Can you use kitty litter as an eco-friendly alternative for melting ice?
@Raisa_BTT myths hmmm.Kitty litter for icy or being stuck on the roads.Another myth alway have tools or first aid. No monsters under the bed
— Keith (@KeithMcD76) March 1, 2014
This one sounds like a winner, but it’s still up for debate. The short answer, yes and no!
Yes, kitty litter can help you out in the snow, but not by melting it, because it doesn’t.
If you use kitty litter, it can add a lot of traction to the snow, which can help you out if your car ever gets stuck, so keep a bag in your car, it can be a lifesaver.
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It will do the same thing if you use it on your driveway and front porch, it adds traction to slippery surfaces, but it will not melt the ice and snow. It does, however, prevent the white stains that are leftover from using salt. Salt is still one of the best products to use to melt snow, because it lowers the freezing point of water and it also adds traction once the ice has melted.
But if you’re trying to be eco-friendly and opt for kitty litter, just make sure you do NOT buy the clumping kind. Kitty litter essentially just sucks up the water, buying the clumping kind will lead to a very sticky mess to clean up when the temps start to warm up!
@Raisa_BTT Actually pumping brakes is a misnomer without ABS one should lift toes just before lock up occurs hence the term thresholdbraking
— Steve Overend (@SteveOverend1) March 1, 2014
Steve is absolutely correct, you should definitely not pump your brakes if you have ABS. In slippery driving conditions, pumping the brake pedal is a technique that is taught to slow down your car and to unlock the wheels. In vehicles that have ABS, the wheels should never lock. Pumping your brakes will actually take you longer to finally slow down and stop your car.
If you’re in a situation where you need to make an emergency stop, the best thing to do is to put all your weight on the brake pedal and hold it down firmly. You’ll feel a whole lot of grinding underneath your foot, and you may feel your brake pedal shake violently, but that’s just the ABS doing its job, so don’t let go. Your car will eventually come to a full stop, quicker.
Do you have any myths to share? Let us know!
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