Can't Find Rock Salt in New York? Here are 5 Alternatives

Well, this certainly has been quite the winter. Does it take you back to what a normal winter usually looks and feels like in the Southern Tier of New York and Northeast Pennsylvania? It does for me. Cold and snowy with a coating of ice.

There sure has been a call for ice melt/rock salt and road salt this winter, especially in areas where snow and ice have been more prevalent like Buffalo, Syracuse, and the North Country.

Depending on where you go for ice melt/rock salt, you may find some stores have a very limited supply or are out of stock. A friend who lives in Syracuse told me that it's almost impossible to find ice melt/rock salt in Central New York.

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According to the website North Country Public Radio, some communities across the state have experienced a shortage of ice melt and road salt. Even New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has noted that this winter has seen more challenging road conditions in years.

So, for those of us who are just trying to keep our sidewalks, driveways, and steps clear of that slippery ice, but hard to find ice melt/rock salt, is there an alternative? Well, the answer is yes according to Accuweather, but they are not as good as the real thing. Here are Accuweather's five suggestions:

Sand, Cinders, Coffee Grounds, and Kitty Litter - While these items won't melt the ice and snow, they can help give some traction.

Table Salt - According to Accuweather, this alternative works, but only when the temperature is above 15 degrees Fahrenheit, and it would take a lot of salt to cover your steps, sidewalk, driveway, etc.

Water Softener Salt - Accuweather says it's not as effective as rock salt, but it's better than nothing. Upside - it comes in a large bag.

Beet Juice - No, not Beetlejuice. I know that's what you are thinking. When mixed with water, beet juice is an alternative, but you may end up staining the surface of whatever area you are trying to clear of ice.

Baking Soda - also mix with water, and a pre-friendly solution says Accuweather, but again you would need a large amount of this mixture to melt that nasty ice from the surfaces you need cleared.

For more in-depth details, visit the Accuweather article.

Here are some interesting facts from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to conserve your supply of ice melt/rock salt:

Shovel what you can first. Removing snow and ice first helps reduce the amount of rock salt/ice melt you’ll need.
It only takes 12 ounces to effectively melt snow and ice on a 20-foot driveway.
Rock salt/ice melt will not melt snow or ice below 15 degrees Fahrenheit.