Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

How to Make Homemade Brine Solution for Sidewalks and Driveways

...
John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images

Road crews dissolve icy snow on roadways with a spray of brine. Some communities pre-treat roads with the brine knowing that the salt on the road surface will melt any snow that falls. Using the same idea, homeowners can make their own brine to spray their driveway and walkways. Of course, brine needs to be safe for plants or when spring comes, all the plants around the edge of the sprayed areas will be dead.

Fill a bucket with about 2 cups of wood ashes. Pour in a gallon of water and stir well. Allow the mixture to sit overnight.

Strain off the floating bits of charcoal and wood matter with a sieve, taking care not to disturb the liquid.

Pour the liquid into another clean bucket, stopping before any of the sediment at the bottom drains into the bucket. The fluid contains the dissolved potassium and sodium salts.

Add an equal amount of plain white vinegar to the bucket and mix. This acid will react with the potassium and sodium forming a weak potassium acetate and sodium acetate. Airlines use potassium acetate to de-ice their runways and planes.

Pour the liquid into your garden sprayer and spray over your driveway and walkways before the snow starts. The lowered melting point of the spray solution should keep ice from solidifying or snow from accumulating.

Related Articles

How to Wash a Bird Bath With Vinegar
How to Wash a Bird Bath With Vinegar
How to Remove Calcium Deposits From a Red Brick Driveway
How to Remove Calcium Deposits From a Red Brick Driveway
How to Clean Concrete Floors Before Painting
How to Clean Concrete Floors Before Painting
How to Remove Slug Mucus
How to Remove Slug Mucus
Does Antifreeze Stain Driveways?
Does Antifreeze Stain Driveways?
How to Stain Concrete Around a Swimming Pool
How to Stain Concrete Around a Swimming Pool
How to Clean Metal Wind Chimes
How to Clean Metal Wind Chimes
How to Clean Concrete Walls
How to Clean Concrete Walls
What Is the Ideal Temperature for Staining Concrete?
What Is the Ideal Temperature for Staining Concrete?
How to Remove Black Stains From a Pool's Water Line
How to Remove Black Stains From a Pool's Water Line
How to Clean Pet Stains on Concrete
How to Clean Pet Stains on Concrete
How to Kill Grass With Salt
How to Kill Grass With Salt
How to Waterproof Patio Furniture Seat Cushions
How to Waterproof Patio Furniture Seat Cushions
Are Basil Plants Poisonous to Cats?
Are Basil Plants Poisonous to Cats?
How to Kill Sea Grass
How to Kill Sea Grass
How to Remove Graffiti From Concrete
How to Remove Graffiti From Concrete
How to Remove Salt on Paver Bricks
How to Remove Salt on Paver Bricks
How to Keep Birds From Nesting Under Carports
How to Keep Birds From Nesting Under Carports
How to Clean an Outdoor Concrete Fountain
How to Clean an Outdoor Concrete Fountain
Garden Guides
×