Michigan Winters Made Safer with This Strange but Effective Trick

Before we are hit with more winter storms in Michigan, there is something that you may have in your fridge that may help your icy driveway.

If you are driving through the city of Novi and see a reddish-tinted liquid splashed on the road, do not be alarmed.

What is this reddish-tinted liquid and why is it used on the roads?

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⬇️ READ MORE: Winter Weather Safety Tips for Michiganders ⬇️

Novi's "Juicy" Winter Prep

The city of Novi uses beet juice with calcium chloride to pre-treat the Michigan roads before another winter storm.

According to Fox 2, this "mixture is a winning combination for pre-treating roads before a winter storm hits."

This interesting (weird) combination helps prevent the snow and icy conditions from sticking to the road, according to Novi Director of Public Works, Jeff Herczeg. Plus, it is environmentally safe compared to other pre-treatment methods.

Herczeg shared that  "it's just a natural product that we discovered is a great binder - it keeps the liquid on the pavement."

While this is an effective method for Novi, it is not a perfect solution.

"When temperatures dip below 20, it's really - nothing's effective. Even salt, for the most part, is tough to melt the ice and snow."

Novi is not the only city that has used this beet juice brine as a pre-treatment. Washington, D.C., has also used this method a few times.

Other Snow Pre-Treatment Methods

If the beet juice brine is a little too much for you, there are plenty of other methods to pre-treat your driveway before a winter storm.

AccuWeather suggested a life hack to clear your driveaway by using half a sheet of plywood.

You can use kitty litter from any grocery store, pet supply store, etc. It won't melt or prevent the ice by any means. However, it does help absorb moisture and help give some traction to your tires.

Besides kitty litter, sand, gravel or wood ash is always an option. For pre-treatment options, you can check this out.