A half-gallon of hot water mixed with about six drops of dish soap and a quarter cup of rubbing alcohol, poured onto a sidewalk or driveway, makes the ice and snow bubble up and melt; a shovel on hand makes quick work of clearing what's left.
A Homemade Ice Melt and a Fast Windshield Defroster

Running out of rock salt right before a storm doesn't have to mean a slippery front porch.
Make a Homemade Ice Melt
Defrost a Windshield in Under a Minute
A spray bottle mixed with one part water to two parts isopropyl or rubbing alcohol, sprayed on a frosted windshield (or frozen door handles), melts the ice almost instantly. Isopropyl alcohol doesn't freeze until well below zero, so the bottle can live in the car all winter without freezing itself.
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