How Rock Salt helps to keep you safe during the winter months Salt is most commonly found on the dinner table but its big brother – Rock Salt – is that chunky coarse “grit” that is used to de-ice roads and footpaths. Rock salt works by lowering the freezing point of the moisture to help melt snow and ice quickly. Councils are often criticised for sending gritters out too early but it is important that the Rock Salt has time to be crushed by oncoming traffic as this actually increases its effectiveness. If roads are gritted too late then the surface has already started to freeze, making it dangerous for people to drive so the crushing doesn’t take place. Here at Stones4Homes we sell brown rock salt and white de-icing salt – both have the same de-icing properties but brown rock salt is favoured by local authorities and councils. White de-icing salt is great used on footpaths as it is a cleaner alternative – no brown footprints as you enter a building. Storage for rock salt is important – our top tip is to store it in a grit bin or sealed bag and remember that salt freezes solid at around minus 7 degrees so the location of your bin or bag is also important.