Dead Sea MAG®: The Pet-Friendly Magnesium Chloride Deicer That’s Harder on Ice

All deicers work by the same fundamental mechanism: dissolving into the water film on ice to create a brine solution with a lower freezing point than pure water. This brine breaks the bond between the ice and the surface beneath, allowing the ice to be cleared mechanically. The differences between deicers lie in how quickly they form brine, how low a temperature they remain effective, how corrosive they are to concrete and metal, and how toxic they are to people, pets, and the environment.

Magnesium chloride has a eutectic point of -33°C (-28°F) and melts effectively down to -25°C (-13°F) in real-world conditions — a significantly lower working temperature than sodium chloride (rock salt), which becomes ineffective below approximately -9°C (15°F). MgCl₂ is also hygroscopic — it actively attracts moisture from the environment and from the ice surface — accelerating brine formation and the onset of melting. In timed comparisons at -6°C (21°F), magnesium chloride begins melting ice within minutes of application.

Critically, the chloride content of magnesium chloride is substantially lower than that of calcium chloride or sodium chloride when compared on an equivalent dry-weight basis. At 34% chloride content (in its commercial hexahydrate form), MgCl₂ introduces significantly less chloride to the environment per unit of ice melted than rock salt (61% chloride) — making it the most environmentally responsible chloride-based deicer commercially available at scale.

Dead Sea MAG® is not synthesized — it is naturally harvested from the Dead Sea, the hypersaline lake at the border of Israel and Jordan that holds the world’s highest natural concentration of dissolved minerals. The Dead Sea contains approximately 20% magnesium chloride by weight — the single highest-concentration mineral in its waters — alongside other therapeutic minerals that have made it world-famous for health and wellness applications.

ICL extracts magnesium chloride from Dead Sea brines through a natural solar evaporation process, concentrating the mineral-rich water in vast evaporation pans. The resulting concentrated brine is then refined into the pure magnesium chloride used in Dead Sea MAG®. No synthetic chemicals are added to this process. The purity of Dead Sea magnesium chloride is what differentiates it from MgCl₂ sourced from underground brine deposits or synthetic production: Dead Sea-sourced magnesium chloride contains a naturally lower profile of heavy metal contaminants and a consistent mineral composition that synthetic sources cannot replicate.

ICL is one of the world’s largest producers of magnesium chloride, with over a century of Dead Sea extraction experience. This mineral authority underpins the quality consistency of Dead Sea MAG® and is validated by ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 18001 certifications at Dead Sea Works — the production entity behind the product. The same Dead Sea magnesium is also the source of Dead Sea magnesium in textile applications, including ICL’s TextiMag™ odor control technology, as well as the full range of ICL magnesium compounds from the Dead Sea for pharmaceutical, food-grade, and industrial applications. For product specifications, visit the Dead Sea MAG® product page or the dedicated consumer platform at mag-icemelt.com.

The following table compares Dead Sea MAG® (magnesium chloride) against the four most widely used deicers: sodium chloride (rock salt), calcium chloride, potassium chloride, and acetate-based deicers (CMA). Data draws from independent testing by the U.S. National Research Council’s Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP), the Virginia Department of Transportation, and the Swedish VTI institute.

Pet safety is the most frequent concern consumers raise when selecting a deicer, and it is the area where Dead Sea MAG® delivers its most distinctive advantage. Three separate factors combine to make Dead Sea MAG® the safest deicer for pets on the market:

Low Toxicity — Nearly 3× Safer Than Table Salt

Dead Sea MAG®’s oral toxicity (LD50) is nearly three times lower than that of common table salt — and eight times lower than calcium chloride. This means that if a dog or cat licks their paws after walking on a Dead Sea MAG®-treated surface, the risk of toxic harm is substantially lower than with any other common chloride-based deicer. By comparison, rock salt is classified as toxic to pets at relatively low ingestion levels, and calcium chloride can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus due to its exothermic reaction when wet. The same magnesium that keeps Dead Sea MAG® safe for pets is used in ICL’s magnesium for health and wellness applications — including pharmaceutical supplements and personal care minerals.

No Burning or Irritation — Non-Exothermic

Unlike calcium chloride, which generates heat as it dissolves (an exothermic reaction), magnesium chloride does not produce significant heat on contact with moisture. This means it does not burn or irritate pet paws, bare feet, or hands. Standard rock salt contains sharp, jagged crystals that can physically cut paw pads — a problem that causes limping and excessive paw-licking in dogs after winter walks.

