Our home has a gutter seam that leaks so conveniently on the walkway up to the front door of our home. Trying to be thrifty and avoid a trip to the store, I searched the Internet for a recipe to melt ice quickly and safely. I found this post utilizing Dawn dish washing liquid http://www.ehow.com/how_12185742_melt-ice-driveways-dawn-soap.html . If you have read my previous posts, you are aware of the wonderful things that Dawn can do in your home. I became skeptical of a mixture of Dawn, hot water, and rubbing alcohol melting ice, but I was also intrigued. How could a mixture of mostly hot water melt ice on cold brick pavers in freezing conditions? I mixed, poured, and waited.
LOL..... I think it's great that you post the things that don't work as well as the things that do!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI just read this tip on Facebook today so I tried it as well. I am on my way to the store to get ice melt because I now have a skating rink on my sidewalk. So I have posted a reply on Facebook to NOT try this. I googled this to see if anyone else has had problems (probably should have done that first LOL) and found your post. Let's spread the word that this is bad news!!!
ReplyDeleteHilarious - I was googling this because I have used it on windshields before (alcohol and dishwashing liquid). I would have done the same as you, and turned our drive into a skate rink. Thanks for the experiment in advance! :)
ReplyDeleteI just read this "solution" on FB as well. Sounded too good to be true thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being adventurous enough to experiment! This sounded fishy to me, and now, due to your experiment, I know not to try it. I'll stick with the bags of ice melt salt.
ReplyDeleteThe Pilot of the Airwaves
I actually was skepitical of this also..I used more Dawn then recommended and little more alcohol and it worked!!! The sidewalk the steps and the landing were dry in less than ahour and have remained clear for a week. I live in snowy Upstate New York...No lie!!!
ReplyDeleteahhh, I wish I had found this yesterday!!! I, too, tried the miracle solution - and got an ice rink!! aaarrrrggghhh!
ReplyDeleteI have used this many times with total success. I make a gallon at a time adding the Dawn last for as little bubbles as possible. Ice is gone, walkway dries quickly thanks to the alcohol and does not refreeze. When it snows on top of the mixture it makes it keeps the under layer from freezing making shoveling so much easier. Sorry it didn't work for you, but I would challenge the water, alcohol/Dawn ratio as the problem.
ReplyDeleteThe trick is to make sure to add rubbing alcohol, 1 tablespoon per half gallon to the mixture. Without it all you get is soapy ice
ReplyDeletei used hot water and laundry det and it worked great today on basement steps. i used a broom to help water flow to drain/\. using on front sidewalk next. will also sweep off excess water.
ReplyDeleteIt worked for me also! I used very hot water so it would melt the ice quicker and more than the 1 tablespoon of alcohol recommended & the same with the Dawn. It also makes a difference as to whether your surface you are trying to melt ice off of holds water or is slanted to drain properly.
ReplyDeletewelp ,That cancels my trip to the store,lol,thanks guys#gladicheckedfirst
ReplyDeletetable salt works for an emergency quick melt ~depending, of course, how much salt and how much ice you have, how large an area you can clean
ReplyDeleteShe provides a link to an eHow article on the subject. But click on it and you only learn how to shampoo a dog with Dawn.
ReplyDelete