Brits have endured a properly frosty start to January 2026, with snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures triggering travel disruption and weather warnings across parts of the UK. While the cold snap will not last forever, the Met Office says further wintry hazards, including snow, ice and overnight frost, remain possible through late January and into early February.
It is not just the forecasts showing concern. Analysis by SEO company Four Pillar SEO shows Google searches for phrases such as “how to remove snow from driveway” have surged from virtually no interest last month to peak levels in recent days, suggesting households are scrambling for quick solutions as icy conditions bite.
Long-term Met Office climate data shows a typical UK January averages around 11 air-frost days, with February adding a similar number, meaning there are plenty of opportunities for driveways to become dangerously slippery.
That risk is not merely inconvenient. Department for Transport figures show that slippery road conditions linked to weather were recorded as a contributory factor in 4,472 reported collisions in 2023, including 59 fatal crashes.
Against this backdrop, a viral TikTok video has sparked debate over whether specialist de-icers are always necessary, or whether a common kitchen ingredient could help.
In the clip, user @christinethornton19882 claims that sprinkling granulated sugar onto icy patches of a driveway helped loosen the ice within minutes, making it easier to break up and clear.
The idea is not entirely without scientific basis. Sugar can lower the freezing point of water, disrupting ice formation in much the same way as salt, though generally less effectively.
In typical UK winter conditions, this can help soften thin layers of ice or compacted snow, particularly when temperatures hover just below freezing. Experts caution, however, that sugar should be seen as a short-term, small-area fix rather than a replacement for proper grit or de-icer.
Once the ice melts, sugar can leave behind a sticky residue that may attract dirt or become slippery again if temperatures fall.
Still, its popularity is easy to understand. Granulated sugar is inexpensive, widely available and already in most homes, with supermarket prices hovering just over £1 for a 1kg bag.
With more frosty nights expected in the weeks ahead, it appears many motorists are willing to try whatever works, even if it means raiding the kitchen cupboard, to keep their driveways clear and safe.