Spherical Pellets — No Sharp Edges

Dead Sea MAG® pellets are spherical — not jagged like rock salt crystals. The rounded shape eliminates the physical injury risk to pet paws entirely. The pellets also rapidly dissolve into a homogenous brine solution on contact with ice and moisture, meaning there are no persistent solid crystals on the surface that pets can contact for extended periods.

Surface damage is the second major concern for property managers, facility operators, and homeowners with concrete driveways, walkways, or parking structures. All chloride-based deicers can cause some degree of surface damage over time — but the degree varies enormously between products, and independent testing provides clear data.

The U.S. National Research Council’s Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) conducted standardized testing on concrete spalling caused by common deicers. Results showed that sodium chloride (rock salt) caused 63 times more concrete chipping and scaling than magnesium chloride, and calcium chloride caused 26 times more. Two additional independent studies — conducted by the Virginia Department of Transportation and Sweden’s VTI institute — confirmed the SHRP findings: magnesium chloride causes significantly less concrete spalling than either of its two most common alternatives.

Dead Sea MAG® also leaves no powdery or oily residue after the brine evaporates — unlike rock salt (white powder) and calcium chloride (oily film). This matters for indoor tracking: surfaces treated with Dead Sea MAG® outside do not deposit corrosive or staining residue on indoor floors, carpets, and finishes when tracked in on footwear.

Important caveat: No chloride-based deicer should be applied to concrete less than one year old. Fresh concrete is porous and susceptible to damage from all ice-melt chemicals. For new concrete surfaces, sand or other non-chemical traction aids are recommended until the concrete has fully cured.

Every spring, snowmelt runoff carries deicer residue into local waterways, soil, and groundwater. Chloride ions do not biodegrade — once they enter an ecosystem, they persist. The environmental impact of a deicer is therefore primarily a function of how much chloride it deposits per unit of ice melted.

Dead Sea MAG® contains at least one-third less chloride than calcium chloride or sodium chloride when compared on an equivalent performance basis. Because it is also more effective per unit applied at moderate temperatures, the total chloride load required to maintain a clear surface is further reduced. Magnesium, unlike sodium, is a plant macronutrient — it is a common ingredient in fertilizers — meaning that trace magnesium in runoff does not damage plants and turf the way sodium or chloride at high concentrations does.

Dead Sea MAG® is sourced through a solar evaporation process that requires no synthetic chemical inputs and no underground mining — a lower-impact extraction method than most competing deicer raw materials. ICL’s Dead Sea Works production facility holds ISO 14001 environmental management certification.

Dead Sea MAG® is available in two physical forms, each optimized for different application needs:

Spherical Pellets

MAG® pellets are spherical in shape and designed for use with standard ice melt spreaders — from residential walk-behind models to commercial-grade equipment. The spherical shape creates a concentrated point of contact with the ice and snow surface, allowing the pellet to “bore” downward through the top layer and form a brine underneath. This brine layer lifts the overlying ice, making it easier to remove mechanically with a shovel or plow. Pellets are ideal for driveways, sidewalks, and parking areas where spreader application is practical.

Flakes

MAG® flakes provide a large, flat surface area that spreads evenly and stays in place on application — unlike pellets, which can roll on sloped or windy surfaces. Flakes dissolve rapidly on contact with ice, delivering fast-acting brine. They are well suited for mixing with other dry products (rock salt or sand) to create hot mixes, and for areas where pellets might roll away. Flakes are also the preferred form for industrial-scale applications and bulk distribution.

Dead Sea MAG® is packaged in 50-lb bags (standard residential and commercial), 2,205-lb super sacks, and bulk format for large-scale winter maintenance operations. It is distributed through authorized dealers across North America and internationally.

Dead Sea MAG® is designed for anyone who needs effective ice melting and is not willing to compromise on safety. Key user segments include:

Dead Sea MAG® is available through ICL’s authorized distributor network across North America and internationally. Residential buyers can find it at hardware retailers and home improvement stores, while commercial and bulk quantities are available through professional landscaping supply distributors. For the full range of Dead Sea MAG® products, formats, and distributor locations, visit the dedicated MAG® consumer platform at mag-icemelt.com or the ICL Industrial Products product page. Commercial and bulk inquiries can be directed to ICL’s winter maintenance solutions team.

Dead Sea MAG® offers what no other common deicer can: the highest natural-source purity, the lowest toxicity, the least concrete damage, and the safest profile for pets and children — all from the same product.