A Business Owners Guide to Choosing the Best Salt for Driveway Deicing

Keeping roads & walkways safe

Salt can help prevent snow from creating slippery conditions that harm your customers—and your business. Our guide will help you understand what kind of salt is good for your business. Salt can help make quick work of icy conditions—but which variety is the right pick? Our guide will help you understand why you should put deicing salt for driveways and walkways at the top of your winter preparedness checklist.

Types of salt for driveway deicing

There are various types of salt for driveway and walkway deicing that offer different balances of cost, freezing point, pet friendliness and environmental impact. 

• Sodium chloride is the most common deicing solution available. This variety is also commonly known as rock salt, as it’s less processed than the refined grains of table salt. Rock salt is cheap and readily available, but you need more of it to melt ice than some other options. It can also cause the most harm to pets, infrastructure and the surrounding environment. 

• Calcium chloride can rapidly reduce freezing points to -25°F while being less abrasive and harmful than rock salt. It’s also more expensive and tends to be used less frequently.

• Magnesium chloride is another popular, more environmentally-friendly alternative to rock salt. It’s less corrosive to metal and concrete and isn’t as messy when it dissolves. However, this salt can be even more expensive than calcium chloride. It also dissolves quickly, meaning that you might need to apply more of it than other deicing methods depending on the length and severity of the snowstorm.

• Potassium chloride is less harsh on the environment and local wildlife than any other deicing option on this list.  Unfortunately, it also has one of the highest freezing points of all the available options, making it less effective in extreme temperatures.

How to apply deicing salt

Deicing salt tends to be less effective at lower temperatures, so applying salt before snowfall can help keep the freezing point of the surface low and prevent chemical bonds from forming. If you’re unable to salt the area around your business before the snow starts coming down, you should shovel away as much snow as possible before applying salt to boost its effectiveness.

To apply salt, sprinkle a thin layer across the areas you want to clear. The amount you need will vary depending on the type of salt you’re using and the current or expected weather conditions, so be sure to check the instructions before you start. As a good rule of thumb, the Salt Smart Collaborative states that a 12-ounce coffee mug full of deicing salt is enough to cover ten sidewalk squares. 

Try to avoid clumping too much salt in a single area. Use a salt spreader for driveways to ensure a good, even spread.

Using salt for snow & ice management: critical considerations

Sodium chloride isn’t the only option available—and there are good reasons why you might want to pick a different salt for driveway deicing. The following are a few important considerations to guide you toward a driveway salt that will meet your business’s needs.

• Freezing point: Every deicing salt is rated to achieve freezing point depression up to a specific temperature. If it’s too cold outside, the salt you picked out might not be effective at clearing ice. For example, if the salt you picked out is only rated at 20°F, it won’t work if it’s 5°F outside. Consider salt mixtures that can keep up with your local weather conditions.

• Effect on the environment: Salt doesn’t just disappear once it serves its purpose. As ice melts, the resulting brine usually gets swept away as runoff. It then starts seeping into the environment, potentially contaminating local water supplies and eroding the soil, depending on where it ends up. Consider options labeled as “eco-friendly” to minimize potential harm.

• Damage to infrastructure: Using too much salt can damage asphalt driveways and concrete walkways, making it more difficult for customers to navigate in and out of your business. Look for blends specifically rated for the surfaces you plan to use it on, and follow the instructions to avoid over-salting.

• Harm to pets: Deicing salts can also be dangerous for animals, irritating their paws or making them sick if they happen to lick it. If your business caters to animals or experiences a lot of foot traffic where pets are common, look for a pet safe ice melt to ensure their safety and comfort.

• Application: How much space do you need to cover? Will you just manage the walkway in front of your business, or do you also need to clear ice from the parking lot? For the latter, a salt spreader for driveways and sidewalks will help you provide an even layer of salt without taking too much time or effort.

Have you ever wondered why salt melts ice?

Here’s how it all works. Typically, water freezes at 32°F. When you apply deicing salt to a road or sidewalk, the freezing point of that surface decreases. This means that ice that normally freezes at 32°F now freezes at the temperature listed on the bag—depending on the salt, this can be as low as -25°F. As long as you pick out the right kind of salt, you can clear ice away under a variety of cold weather conditions—even during snow storms. Then as the ice melts, the salt and water mixture leaves behind a chemical residue called brine that prevents additional ice from forming on the surface.

Winter is coming. Walmart Business can help you prepare.

Whether you’re expecting a light dusting or a full-on blizzard, Walmart Business can help you stay stocked up on deicing salt and other supplies to keep the roads and walkways around your business safe for everyone. Sign up for Walmart Business today and enjoy free, fast shipping on orders over $35.¹

Already have an account? Upgrade to Walmart Business+, and you could save over $500/year while earning exclusive rewards for your organization.²

¹ Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

² Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business Rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).