Q. Can I use table salt or cat litter to melt ice on my porch steps?
A. In a pinch, table salt can work at melting ice on porch steps. A chemical reaction takes place between the ice and the salt that lowers the freezing point of water, causing it to melt. While cat litter will not melt ice, it can add a bit of traction on slippery surfaces. Rock salt and other ice melt products are still recommended as the most effective and affordable means of treating ice around homes.