Magnesium chloride or calcium chloride for instance should only be needed in areas where the temperature drops to zero degrees or lower.
Magnesium chloride on roof.
Your body craves the chloride.
It is not as likely to stain or cause corrosion as sodium chloride but it can damage wooden gutters.
Sadly most magnesium supplements contain magnesium oxide magnesium citrate or magnesium malate.
Most common high performance ice melters such as magnesium chloride or calcium chloride will certainly melt the ice but they may also cause staining of the shingles and could also cause corrosion of the gutters aluminum siding or fasteners.
The good news is there are companies out there selling magnesium chloride for use on the skin.
If you use it make sure it s pure magnesium chloride.
Magnesium chloride is something we are all deficient in.
Rock salt is sodium chloride cheap and poor.
Also it s the least likely to cause all the damage listed above.
One method of removing ice dams from roofs is by filling cut off legs from panty hose with calcium chloride or an ice melt blend.
Many ice melt products contain a mix of other types of salt.
Salt will leave a white residue and is very corrosive to unprotected ferrous metals so you might turn your black roof edge into a chalky mess with salt.
Another draw of magnesium chloride is that it s reasonably safe for your pets and more environmentally friendly.
All those other magnesiums are close to worthless.