Eco-friendly Alternatives To Road Salt

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Video: Eco-friendly Alternatives To Road Salt

Video: Eco-friendly Alternatives To Road Salt
Video: Road Salt and Eco-Friendly Alternatives 2024, April
Eco-friendly Alternatives To Road Salt
Eco-friendly Alternatives To Road Salt
Anonim
Eco-friendly alternatives to road salt
Eco-friendly alternatives to road salt

In winter, city officials are actively fighting snow and ice with a variety of reagents that harm shoes, cars and the environment. Owners of private houses are also purchased with similar sprinkles. But if they have natural, harmless alternatives?

Among the popular "dressings" for city roads are: sand-salt mixture, technical salt, granite crushed stone, calcium chloride solution, bischofite, salt with marble chips, etc. All of them in one way or another harm not only the road surface, but also destroy the car body, the surface of the shoe, clog the sewer. For faster snow melting, owners of private houses are also often offered such funds. But there are natural ways to combat ice and snow build-up outside. Here are just a few of them:

1. Wood ash

The available product from a fireplace or stove - wood ash - contains potash or potassium salts, which accelerate the melting of snow and ice. Since the ash is darker in color, it absorbs the heat of the sun more. While this will not work as quickly as rock salt, wood ash will not damage plants, animals, or paved surfaces.

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2. Alfalfa flour

It is often used as an organic fertilizer. But it is equally effective in speeding up the melting of snow and ice. This is due to its granular texture, small amount of nitrogen (less than other nitrogen fertilizers). Since the fertilizer has a longer lasting effect than sodium chloride, it is best to use it only on snowy surfaces. Otherwise, the place after the ice may become moldy over time.

3. Coffee grounds

The nitrogen and acids found in coffee grounds will help speed up the melting of ice and snow. After cleaning the area where the ice will be especially dangerous for movement (paths, stairs in front of the porch), you need to scatter the thick. Its darker shade will attract the sun's rays more, which will speed up the process of melting snow and ice.

4. Shelter

The area that you want to protect from ice can simply be covered with plastic or tarpaulin materials shortly before the snowfall. Depending on the amount of snow, the coverings are dragged or freed from snow, and the ground beneath them slightly freezes.

5. Sugar beet juice

In some Western countries, another method of protecting the land from ice is practiced: sugar beet juice mixed with rock salt. With this solution, snow and ice will melt faster. But to make this product more environmentally friendly, rock salt can be eliminated, leaving only beet juice. However, it is effective only at low temperatures (maximum -10C). The sugars present in beetroot juice slow down the freezing of water. Therefore, the juice can be applied to surfaces prior to blizzard and snowfall to prevent snow and ice build-up.

6. Soap solution with alcohol

At home, you can independently prepare a solution for quickly melting ice. To do this, mix well two liters of warm water, six drops of dishwashing liquid or liquid soap and 60 ml of alcohol. It is good to spray such a remedy, for example, a home porch. After processing, ice melts much faster.

7. Sand

If there is no danger that the thickness of the ice will increase, then it can be sprinkled with ordinary sand or fine gravel in order not to slip. This makes walking on winter paths much easier and safer.

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8. EcoTraction reagent

It is gaining popularity both in Western countries and in Russia. It is a deicing agent made from volcanic rocks or fine marble chips. EcoTraction is a natural product that sticks to ice and snow, instantly interacting with them at any temperature. Its granules are heated under the sun to speed up the melting process. The product is safe for children and pets, besides, according to the assurances of the manufacturers, EcoTraction is able to transfer nutrients to the soil and not damage the surface of stone and concrete.

9. Shovel

This may be the last option you want to take advantage of, but regular snow removal prevents additional layers of ice from forming. To prevent the wooden shovel from breaking and entering the snow more easily, it is advisable to treat it with a mixture of diesel fuel and any unnecessary motor oil (1: 1, 5) before work.

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And what natural "sprinkles" from ice do you use?

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