New York City has been recently transformed into The Frozen Apple. Most New Yorkers are over and done with it.
The Frozen Apple refers to what follows the deep freeze and store shelves are bare or run out of rock salt, baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is reportedly an alternative, but it does have limits to how well it will work. The minerals in baking soda work the same way as driveway salt to reduce the freezing point of ice and make it melt faster. Since it’s free of toxic chemicals, it’s a natural solution that won’t harm your driveway, plants, or pets like rock salt can.
It works slower than traditional rock salt, though, and it’s better for small areas. It would take a lot of baking soda to cover an entire driveway, and the box in your pantry won’t be enough. Its fine consistency can also make spreading it evenly a bit tricky. Once temperatures dip well below freezing, it isn’t as effective.
If you want a safer alternative to rock salt or baking soda is all you have, definitely use it. Applying it with a sieve can help you get better coverage than trying to sprinkle it by hand. And you’ll want to spread it early since it can take a while to work at melting the ice. Baking soda also works in a liquid solution, which can make it easier to apply. Combine about ½ cup of baking soda with 1 gallon of warm water until it dissolves and spread the mixture on your driveway and walkways.
If you’re looking for other natural ways to de-ice your driveway, vinegar is an option. Combine it with an equal amount of warm water and pour it over your driveway, then remove the slush before it freezes again. Rubbing alcohol can also work when combined with water. Epsom salt, or magnesium sulfate, is known to melt driveway ice, but the temperature has to be above 20ºF for it to be effective. For something stronger, calcium chloride isn’t as damaging or harmful to plants and pets as rock salt, and it’s effective in temperatures as low as -25ºF. Avoid using hot water because it will make your driveway a slick and slippery mess.
