Whether you’re navigating snow-covered roads or driving down a particularly dusty back road, you may have noticed road salt on the roads. Discover today what most road salts are made of, why they’re used and how you can protect your vehicle from the effects of road salt. Find the custom windshield sun shade and car cover options that can offer the protection you need, rain, snow or shine.
What Is Road Salt
Road salt is typically used by cities to prevent ice from building up on the road. Icy roads are a major hazard in winter, so it’s essential to find a way to reduce the amount of snow and ice on roadways. Regardless of its chemical composition, road salts are all used to lower the melting point of ice. This allows the sun and radiant heat of the road to melt ice that would otherwise stubbornly stick to the road.
Here are the basic types of salts used to prevent ice buildup on roads. While the chemical composition can change, these all work in the same basic ways:
- Calcium chloride
- Magnesium chloride
- Potassium chloride
Road Salt for Gravel Roads
You may have noticed road salt on gravel roads near you. Even if there isn’t any snow or ice in your area, road salt can play an important role on gravel roads. Gravel roads can be incredibly dusty, which can obscure your vision and damage your vehicle. If you’ve invested in dash covers for trucks and cars, you understand how dust accumulation can be difficult to clean and damaging to surfaces.
Road salt can reduce the amount of airborne dust from gravel roads. As a dust suppressant, road salt works to improve the lifespan of your paint and wax. It may not be as critical to safety as road salt for ice, but it still plays an important role in the overall maintenance of your vehicle.
Dangers of Road Salt
Of course, even road salts can be damaging to your vehicle. While certainly not as dangerous while you’re driving, road salt and slushy roads can damage your car’s paint and body. Road salt is highly corrosive, so frequent exposure can compromise your paint job, rot your car’s under components and rust its body.
Avoid Road Salt Damage With a Custom Car Cover
Thankfully, there are ways to protect your vehicle from the effects of road salt. While driving down roads with road salt may be unavoidable in winter, the right car covers can help minimize the damage and increase the lifespan of your car’s paint and body. When you’re parked on the side of the road, your car is prone to damage from splashes and sprays of water mixed with road salt. Use a fleece lined waterproof car cover to protect your vehicle from snow, water and salt, while still giving it the breathability it needs.
Look for car covers that fit your make and model of vehicle. Shop online to see if you can find a custom cover to match your specific vehicle. With frequent washings, protective wax and a waterproof car cover, your vehicle will be protected from the worst of snow and road salt damage this winter.
