Working With Dry Ice

Dry ice fog can create the perfect atmosphere for a Halloween party. However, dry ice is not the same as regular ice, and you need to know a little more about it before you start planning to make spooky Halloween fog.

What is dry ice?
Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide. When dry ice melts, it turns into a gas, not into liquid, which is why it is so perfect for creating fog effects.

Where can I find dry ice?
Try the online Dry Ice Directory. However, you should pick it up right before you plan to use it. It can be difficult to store and melts quickly.

Is dry ice safe?
Not if you touch it with your bare hands. Dry ice can burn you if you don't handle it with heavy gloves. The burns are no joke. In fact, contestants trying to win a radio show promotion burned and scarred themselves badly when they sat on dry ice. Only adults should be allowed to handle the ice.

Also make sure anywhere you store or handle the ice is well-ventilated. Since dry ice is carbon dioxide, you might pass out or even suffocate as the ice turns into gas. And, if you store it in an airtight container, the container might burst.

If you are having a party with extremely young kids or if you feel nervous about handling dry ice, you may want to rent or invest in a fog machine.

How do I use dry ice to make fog?
All you need to do is accelerate the dry-ice melting process so it turns into gas. While wearing gloves, place the dry ice in a bucket or Styrofoam container, and pour hot water over the ice. You may want to set your homemade fog machine in front of a window or a fan to keep the fog circulating, which will boost ventilation. Keep refreshing the water when the fog starts to vanish.

When you are all done, place the dry ice in an open container. Eventually, all of the dry ice will melt into gas and enter the atmosphere.