Snow Problem
Help prevent slippery areas in temperatures down to -15 degrees with an ice melting mat.
Saltnets' mats work just like rock salt, because that’s what is inside. But these de-icing mats are faster, neater, and more efficient. The melting agent stays contained in the durable nylon case, and only releases when there is moisture from snow and ice. Once the area is clear the nylon quickly dries, which stops the process.
Use one of these mats at the front door, or on the landing, or anywhere else where ice builds up. Or place one on top of an icy area to work its melting magic after a few passes with the shovel. While the mat will eventually melt through deep, heavy snow, dig out as much as possible to help it work more quickly.
Reap the benefits of ice melt in a more concentrated, controlled way, and help make those slick areas safer.
Jason
Hello Grommet fans! I’m Jason Mitchell, Founder and Chairman at Saltnets. I am excited and honored to have my invention featured as today’s Grommet. As and avid outdoorsman I am concerned with the environmental impact of consumer products. I created Saltnets to improve how ice and snow melting agents are applied.
Alison
1/24/2016 8:55 PMWhat was the toughest part about bringing Saltnets to life?
Jason – Special Guest
1/24/2016 8:56 PM@Alison Testing the manufacturing samples. With the weather being so unpredictable and not knowing exactly how the mat worked, initially I had a lot of frustrating nights in the snow with my video camera.
Alison
1/24/2016 8:57 PMYou seem to have thought of everything with Saltnets. Were all of the solutions apparent at the beginning or did you just keep discovering them as you went along?
Jason – Special Guest
1/24/2016 8:58 PM@Alison There was quite a bit of trial and error. The original prototype worked great, but I didn't know exactly why. It took a long time to get all the correct materials and manufacturing worked out.
Alison
1/24/2016 8:59 PMWas developing a business around Saltnets an ‘aha’ moment or more of a gradual process?
Jason – Special Guest
1/24/2016 9:00 PM@Alison It was a gradual process, everyone loved the idea and the applications kept growing. At each step along the way, I had to develop the business model and recruit help.
Alan
1/25/2016 10:49 AM@Jason I was interested in the mat until I read the VERY obviously phony questions and endorsements.
Melissa
1/25/2016 11:50 AM@Alan I don't know if you've visited grommet before, but the questions from the grommet team are pretty standard. Check out some of the other stuff on the site, they ask everyone the questions. And I don't think it's meant to be phony--it's supposed to be pretty obvious that it's staff. Also the name "launch conversation."
Alison – Grommet Team
1/25/2016 12:40 PM@Alan We often do a pre-launch interview with our Makers. These questions are things The Grommet team genuinely wanted to hear more about straight from the source. We intend them to be interesting to supporters, expand upon the maker's story we are sharing, and hopefully to spark conversation.
Alison – Grommet Team
1/25/2016 12:45 PMThanks for the clarifying comment, Melissa!
Alison
1/24/2016 9:01 PMWhat does it mean to you to be launching on The Grommet and what do you expect the feedback from the community to be like?
Jason – Special Guest
1/24/2016 9:02 PM@Alison It’s an honor to be featured by The Grommet. Large retail chains dominate the consumer product market, independent makers have little chance of getting into these spaces. This not only prevents access to the makers, it prevents consumers from having a choice in how and where their products are produced.
I hope the community recognizes the eco-friendly approach to ice and snow management provided by Saltnets. Just by containing the salts inside the mats, we can eliminate wasted melting agent and dramatically reduce the amount going into our environment.
Beth
1/25/2016 10:13 AM@Jason do you refill the mat with salt each time? About ow much is optimal? What does the mat weigh with/ without salt?size/ dimensions? Beth
Michelle
1/25/2016 10:24 AM@Jason Yes, this is my question too, though I'll also ask, if it is not refillable, about how long does the mat last? Shelley
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 10:26 AM@Beth Hi Beth, No you do not have to refill the mats. They come with about 5 lbs of melting agent inside them. Once they are empty they can be tossed into the recycling. They are 15.5" x 27.5"
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 10:29 AM@Jason the life span of the mat will vary depending on the weather. For an example they have enough melting agent to melt 13" of snow at 15º. Depending on where you live and what the weather is will determine how long each will last.
Monica
1/25/2016 10:30 AM@monica -- Is the salt that you use, pet friendly?
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 10:35 AM@Monica we use magnesium, sodium and calcium chlorides. these are the most common and effective melting agents. By containing them inside the mat, they will not get stuck on your pets' paws. This is the feature most pet owners love about Saltnets. The only way the melting agent can come out is as a solution, so no more salt stuck in the pads of their paws.
Gail
1/25/2016 11:13 AM@Jason
Elaborate on this please. If a pet steps on the mat in use, I assume their feet will get wet. Then if they lick their paws, are the chlorides toxic? Thanks Gail
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 11:19 AM@Gail When pets get salt stuck in their paws, they are licking it to get it out. That is the reason they get sick from ingesting it. Saltnets, even if they step on the mat and get their feet wet with the salty water, offer a huge reduction in the amount of salt they have on their paws. Saltnets also prevent the mess of salt being tracked into your home by both pet and human foot traffic.
