Households across the UK are being urged to sprinkle dishwasher salt on driveways in January to protect against wintry weather.
The start of the new year has been a particularly cold one, with snow, ice and widespread frost hitting large swathes of the country last week as Storm Goretti swept the UK. While milder air moving in from the west has brought an end to the worst of the weather, with snow instead being replaced by rain and blustery winds, a yellow warning for ice is still in force for some parts of the country this week. The Met Office has issued the weather alert for parts of Scotland until 10am tomorrow, with households warned to expect travel disruption through Monday night and Tuesday morning due to icy conditions.
Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing this evening, forming icy patches on untreated surfaces which could lead to hazardous conditions in the morning.
The Met Office explained: “Keep yourself and your family safe when it is icy. Plan to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than normal. Not needing to rush, reduces your risk of accidents, slips, and falls. If you need to make a journey on foot or by bike, try to use pavements along main roads which are likely to be less slippery.
“Give yourself the best chance of avoiding delays by checking road conditions if driving, or bus and train timetables, amending your travel plans if necessary.”
While the yellow warning for ice only applies to parts of Scotland, the weather in winter can be unpredictable and so it’s not out of the question that another cold spell will grip the country later this month.
To prepare for such cold and icy conditions, households are urged to sprinkle dishwasher salt on driveways to prevent black ice and reduce the risk of injury this winter.
Dishwasher salt contains compounds that lower the freezing point of water, making it a cheap and effective solution for tackling ice and frost during the colder months.
According to experts, you only need one tablespoon of salt for each square metre to prevent black ice from forming. If ice has already formed and you need to clear it, make sure to use salt rather than water, as water can refreeze and turn to black ice which will increase the risk of injuries.
The Met Office said: “Pay extra attention to clearing snow and ice from steps and steep pathways – you might need to use more salt on these areas
“Use salt or sand – not water. If you use water to melt the snow, it may refreeze and turn to black ice. Black ice increases the risk of injuries as it is invisible and very slippery
“You can melt snow or prevent black ice by spreading some salt on the area you have cleared. You can use ordinary table or dishwasher salt – a tablespoon for each square metre you clear should work.
“Don’t use the salt found in salting bins – this will be needed to keep the roads clear unless your council advises otherwise.”