How to Melt Ice on Driveways With Dawn Soap

Shovel snow from the driveway before using any ice melting solution.

The cold winter months brings the possibility of safety hazard with frozen surfaces. Dawn dish soap is a cheap and effective alternative to expensive and possibly damaging rock salt that many homeowners sprinkle on their icy driveways and steps. Mixing the Dawn dish soap with hot water might melt the ice, and since Dawn does not freeze at below zero temperatures, it could keep the driveway from freezing again. Before using the Dawn mixture, test it on an out-of-the-way area of the driveway.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic bucket
• Long-handled spoon
• Garden sprayer

Instructions

1. Fill a clean, plastic bucket with 1 gallon of hot water. Add 2 tablespoons of Dawn dish soap to the warm water and mix thoroughly with a long-handled spoon. Use the original blue Dawn dish soap that does not contain bleach.

2. Pour the hot, soapy mixture into a clean garden sprayer.

3. Use the garden sprayer to soak the icy driveway with the Dawn dish soap mixture. If needed, repeat the process until you have covered the entire driveway in the soapy mixture. Alternatively, dump the mixture directly on the driveway if a garden sprayer is not available.

Tips & Warnings

• If you will be walking on an icy driveway, wear a pair of shoes with good, nonslip tread.

• Dawn dish soap is safe for your pet’s paw pads and shouldn't hurt your lawn or plants.

References

• Ottawa Citizen: Melt Ice on Steps With Dawn