As winter approaches, maintaining safe and clear surfaces becomes a priority for homeowners, landscapers, and business owners. With so many de-icing options available, it can be difficult to determine which product will work best for your specific needs. At Kilgore Salt Lake Landscape Center, we offer a variety of de-icing solutions, each designed for specific applications. From rock salt to ice melt salt and solar salt, understanding their differences will help you make an informed decision for winter snow and ice removal.
Rock Salt: The Traditional De-Icer
Rock salt, also known as sodium chloride, is the most common and traditional product used to de-ice surfaces during winter. The University of Minnesota explains that rock salt is found in evaporated seawater or natural salt deposits from our Great Salt Lake. They are found as large, coarse crystals that are easy to spread. It is often used by municipalities, businesses, and homeowners due to its availability, affordability, and effectiveness.
Features of Rock Salt:
- Temperature Range: Effective down to 20°F, though it struggles in subzero temperatures.
- Best For: Large areas like roads, parking lots, and driveways.
- Application: Requires larger quantities for optimal results, especially in extreme cold.
Type C Bulk Road Salt
At Kilgore Landscape Center, we also offer Type C White Bulk Road Salt, a treated version of rock salt specifically designed for large-scale use. This road salt is treated with magnesium chloride, lowering the freezing point and making it effective in temperatures as low as 0°F. It also contains Yellow Prussiate of Soda (YPS) to prevent clumping and ensure smooth application.
Solar Salt: A Refined De-icer
Solar salt is another form of sodium chloride, but with a more refined production process. It’s made through a natural evaporation process where seawater or brine is exposed to sunlight and wind in shallow pools. This process produces cleaner, more uniform crystals compared to traditional rock salt.
Features of Solar Salt:
- Uniform Crystals: Smaller, more consistent texture for even application.
- Purity: Cleaner salt with fewer impurities, leaving less residue.
- Effectiveness: Often enhanced with calcium, magnesium, or potassium to boost performance at lower temperatures.
- Environmentally Friendly: Safer for pets, plants, and concrete.
Ice Bomb De-icer
At Kilgore Landscape Center, we offer Ice Bomb Solar Salt, an enhanced solar salt designed to outperform basic salts. This product is enriched with calcium, magnesium, and potassium, providing superior ice-melting power down to -0°F. Its extra-coarse grains offer instant traction, ideal for high-traffic areas. The purple organic dye ensures precise application, reducing waste and providing visible control.
Ice Melt: The Fastest De-Icer
For fast-acting de-icing, ice melt salt products are typically more effective than rock salt. The University of Wisconsin notes that Ice melt is usually a blend of different salts, such as calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, or sodium chloride, which work together to lower the freezing point of water and break down ice more quickly.
Features of Ice Melt:
- Temperature Range: Typically effective down to -20°F or lower, making it ideal for harsh winter conditions.
- Speed: Begins melting ice almost immediately, making it the fastest solution.
- Efficiency: Requires less product due to faster action and lower melting temperatures.
Kilgore’s Salt Lake Landscape Center offers several ice melt products, each designed to tackle severe winter conditions.
Purple Heat
A magnesium chloride-based product that melts ice down to -15°F. It is safer for concrete and pet-friendly, making it a great option for residential driveways, sidewalks, and smaller commercial properties. The purple dye helps control application, ensuring the right amount is used.
Polar Ice Melt
This blend of sodium chloride, liquid magnesium chloride, and sodium silicate is effective down to -25°F. With its blue dye, it ensures easy visibility and even coverage, making it ideal for large properties or parking lots. It is also concrete-safe and pet-friendly.
Choosing the Right Product for Your Needs
With different de-icing products available, it’s important to choose the one that best fits your specific needs. Here’s a quick guide:
- For Large Commercial Areas or High-Traffic Roads: Type C Bulk Road Salt is the ideal choice for highways, parking lots, and large-scale snow removal. Its enhanced formulation ensures effectiveness even in colder temperatures.
- For Smaller Residential Areas: Products like Polar Ice Melt or Purple Heat Ice Melt are perfect for sidewalks, driveways, and smaller commercial areas. These products melt ice quickly and are effective in subzero temperatures, while being gentle on concrete and safe for pets.
- For Instant Traction and Visibility: Ice Bomb Ice Melt is perfect for larger commercial applications where visibility and control are important. Its coarse grains provide instant traction, making it ideal for high-traffic areas.
| Category | Product Name | Main Ingredients | Best For | Temperature Range | Key Features |
| Rock Salt | Road Salt | Sodium Chloride (treated with Magnesium Chloride) | Municipalities, contractors, large-scale use | Effective to 0°F | Treated with Magnesium Chloride, anti-caking agent, ideal for large applications like highways and parking lots |
| Solar Salt | Ice Bomb | Sodium Chloride (enhanced with Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium) | Large commercial applications, heavy traffic areas | Melts to -0°F | Extra-coarse grains for instant traction, purple dye for controlled application, pet & environment-friendly |
| Ice Melt | Purple Heat | Magnesium Chloride | Residential driveways, concrete surfaces | Melts to -15°F | Pet-friendly, concrete-safe, fast-acting with purple dye for controlled application |
| Ice Melt | Polar | NaCl, MgCl₂, Sodium Silicate | Large commercial properties, parking lots | Melts to -25°F | Blue dye for visibility, concrete-safe, pet & plant-friendly, fast-melting |
Kilgore’s Salt Lake Landscape Center
Choosing the right de-icing product can make all the difference when it comes to keeping surfaces safe during winter. At Kilgore Landscape Center, we offer a range of solutions—from rock salt to solar salt and ice melt salt products—to meet various needs. Whether you’re dealing with large-scale operations, residential driveways, or need an environmentally friendly option, our products provide reliable and efficient snow and ice removal.
If you’re not sure which product is right for your situation, our team at Kilgore Landscape Center is here to help. Visit our Salt Lake City location or call us to find the perfect de-icing solution for your needs and enjoy a safer, clearer winter season.
