Key takeaways
- Melting and traction are different jobs. Salt melts; sand grips.
- Sand works at any temperature, which is exactly when salt gives up.
- Kitty litter turns to mush when wet and tracks inside. It is an emergency option at best.
- Never use fertilizer to melt ice. Ammonium-based products damage concrete.
On this page
Melting versus traction
There are two different problems on an icy surface: the ice itself, and the lack of grip on it. Melters attack the first; abrasives solve the second. Salt melts, eventually. Sand grips, immediately. The right answer is often a little of both.
Salt
Salt melts ice by forming brine, which freezes at a lower temperature than water. It works well in mild cold and slows badly below about 20°F pavement temperature, stalling near 15°F. It also takes time: ice does not disappear the moment salt lands on it. For deep cold, calcium chloride keeps working far below where rock salt stops. See does salt work in cold weather.
Sand
Sand melts nothing, but it gives traction the moment it lands, at any temperature. That makes it the right tool for steps, slopes and cold snaps. Coarse sand grips better than fine sand, which can act like ball bearings on smooth ice.
The downsides: it tracks indoors, it washes into storm drains, and it has to be swept up in spring. Use it where grip matters, not across the whole driveway.
Kitty litter
Clay kitty litter is the classic emergency answer, and it is a poor one. Dry, non-clumping litter adds a little grit at first. Once it gets wet, clay absorbs water and turns into a slick paste, which can make footing worse, and it tracks into the house in a way that is hard to clean. Clumping litter is worse. In a pinch it beats nothing on a car tire that is spinning, but sand is better at the same job.
Other things people use
- Crushed stone or poultry grit: a good traction material; angular pieces bite into ice.
- Fertilizer: do not. Ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate damage concrete chemically, and the runoff feeds algae in waterways.
- Hot water: it melts the ice, then refreezes into a smoother, more dangerous sheet.
How they compare
| Material | Melts ice? | Grip right away? | Works in deep cold? | Downsides |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock salt | Yes, in mild cold | No | Stalls near 15°F | Plants, concrete, paws |
| Calcium chloride | Yes, fast | No | Yes | Costs more; use sparingly |
| Coarse sand | No | Yes | Yes | Tracks in; sweep in spring |
| Kitty litter (clay) | No | Briefly | Yes | Turns to mush; tracks in |
| Fertilizer | Somewhat | No | No | Damages concrete; water pollution |
The right mix
For most homes: clear the snow first, put a small amount of the right melter for the temperature on the walking paths and the apron, and add coarse sand wherever someone needs grip right now, like the steps and the slope. That uses less chemical, works in every temperature, and keeps people upright while the melter works.
Sources
- Minnesota Stormwater Manual: how salt works and deicing chemicals — practical working temperatures
- Wisconsin DNR: reduce your salt use this winter — a 12-ounce coffee mug treats about a 20-foot driveway
Written by the Macomb Lawn & Snow Solutions team in Macomb Township, Michigan. We plow and salt homes and businesses across all 26 Macomb County communities, November 15 to April 15. Published September 28, 2026. About us · How we research these guides · How our dispatch works