It seems as if that first winter storm always rolls in earlier than expected before you’ve had a chance to stock up on the essentials - like de-icing salt. The last thing you want, though, is to leave outdoor surfaces frozen and risk slips and falls.
So, will table salt melt ice on concrete in the meantime, or are you better off waiting for a more professionally formulated salt-melting solution to arrive? While table salt may melt ice to a certain extent, you’ll find its performance underwhelming.
It’s too fine, so you’d need a ton of table salt to have any effect on the icy surfaces you’re dealing with. That’s why your best bet is to stock up on our high-grade de-icing salt here at Jennychem as early as possible this winter.
It works far better than traditional table salt on ice, with some of our products specifically formulated to melt ice 30x faster! We’ve also made it a point to keep our products environmentally and pet-friendly.
Shop today and keep your surfaces safe as temperatures plummet - or learn more about table salt for ice below and why it won’t get the job done.
Icy surfaces are more than just a winter inconvenience. They pose a serious safety risk. Driveways, walkways, and steps become dangerously slick which increases the chances of slips and falls for family members, visitors, and delivery personnel alike.
These incidents not only lead to potential injuries for the people you care about but can also expose property owners to legal liability. De-icing surfaces cannot be taken lightly.
Beyond safety, the icy build-up can actually damage the surface is has gripped onto as well. This is because repeated freezing and thawing causes concrete and other materials to expand and contract, causing cracks, spalling, and eventual erosion.
Whether you’re managing a home or business property, the stakes are too high to disregard this winter maintenance task. Fortunately, preventing these risks is straightforward with the right approach to de-icing.
But will table salt melt ice on the driveway, walkway, or other parts of your property?
So, does table salt work on ice?
You’ve probably heard that salt in general can be used to combat the risks of slips and falls, but what happens when you put salt on ice exactly? Let’s get more specific - how does salt melt ice? It lowers the freezing point of water.
Is this true of all salts, though? Will table salt melt ice on concrete? Yes - but whether it’s actually a practical approach is another conversation.
Table salt is sodium chloride, which is formulated for cooking, not outdoor de-icing. The fine granules don’t distribute evenly on larger surfaces. Moreover, table salt lacks the specific additives that enhance ice melting in lower temperatures.
This means it may work well up to around -7°C - but you would need a whole lot of salt to cover your entire driveway, sidewalk, or steps! Furthermore, it simply won’t have an effect in colder climates. You’ll just find it makes a mess without melting the ice.
Let’s say you somehow managed to come up with wheelbarrows full of table salt for ice melting. How long does it take table salt to melt ice?
After all, time is of the essence. The longer you leave your surfaces covered in ice the more opportunities there are for accidents.
There are a few moving pieces you need to consider here, including:
So, how long does it take table salt to melt ice? You can reasonably expect to see results in 15-30 minutes at 0°C, with thin ice and adequate salt application. This figure could easily exceed an hour, though, if temperatures drop substantially or if the ice is thicker.
So, will table salt melt ice? Yes - if you have enough of it, and you have enough time, it certainly can. But, there’s really no point bothering with a suboptimal solution like using table salt on ice when a better approach is just a few clicks away.
Using table salt on ice is often frustrating and inefficient. It takes a heaping quantity to move the needle at all. That’s why you’re far better off using a professional-grade de-icing salt.
It’s specifically formulated for this purpose with larger granules and in some cases additives for fast action. Here are some of the reasons it’s worth investing in and where you can find it online right now.
While table salt on ice loses effectiveness around -7°C, professional-grade de-icing salt is treated to melt ice quickly and consistently in sub-zero conditions. This keeps walkways, driveways, and high-traffic areas safe without the need for frequent reapplications.
It’s coarser and engineered for optimal spread so you can cover larger areas uniformly. The particles adhere better to surfaces for longer-lasting ice control. You can even streamline things by learning how to use a salt spreader, saving time and effort while guaranteeing coverage.
Perhaps most importantly, though, a professionally-crafted de-icing salt is safer for the environment we all share. With lower impurities and controlled chloride levels you don’t have to stress about harming nearby soil, vegetation, and concrete compared to table salt.
Sounds great, right? So, who can you trust for top-quality de-icing salt to keep your surfaces safe and slip-free? Look no further than Jennychem.
As the trusted choice for all your chemical cleaning needs for more than 35 years, you can rest assured you’re getting the best de-icing salt in all the UK when you shop with us.
All our products are designed to meet British Standards (BS3247:2011), crafted with superior purity and effective anti-caking agents for effortless application and long-term storage. We have a few different solutions to choose from based on your needs, too:
Across all these products you’re getting great value thanks to our competitive pricing. You can make your life even easier by pairing one of these solutions with a salt spreader at Jennychem, too.
So, shop now or reach out for one-on-one assistance choosing the ideal de-icing salt for your needs. We’ll walk you through how to melt ice on concrete below.
Whether you use table salt on ice or our professional-grade de-icing products, you need to know how to make the most of every application to maximise results with minimal input. Here’s an overview of using de-icing salt.
Clearing snow allows the salt to make direct contact with the ice so it can really work its magic. A shovel or snow blower is ideal for removing snow from larger areas, like driveways and walkways, while a smaller, sturdy broom can be helpful for steps or other narrow spaces.
More is not always better. Applying too much salt can be wasteful and potentially harmful to nearby soil and plants. Meanwhile, using too little may not effectively melt the ice, leaving surfaces still prone to slip and fall accidents. There’s a sweet spot in the middle.
We typically suggest 20-40 grams of salt per square metre, but you can adjust slightly based on the thickness of the ice and outdoor temperature. When in doubt, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for application rates to achieve efficient ice control with minimal impact.
Spreaders allow you to control the flow rate and ensure consistent coverage across the surface, preventing oversaturation in some spots and missed areas elsewhere.
Walk-behind spreaders are ideal for driveways and wide walkways, while handheld spreaders work well for steps and narrow paths.
Like we just touched on, we have a few great spreaders if you’re still on the market. Our blog has tips on how to build a salt spreader DIY if you’re on a tight budget, although our salt spreader prices are much lower than you may assume - take a look!
De-icing salt is best stored in a cool, dry place away from moisture. Exposure to humidity can cause the salt to clump, making it harder to spread and reducing its effectiveness.
Use airtight containers or dedicated salt bins to keep your supply in good condition throughout the winter season. We have one of these here at Jennychem as well!
So, will table salt melt ice? We hope this overview of using table salt on ice has left you with a solid grasp of why it’s not a viable option. Sure, it can melt thin ice in some cases - but it works slowly and it’s just too fine to make a dent.
That’s why you’re far better off relying on a more specifically tailored de-icing salt. They work faster and in much harsher conditions, keeping your property accessible and slip-free.
Our blog has more resources like sugar vs salt which melts ice faster, does salt kill weeds, best windscreen de icer, how to make windscreen de icer, how to unfreeze screenwash, and more as you prepare for winter’s chill.
But we want to leave you with one more final thought - invest in peace of mind with de-icing salt at Jennychem. You can rest assured you’re keeping your walkways and driveways clear with our reliable range of professional-grade de-icing salts.
Experience safer, ice-free surfaces all winter by stocking up today!
