Sprinkle This Baking Essential On Your Slippery Driveway If You Run Out Of De-Icer

In the winter, dealing with ice can be a pain, especially if you don't have any road salt to help melt the ice on your pavements. If you're looking for a way to help get rid of the snow and ice on your driveway, try checking your pantry. Sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, is a great option for de-icing in a pinch. Unlike regular melting salts, like calcium chloride, baking soda will not wear down your concrete.

Since baking soda contains salt, it is able to lower the freezing temperature of the ice around it, causing it to melt; however, there are some downsides to this method. The baking soda will likely need to sit on the ice for quite a while before it begins to have an effect, so you'll have to wait before attempting to walk on your driveway. Other options, such as regular table salt, may be able to melt ice faster, but baking soda will help if you're in a bind.

To melt the ice and snow on your pavements with baking soda, simply spread the powder heavily over the entire area. Once the sodium bicarbonate has been applied, wait for it to begin melting the ice. While this will take longer than some other methods, it will be effective after a period of time. The grainy texture of baking soda will give you a little traction once the ice starts to melt, but since it's not as coarse as road salt, you'll still want to be careful while walking.

If you're tired of salts damaging your walkways, baking soda is a good rock salt alternative. Sodium bicarbonate is less alkaline and less abrasive than other salts, so it shouldn't cause any damage to your blacktop or sidewalks. Though it may take more time to work, baking soda is safer for your concrete and will help prevent you from slipping on ice or snow while walking outside.