“Keep a small bag of salt or even a container of table salt in your car,” he said. “If you ever get stuck on icy pavement, sprinkle it around your tires. It’ll help melt the ice and give your tires the traction they need to move again.”
Skeptical but desperate, I followed his suggestion. I poured some salt around my front tires, waited a couple of minutes, and then gently pressed the gas. To my surprise, the tires gripped the road, and the car eased forward as if the ice had vanished.
That day, I learned a lesson I’ll never forget. Since then, I never drive through winter without a little salt in the trunk.
Why Salt Works So Well
Salt lowers the freezing point of water, meaning it can melt ice even when temperatures are below freezing. When sprinkled on icy roads or around tires, it helps break down the slippery layer of ice, restoring traction and control.
Other Handy Uses for Salt in Your Car
What’s amazing is that salt’s usefulness doesn’t end there. Here are a few other clever ways it can come in handy:
1. De-icing Windshields: Mix salt with water and spray it on your windshield to prevent frost from forming overnight.
2. Prevent Foggy Windows: Rubbing a small cloth bag of salt on the inside of your windshield can reduce window fog.
3. Clean Spills and Stains: Salt can help absorb moisture or even lift coffee stains from your car’s upholstery.
4. Emergency Traction: Besides icy conditions, salt can also provide grip on muddy or slippery dirt roads.
The Takeaway
Keeping salt in your car might sound simple, but it can make a big difference—especially when the weather turns harsh. It’s inexpensive, easy to store, and could save you from getting stuck, being late, or even calling for roadside assistance.
Sometimes, the smallest things—like a humble shaker of salt—can make the biggest difference when you need it most.
