Britons with driveways can use a £1.50 hack to help keep slippery driveways and frozen paths at bay, an expert says, as a yellow weather warning flagging freezing fog comes into effect. From midnight tonight a yellow warning for fog will come into effect for London and other parts of South East England, including East Sussex, Kent, Surrey, and West Sussex.
The Met Office warns people in the affected parts of the country that areas of freezing fog may lead to some delays to travel on Friday morning. Britons are told to expect slower journey times with delays to bus and train services possible and there is also a chance of delays or cancellations to flights.
It's currently set to be in place until 9am on Friday and you can find the latest guidance on the Met Office website. Freezing fog could also mean those with a driveway wake up to find it frozen over, making it dangerous to set off in the morning for your commute.
In this situation, people often opt for rock salt, though it can be messy and cause damage to the surface over time.
Bill Jarvis, coatings and driveway specialist at patio sealer provider Premium Paints, suggests a cheap hack for these scenarios that he says is effective and kinder to the concrete.
"Homeowners often panic when the first frost hits and reach for bags of salt," he said.
"It works, yes, but it's harsh on concrete, block paving, and even decorative surfaces."
"There's a much cheaper, faster, and gentler way to tackle ice, and most people already have everything they need at home."
His £1.50 Ice-Melt Hack involves creating a DIY solution that will only cost you pennies per use.
It consists of the following:
These ingredients are poured into a spray bottle, shaken, and then applied to icy patches.
Mr Jarvis says the alcohol in the solution "lowers the freezing point of the ice, and the washing-up liquid helps it cling to the surface".
He said: "It works within seconds, keeps the surface safe to walk on, and crucially, won't damage your driveway. You can even use it on decorative or sealed driveways with complete peace of mind."
He says some important things to remember are to:
Act early and spray before ice builds up, as the frost is harder to tackle once its set.
Use a spray bottle, rather than buckets: "A targeted spritz melts ice in seconds and avoids waste," he says.
Mr Jarvis says if it's "diluted correctly, it won't harm your garden or pets if they walk across it".
However, it's best to check with the manufacturer for their advice for de-icing your particular driveway build.
