Rock salt is a natural substance that can be used to melt ice and keep sidewalks safe. It comes from mines, where it is extracted by miners.
Applying it before snow fall
If you wait until after the precipitation, it will melt and spread out into a puddle on your sidewalk and ice will form again, leaving you with a slippery mess.
You’ll also want to keep in mind that once snow starts falling and temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, rock salt becomes ineffective because its ability to melt ice is compromised by the low temperature. And if you’re dealing with temperatures above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, your application of rock salt may be too late—it won’t work as a deicer for very long under those conditions anyway!
Shovel your driveway more easily.
Rock salt is a natural de-icer, meaning it can melt ice and snow on sidewalks without harming plants or grass. Sand isn’t as effective at melting ice because it doesn’t have the same dissolving properties as rock salt does. In addition, sand doesn’t help prevent refreezing as well as rock salt does.