It’s starting to get colder outside, and that means winter is coming. Winter can be challenging for many reasons, one of them being keeping your home’s exterior ice-free. If you’re a pet owner, this problem gets worse, since most commercial ice melters can be quite harmful for pets if they eat it or are otherwise exposed to it. Fortunately, there are several DIY pet friendly ice melt alternatives that will melt ice while being safe for pets to walk on. This article will cover recipes and tips for making your own pet friendly ice melt using common household items.
Why Choose DIY Pet Friendly Ice Melts?
Commercial ice melts tend to have chemicals like calcium chloride and magnesium chloride, which can be dangerous for pets. They can give your pets chemical burns on their paws and can be toxic if your pets ingest them. The DIY pet friendly ice melt alternatives in this article use natural, non-toxic ingredients that are safer for your pets and the environment.
In addition to keeping your pets safe, you also save money and help the environment when you use DIY ice melts. They can be made from items available in most households, are great for traveling to cold places like Colorado, and work to lower water’s freezing point. This will force the ice to melt, so you can better manage icy surfaces without harsh chemicals or harmful side effects.
Key Ingredients for DIY Pet Friendly Ice Melts
There are several common household items you can use to make effective pet friendly ice melts. Some of them include:
- Baking Soda: Baking soda is a simple, natural alternative that works well as a pet friendly ice melt. It has sodium in it, which will lower the ice’s freezing point, causing it to melt. All you need to do is sprinkle it over icy areas and wait. That being said, it takes time to work, so you shouldn’t walk where you’ve used it immediately. Additionally, using too much baking soda can change the pH levels in the soil, so don’t use it around plants.
- White Vinegar and Water: You can put this mixture into a spray bottle to help break down ice. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water and spray it on icy surfaces. The vinegar’s acidity will lower the ice’s freezing point, causing it to melt. Since you put it in a spray bottle, this pet friendly ice melt solution can also be used on car windshields and other surfaces.
- Rubbing Alcohol and Liquid Dish Soap: A combination of rubbing alcohol, which has a lower freezing point than water, and dish soap helps to break down ice safely. Mix one quart of warm water, 2-3 drops of dish soap, and 1 ounce of rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. This mixture can be applied to icy areas to quickly and effectively melt ice, so it’s a great emergency solution for pet owners.
Additional Tips for Safe Ice Management
In addition to using DIY pet friendly ice melts, here are some extra tips for keeping your pets safe during winter:
- Use Eco-Friendly Traction Agents: You can use things like birdseed, sand, or cat litter that doesn’t clump to add traction to icy surfaces without harming your pets. Birdseed has the added benefit of being a food source for local wildlife, as well.
- Regular Snow Shoveling: The best way to prevent ice buildup in the first place is shoveling snow regularly. When you’re getting rid of snow on a regular basis, you get to the root of the problem, so there’s less of a need for ice melt to begin with.
- Protect Paws with Pet Boots or Balm: If your pet spends a lot of time outdoors, you can protect them from ice and cold winter surfaces with boots or paw balm. These will prevent the irritation and injuries that come with the cold, rough ice.
Leveraging the Best Pet Friendly Ice Melt Alternatives
Using a pet friendly ice melt is a big part of keeping your pet safe in the wintertime. Fortunately, DIY solutions offer a cost-effective and environmentally conscious alternative to commercial products, keeping your pets safe while effectively managing icy conditions. When you use these recipes and tips, you can keep your driveways and walkways clear without affecting your pet’s health. Whether you’re using baking soda, vinegar, or rubbing alcohol mixtures, these natural pet safe ice melts play a huge role in keeping your pets safe during the winter.