Yes, table salt can melt ice. It works through freezing point depression, where sodium chloride dissolves into ions that disrupt water molecules, lowering the freezing point below 32°F.

How It Works

Table salt (NaCl) mixes with ice's thin water film, forming a brine that melts surrounding ice. This chain reaction continues as long as temperatures stay above about -6°F; below that, it's far less effective compared to rock salt or calcium chloride.

Effectiveness Test

Experiments show table salt turns ice into slush within minutes at room temp, but it creates heavy, messy sludge versus commercial melters that crack ice into shovelable chunks. For thin ice layers above 0°F, it's a solid emergency option—sprinkle generously and let it sit.

Pros and Cons

Aspect| Pros| Cons
---|---|---
Availability| Always in your kitchen pantry 9| Fine grains mean faster dissolution but quicker rinse-off 3
Cost| Dirt cheap for small jobs 5| Ineffective on thick ice or extreme cold 13
Environmental| Less harmful than nothing in a pinch| Corrosive to concrete, plants, and cars; harms pets' paws 17

Trending Tips from Forums

Recent Reddit threads (like Albany's PSA in Feb 2025) rave about table salt for sidewalks, with hacks like mixing 2.3 lbs per gallon of warm water for a sprayable brine. Yahoo Lifestyle called it a "pantry hack" this winter (Dec 2025), but pros urge pet-safe alternatives like Safe Paw.

"Table salt turned my driveway slush in 10 mins—lifesaver when stores were out!" – Forum user vibe

Better Alternatives

For heavy duty, grab rock salt or calcium chloride—they work colder and faster. Blend salt with sand for traction if melting stalls. Always sweep residue post-melt to dodge corrosion.

TL;DR at bottom: Table salt melts ice okay for quick fixes above 0°F, but use sparingly due to limits and damage—opt for pros on big areas.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.