Type Of Alcohol

• Purchase isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to melt ice. It should be at least 91 percent alcohol. Watered-down alcohol will not be effective and can end up being a waste of time and money. Purchase the alcohol in bulk for the winter season. You can purchase it by the quart, gallon or the average drugstore bottles. Do not dilute the alcohol, because it will work best at full strength.
  
  

Application

• Remove all of the snow from the area so the alcohol does not become watered down before reaching the ice. Pour the alcohol over small, thick patches of ice, and spray it onto thinner, large areas. To spray the alcohol, pour it into a spray bottle that has a "misting" action. Barber's spray bottles are an excellent choice, and they can be found at discount stores for sometimes less than a dollar. Purchase one with a large capacity, especially if you need to cover an extremely large area.
  
  

Safety

• Label the bottle so it is obvious that alcohol is inside. This will reduce the chances of an accidental poisoning of young children or pets, and the death of houseplants that may be mistakenly misted with the alcohol. Do not walk on the surface the alcohol has been applied to until the ice has melted. The alcohol may cause the top layer of ice to melt quickly, which can make for a very slick surface. Wait at least a few minutes before walking over it.