Why You Should NOT Use Chloride Based Ice Melts

This chloride-based magnesium ice melt works well in cold weather. But when the temperature falls drastically, the melting process slows and may even come to a halt. To put it another way, you’ll have to wait a long time for the salted area to be safe to walk or drive on. It isn’t a concrete safe ice melter. In extremely cold weather, waiting will be futile, and it may even be dangerous if you feel the ground is safe but it is still covered in ice and highly slippery.

Is Calcium Chloride Good or Bad Ice Melt?

Whether calcium chloride ice melt (ice melt magnesium chloride) is good or bad depends on your priorities. If you prioritize speed and effectiveness in melting ice and snow, it can be good. However, if you’re concerned about its corrosive nature, environmental impact, and pet safety, you might consider alternatives like CMA or non-chloride ice melts.

Difference Between Ice Melt and Calcium Chloride?

The main difference between ice melt and calcium chloride is in their composition. Ice melt is a general term that refers to any substance used to melt ice and snow. Calcium chloride, on the other hand, is a specific type of ice melt. It’s known for its high ice-melting capacity but has the disadvantages mentioned earlier.

Dangers Of Using Magnesium Chloride As Ice Melt

Magnesium chloride is harmful to pets, children, wildlife, and even adults. Many hazardous effects are listed on the Material Safety Data Sheet for magnesium chloride, including: 

• Contact lens irritates and burns the eyes. 
• It causes skin irritation and burns (particularly in the mouth and throat). 
• When consumed, it causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in the gastrointestinal tract. 
• Its dust causes respiratory discomfort. 
• Inhaling or ingesting metal fumes causes flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, weakness, chest and muscle pain, and an increase in white blood cell count.

Contact with children has the same less dangerous results as it does with pets: irritation of the skin, eyes, mouth, and throat, as well as stomach discomfort. These dangers also exist for wildlife that is known to eat salt when they come upon it. Finally, skin contact and inhalation of magnesium chloride dust puts the person spreading the salt melt at risk. 

Dangers Of Using Calcium Chloride As Ice Melt

Calcium Chloride products melt at high temperatures due to a chemical interaction with water that creates heat pockets, then refreezes. Calcium chloride is effective down to -65 degrees Fahrenheit, but it quickly refreezes. 
Is calcium chloride safe for pets? Not at all. It causes dry paws, local discomfort, and several gastrointestinal problems in pets. Hygroscopic chemicals like calcium chloride cause the problem of dry paws. These chemicals take moisture from the air. It is best to avoid using these chlorides in areas where animals will spend a lot of time.

Dangers Of Using Sodium Chloride Ice Melt

Sodium chloride is the main ingredient in many of the most popular salt-based ice melt on the market, like Safe Step 8300 and Road Runner ice melt. While these rock salt products melt ice at moderately cold temperatures, they present significant concerns for family members, children, pets, soil, wildlife, water bodies, and infrastructure.

Large doses of sodium chloride can cause sodium toxicosis in dogs, and an intake of 4g/kg of sodium chloride can be fatal. Dogs ingesting high amounts of this ice melt can develop hypernatremia. It occurs when the level of sodium increases in the blood. It can lead to dehydration, tachycardia, tachypnea, and in severe cases, to death also. 

People who are at risk for high blood pressure are especially vulnerable to increased salt levels in drinking water. One of the reasons behind this is the use of salt-based ice melt. The sodium ferrocyanide added to rock salt to keep it from clumping during storage is another health danger. It poses a hazard by seeping into local water supplies.

If you have come this far, you know how unsafe it is to use calcium chloride or magnesuim chloride. In fact, it’s imperative that you read the label of the product and not buy anything that includes chloride in any form. But the world of ice melts is deeper than chlorides. Let’s dive into the world of ice melts and find out what should your ideal ice melt be:

Pet-Safe Ice Melt

Worried about your furry friends during the icy season? Pet-safe ice melt is a must. Traditional ice melts can contain compounds like sodium chloride or calcium chloride that can irritate or burn the sensitive paws of our pets. Not to mention, if ingested, these chemicals can be harmful. Look for ice melts labeled as pet-safe, which typically use more benign ingredients that won’t harm if licked or stepped on. Products like Safe Paw are engineered to ensure that your pets can tread safely on treated surfaces without the risk of toxicity.

Concrete-Safe Ice Melt

Ever noticed those pesky cracks on your driveway? They might just be from using the wrong ice melt. Concrete-safe ice melts are formulated to prevent damage like scaling and spalling. Salt-based deicers can accelerate concrete deterioration by encouraging repeated freeze-thaw cycles that stress the material. Instead, opt for ice melts that state they are concrete-safe. These products usually contain safer ingredients like urea, which poses less risk to your concrete structures while effectively melting ice.

Eco-Friendly Ice Melt

Turning our attention to the planet, environmentally friendly ice melts are crucial for maintaining our winter safety without sacrificing ecological health. Traditional ice melts often contain high levels of salts that can leach into soils, degrade water quality, and harm local wildlife. Eco-friendly ice melts minimize these issues by using ingredients that are less harsh on the environment. They often feature urea or glycols, which are less corrosive and safer for the surrounding flora and fauna.

Bulk Purchase With Safe Paw

When you’re out there picking the right product this winter, remember these tips:

• Check labels for terms like pet-safe, concrete-safe, and environmentally friendly.
• Apply ice melt according to the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid overuse, which can negate even the safest product’s benefits.
• Store ice melt in a dry, sealed container to keep it effective and ready for use.

Choosing the right winter de-icing solutions can be straightforward when you know what to look for. By opting for products that cater to the wellbeing of pets, integrity of concrete, and environmental health, you ensure a safer winter for everyone. Next time you stock up, consider a switch to a more sustainable option—it’s a small step in preserving our winters and our planet.

The Safest Ice Melt

Safe Paw is the only concrete safe ice melter and a paw safe salt, and it complies with the severe environmental regulations set forth by US regulatory agencies. Safe Paw ice melt will not affect you, your dogs, children, wildlife, or the environment in general, including your lawn and plants. 

It has two ice-fighting mechanisms. When the unique outer core comes into contact with ice, it quickly liquefies and begins to melt and break up the ice’s surface. Then it penetrates deep into the ice to finish the melting process.

Glycol is used in Safe Paw to defrost the ice and prevent additional freezing. Safe Paw ice melt not only melts current ice but also protects the surface to prevent ice from accumulating in the future. 

Gaia Enterprises Inc. delivers 100% pet-safe and environmentally friendly winter products. Safe Paw, our flagship product, is the #1 selling pet-safe ice melt that does not harm pets, safe if ingested, and safe on all types of concrete.

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