As snow and ice weather alerts continue across the UK, drivers and pedestrians alike are being urged to take care in the potentially dangerous conditions. This week has seen many parts of the country blanketed in snow, with perilous black ice wreaking havoc as many try to get to work, travel for Christmas shopping or to visit friends and family.
The dreaded black ice is a slippery layer that is incredibly hard to detect, but can cause serious injuries and accidents on roads, pavements and driveways if it's not treated with care. It forms in chilly conditions when water freezes into ice, yet unlike other frosty walkways, it often just looks 'wet' which poses an even higher risk as it's near-enough invisible.
As many of us will be out and about on a mission to finish our Christmas shopping this weekend, but as the Met office warnings around snow and ice persist, it's important to clear your driveway and nearby pavement of frost and snow before you set off to avoid nasty falls or accidents. Officials at The Department of Transport have warned people against using water to clear away snow and frost, as it can worryingly create more black ice, The Daily Record reports.
Thankfully, there's a simple way to melt snow and black ice using kitchen staples that you'll already have in your cupboard. There's no need to invest in fancy chemical products, as these simple ingredients will clear the roads in seconds.
All you have to do is rummage through your kitchen cupboard for some salt, or head to your shed and dig out some sand to tackle the ice and snow on your driveway.
Standard table salt will do the job just fine, or you can chuck some dishwasher salt down if you have that to hand. A tablespoon for each square meter should do the trick - you can purchase 750g of table salt for as little as 65p in Asda if you need to stock up.
If you don't have enough table or dishwasher salt at home, you can also use sand or ash to tackle the snow and ice. This won't stop the road or pavement icing over as well, but it will give you better grip under foot.
People have been warned against using salt found in grit bins as this is used by the council to keep roads clear.
Pay particular attention to steep pathways and steps when clearing snow and ice - you may need more salt or sand in those areas.
As the snow gripped parts of the UK last week, we reported on another clever hack that one woman describes as 'the best' tip ever for avoiding falling over on icy pavements.
Mum-of-two Mel uses a pair (or an odd pair) of old socks to beat the perilous conditions, as she wraps them over her shoes before she heads out. This gives her more grip and helps to put her at ease. Although she admits that she does look rather silly with them on, she insists that she'd much rather be safe than sorry.
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