‘Does the same job’: Detroit business man buys Morton salt at Lowe’s. He says it’s a cheaper way to protect your streets from ice. Does it work?
Winter means one thing: Ice.
As temperatures drop, road and sidewalk ice becomes a growing concern. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 20,460 ice, sleet, and snow-related injuries on jobsites in 2017 alone.
There are a few things that people can do to lower their risk of ice-related injury. One of the primary methods people employ to reduce the amount of ice is by using road salt. Salt lowers the freezing point of ice substantially, turning it into water and, thus, making it safer to walk and drive on.
However, some issues come with using road salt. One of the primary issues for the everyday consumer is price, though one user on TikTok says he’s come up with a solution to this problem.
Is This Really Cheaper Than Road Salt?
In a video with over 412,000 views, TikToker @detroitjetskii explains how he’s able to save money on road salt during the winter months.
“Do yourself a favor,” he starts. “Don’t get that regular 30-pound rock salt, which will cost you a fortune.”
Instead, he shows off a bag of Morton Pure Natural Water Softener Crystals.
“Only for $6.58 per bag,” he notes. For context, this bag contains 40 pounds of “Water Softener Crystals.”
What You Should Know About Road Salt
So, is this really a better option than normal road salt? Not quite.
First, it should be noted that this isn’t actually cheaper than road salt in many cases. For example, Blain’s Farm and Fleet offers a 40-pound bag of “Snow and Ice Melter” for just $5.99.
Second, some commenters questioned whether using water softener crystals instead of road salt would cause damage to one’s driveway. While the TikToker insisted in a comment and follow-up video that it wouldn’t, it’s important to acknowledge this possibility.
Several sources say that Morton Pure Natural Water Softener Crystals are composed solely of Sodium Chloride. This is also known as “table salt” or NaCl. Many other brands of rock and road salt also contain simply sodium chloride. Thus, it would appear that using water softener crystals is no better or worse for your driveway or sidewalk than another NaCl-based solution.
Should You Use Road Salt At All?
Given that there are many road salt products on the market containing just NaCl, one might assume that it’s safe to use on driveways. So, is it?
Using sodium chloride on a driveway or sidewalk will melt snow and ice. That said, many experts state that NaCl-based products have a few drawbacks.
First, it can cause environmental problems for nearby vegetation and water sources. Second, using NaCl near metal surfaces, like cars, can speed up corrosion. Third, there are some concerns that NaCl loses its effectiveness in extremely cold temperatures. Finally, some say that using any salt whatsoever can damage concrete.
Instead of NaCl-based salts, some recommend using calcium chloride (CaCl) instead. For those who are more concerned about the environment, they can use calcium magnesium acetate and potassium acetate.
That said, these options are more expensive. A CaCl-based salt costs around $0.49 per pound. In contrast, a bag of NaCl costs around $0.15 per pound.
@detroitjetskii Save yourself money get this and much safer in your concrete. Does the same job and melts the snow and ice. #snow #icemelt #winter ♬ original sound – Detroit Jet Ski Riders
Commenters Aren’t Convinced
While commenters were appreciative of the tip in theory, many weren’t totally sold on the idea of using Water Softener Crystals on their driveways.
“Save money on ice melt, spend $15k to have your driveway re-poured because it’s pitted from using water softener salt, which is not safe for concrete,” joked a user.
“Yeah…used to do that, but unfortunately it’s awful for your pavement and you have to use more that you would if you just bought the product made for melting ice,” suggested another. “In the end you aren’t really saving a whole lot.”
“I just learned from a town FB post that my town gives out free salt/sand to all residents who to go public works to pick it up!” offered a third.
The Mary Sue reached out to Morton and @detroitjetskii via email.
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