly and safe alternative for pets.

To get the best results, it is preferable to purchase magnesium chloride in the form of granules instead of strips, and then distribute these granules manually on the areas covered with ice, and you will see results quickly, as magnesium chloride has a rapid effect in melting the annoying ice.

In conclusion, by using these seven tricks, you can facilitate the process of snow removal this winter and ensure the safety of your driveways, roads and surroundings of your home.