Ice can look beautiful hanging from the eaves of houses and glistening on trees branches, but the cold, slippery stuff can cause a multitude of problems. Ice can build up on your roof and in your gutters creating ice dams, for example, that, if left unchecked, can lead to roof leaks, sagging ceilings and mold. Ice buildup on your driveway and walkways can be treacherous, not only for you, but also for anyone who comes in contact with it, meaning it's an automatic liability. Meanwhile, ice on your car can be extremely difficult and time-consuming to remove with just a scraper.

That said, there are plenty of hacks and prevention tips to keep ice from building up. We'll walk you through some of the most useful ones.

Ice build up on your roof and in your gutters

When snow builds up on your roof, the heat that collects in your attic can melt it, which creates meltwater runoff that goes directly into your cold eaves/gutters where it then turns to ice. That's how ice dams develop, and even though they often create pretty-looking icicles that hang off your house, ice dams can rip off gutters, loosen shingles, and lead to meltwater backup resulting in major roof leaks.

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Prevention

The best way to deal with ice dams is to prevent them before they form with heated cables. Before winter gets underway, you - or a professional - can lay these cables on your roof in a zigzag pattern so they cover a good amount of surface area. When snow falls, you can simply turn these cables on to melt the snow and ice immediately, thereby preventing ice build up.

Quick fix

If you've already noticed a leak in your attic, one way to keep it from getting worse is to bring a large fan up there and point it directly at the leak. The cold air should freeze the water quickly and prevent any further roof damage from occurring.

The scrape method

A designated roof rake with wheels on the bottom is a great tool to quickly remove snow so that it doesn't melt and form ice dams. The one caveat: you must do the raking as soon as you can after a snowfall to avoid any ice/water buildup.

A makeshift deicing system

If you don't have heater cables installed, something that can help create a path for the meltwater away from your eaves is a makeshift deicer. While just throwing deicer on your roof can damage it, if you put it in something like pantyhose, it will still do the job without affecting your shingles. All you need to do it position it so it lays on the ice dam and hangs over the gutter, thereby creating an avenue for the meltwater to travel off of your roof.

Ice-encrusted car/windshield

It's never fun to find your car encased in a layer of ice, especially when you're already late for work. Ice might make your car doors tricky to open, and, if it's on your windshield, it'll make it near impossible to see while driving. Scraping ice off your car takes time and can even damage the finish and glass if done in haste.

So what's the solution? One handy solution that you can make quickly yourself is to mix two-thirds rubbing alcohol with one-third water, put it in a spray bottle, and spray it all over the ice on your car. Alcohol has a much lower freezing temperature than water, and it's the same component that makes it a good ice-melting agent. Once you've sprayed your car, give the icy areas a quick, gentle once over with your scraper and the ice should come right off. Then you'll be good to get on your way!

Ice on your driveway and walkways

When ice forms on your driveway, it can cause you to lose control of your vehicle and slide into traffic that's not ready for you, causing an accident. Similarly, slippery walkways around your house can cause you, loved ones, and strangers to lose balance, slip and fall, potentially resulting in serious injury. The trickiest thing about ice is that it often lurks right under snow, so you don't see it until it's too late.

There are, however, several ways to get ahead of the accidents that ice can cause.

Deicing salt before the ice forms

If snow or freezing rain is in the forecast, it's a good idea to sprinkle some rock salt on your driveway and walkways before it starts so that the ice won't be able to form in complete patches. While traditional rock salt can be harmful to pets and plants, there are safer rock salts you can purchase at your local hardware store.

For stubborn ice

If ice has already formed, and your rock salt isn't making a dent in it, try throwing some good ol' boiling water on the problem area, then taking a shovel or pick axe to help break it up.

Other natural deicing methods

Salt, even natural salt, can be corrosive over time, and thus should not always be your go-to deicer. The Farmer's Almanac suggests trying these other options: urea, which is a type of fertilizer that's less corrosive than salt but still safe for pets, alfalfa meal, and sugar beet juice, which, like alcohol, can lower the freezing point of water.