Most of us know that dishwashing liquid has many uses. But did you know it is great for deicing stairs and other hard surfaces? Today, we are going to learn how you can combine dishwashing liquid with other common household liquid to make a deicing solution.
Can Dishwashing Liquid Deice Stairs?
Washing dishes is not the only thing dishwashing liquid is used for. Instead of putting it in the dishwasher, why not use it to deice your stairs during the winter?
When made into a deicing solution, it can melt and prevent ice from building up on your stairs and sidewalks. This will allow you to put away your snow shovel which is always good news!
How To Make A Solution To Deice Stairs
Instead of using dishwashing liquid in the dishwasher, today, we are going to make a deicing solution. To make the solution, you will need three different items.
You will need:
- 3-gallon bucket
- a bottle of rubbing alcohol
- and of course, a bottle of dishwashing liquid
Pour into the bucket 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid, and 1 tablespoon of alcohol. Next, you will need to add ½ gallon of hot water.
Now you are ready to deice your stairs and other hard surfaces. Pour your newly made deicing solution directly onto your stairs.
Here is an instructive video:
This will keep them from freezing and you won’t have to worry about falling when you walk outside. Each year over 800,000 people are injured due to a fall and have to be hospitalized.
Icy stairs can be very dangerous and you should always deice them before using them.
How Long Will It Last?
Typically when you deice stairs with this solution, it will last a few days. During heavy snowstorms, you may need to reapply the solution every day.
Thankfully, the deicing solution does not take long to make so you can have a batch ready in just a few minutes. Make sure you keep enough dishwashing liquid and rubbing alcohol on hand. You will be ready for anything old man winter has to throw at you!
Does Dishwashing Liquid Freeze?
Before we learn how to use dishwashing liquid as a deicing solution, we have to find out if it can freeze. Dishwashing liquid does freeze at extremely low temperatures.
Depending on the brand and how much water is added to the dishwashing liquid will determine its freezing point. In most cases, dishwashing liquids begin to freeze at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, it does not completely freeze. Only the water that is contained inside the liquid will freeze. When you combine dishwashing liquid with alcohol and other common household product, it prevents the water from freezing which makes a great deicing solution.
Will Any Brand of Dishwashing Liquid Work?
It is recommended that you use Dawn brand dishwashing liquid when making a deicing solution. The reason why you want to use Dawn is that it contains less water than many brands. Dawn is concentrated while others contain a good amount of water and will probably not work as well.
Will Dishwashing Liquid Be Too Slippery?
You might be wondering if the dishwashing liquid will be slippery? The answer is no it won’t! Because you added the alcohol, it will take away any of the slipperiness that might be caused by the dishwashing liquid. But as always, make sure you test your stairs the first time you deice them. It is better to be safe than sorry!
Dishwashing Liquid VS. Rock Salt
Many people use rock salt to keep snow and ice off their stairs, sidewalks, and driveways. Rock salt is also used on roadways. But it can be corrosive and damage surfaces like stairs.
According to professional landscaping service, rock salt damages concrete by penetrating the surface. As the rock salt melts, the snow and ice become a salty mixture that can re-freeze. When this happens, the ice expands inside the concrete and this is when damage occurs.
A Dishwashing liquid solution, on the other hand, will not refreeze thus it will not penetrate the surface of the concrete. This is why dishwashing liquid is a much safer method of deicing your stairs and other hard surfaces.
It Will Save You Money
Having to buy rock salt every year can put a dent in your bank account. So why not save yourself a little money next winter? Because you will only use a small amount of dishwashing liquid and alcohol to make a deicing solution, it won’t cost you very much at all. For just a few cents, you will be able to deice your stairs.
The next time you are washing a dish in the sink, keep in mind that your dishwashing liquid can be used to deice your stairs. You will no longer have to worry about slipping and falling again! Additionally, your stairs will no longer be subjected to the destructive nature of rock salt. So what are you waiting for? Why not make your own deicing solution?