How does road salt de-ice our roadways? Removing ice from roads is a fairly simple process. Road salt is spread on the road and it melts through the ice and snow, mixing with the water to form a brine.  Brine is water  that is saturated with salt and has a lower freezing point than water. The brine is what breaks up the ice when it is driven over, creating a slush that is easy to push off the road.

Road salt is inexpensive, making it the ideal solution for cash-strapped communities. It is also very effective and easy to obtain. Unfortunately, road salt is now not considered very environmentally friendly. It should not be put on grassy areas as salt deprives soil of nutrients, causing severe damage to grass and other plants. It is also corrosive to metal and should not come in contact with ornamental metal light poles, gates and statuary.

Still, white road salt is preferred by UK councils who like that pure road salt leaves no unsightly residue. When salt is mixed with other agents, like sand,it leaves a mess on the roads. Salt is cheap to use and it is essential to keep the roads free of ice. Buying road salt is so economical that enough can be bought to ensure there is always a ready supply even for the longest bouts of winter weather.