Five Household Things to Melt Snow Under Tires

Rubbing Alcohol

• Pour one bottle of 91 percent rubbing alcohol on the ice around each of the tires. Allow the rubbing alcohol to melt the ice for three to four minutes. Break up the melted ice and shovel it away. Place a piece of cardboard behind each tire and attempt to remove the vehicle. The combination of the melted ice and cardboard will provide enough traction to move the car.

Vinegar

• Melt the ice by pouring white vinegar around the tires. Allow the vinegar to soak into the ice for two to three minutes. Shovel away the melted ice.

Epsom Salt

• Sprinkle Epsom salt behind and in front of each tire. Allow the salt to penetrate the ice for two to three minutes before attempting to drive the car away.

Sand

• This takes a little longer, but sprinkling sand around the tires will melt the ice. The sand will absorb heat from the sun, even on a cloudy day, and gradually melt the ice. It has the added benefit that it will remain on your driveway and provide traction.

Fireplace Ash

• Fireplace or woodstove ash works much the same way as sand, and it provides excellent immediate traction on ice. Sprinkle it everywhere you want the ice to melt, and where your car needs traction in your driveway.
  Keep a small bucketful in your car to use in emergencies.
  But don't use it on walkways. If you track it into your house, you'll be sleeping in the doghouse.