Brenda
1/25/2016 10:30 AMThis would be great for my dad right now. He has a little dog that won't go outside to do his business because of the snow. How long does it take to melt the snow to have a nice little 'clean' area?
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 10:37 AM@Brenda The time will depend on the weather, so the colder it is the longer it takes. However, the best part about these mats is that he can set them down on top of the snow and his dog can go right away while they are working.
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 10:41 AM@Jason we have been seeing about 1/2" of snow completely melted in 3-4 hours. So if you put them down on your way to work, they will be clear when you get home, (up to about 1.5" deep) any deeper than that and the heavy snow should be cleared for best results.
Brenda
1/25/2016 10:42 AM@Jason Very cool. Any plans to make them for stair steps? I'd love to put them down and know it's safe to walk on when I get home.
Brenda
1/25/2016 10:44 AM@Brenda I see them in the video used that way, but I was thinking longer?
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 10:44 AM@Brenda yes, we have various sizes planned. If there is a particular size you would like offered, please let The Grommet know and hopefully they will add them.
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 10:46 AM@Jason Yes, they can be clipped together for longer runs.
Gary
1/25/2016 10:45 AMJason, this mat would be stolen off my payment n no time.
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 10:49 AM@Gary One of the benefits is that they can be placed during daylight hours and picked up at night to secure them.
Carol
1/25/2016 11:00 AMThey would be great for steps but at 50$ too much for 6 steps!!!
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 11:04 AM@Carol Hi Carol, we don't have the step mat on The Grommet yet. One of the great things about The Grommet is that they give independent makers like me a chance at a large market. This will help drive sales, reduce production costs and the ability to add complementary products in the future. Please let The Grommet know of any sizing options that you would like to see offered.
Ann
1/25/2016 11:00 AMis this pet safe?
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 11:04 AM@Ann Yes, Saltnets keep the salt crystals out of your pets' paws.
Michelle
1/25/2016 11:01 AM@Jason, is it good proactively? That is, can I keep it on my top step and it will keep snow/ice from forming in the first place? Thanks!
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 11:05 AM@Michelle yes, like all melting agents Saltnets prevent the ice/snow bond from forming on your walkway surface.
Janice
1/25/2016 11:07 AMOnce you pick the mats up, do they leave those white marks like regular salt does? Thanks.
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 11:11 AM@Janice They do have salt in the mat, however by containing it inside the mat we eliminate the wasted melting agent. Saltnets, will only release as much as necessary to melt the surrounding snow/ice. Then they will stop releasing the agent. So, any residual salt residue will be reduced, but we still use a salt based mixture as it is the most effective melting agent.
Sonja
1/25/2016 11:10 AMWould be nice if I could get several narrow ones for the 7 stairs I have.
.
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 11:12 AM@Sonja Thanks Sonja, Please let The Grommet know!
Caroline
1/25/2016 11:51 AMWho helped you along the way in creating Saltnets?
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 11:53 AM@Caroline Lots of friends and family helped along the way. Mostly my kids kept me motivated and gave me lots of encouragement.
S
1/25/2016 11:52 AMHave you considered a refillable option? Or wouldn't the material hold up to more than one season's exposure to the elements and chemicals?
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 11:58 AM@S Yes, the exposure to the harsh conditions does take a toll on the material. We elected to fill them with our specific blend of melting agent to balance effectiveness and conservation. We want to use as small amount of salt based melting agent as possible to prevent excessive and unnecessary runoff of salt into the local environment.
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 12:00 PM@Jason *The nylon we use is recyclable for a wide variety of applications.
Roddy
1/25/2016 11:59 AMCan the mat be left down and walked on without damaging it or reducing it's effectiveness?
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 12:02 PM@Roddy Yes, we designed it as a door or entrance mat. Stepping on it or stomping the snow off of your shoes will not harm it.
Roddy
1/25/2016 12:12 PM@Jason Thanks Jason. One more question. How rigid is the mat? I only have a couple of steps that I am concerned about. Is the mat flexible enough to bend and cover two steps, since you don't have other sizes available yet?
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 12:19 PM@Roddy Yes, the arrangement and direction of the tubes allow it to be very flexible. You can use it to melt ice/snow on uneven surfaces.
Thank you!
Clarice
1/25/2016 12:06 PMAre these mats stable to walk on? It seems walking on stuffed tubes could be problematic.
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 12:10 PM@Clarice They are similar to other door/entrance mats. The tubes are flexible and conform to the surface (similar to a sand or bean bag) as the melting agent is used they start to flatten out to a lower profile. We chose nylon partly for its long history of use in carpets and mats.
*Please remember to use caution when walking on icy or snowy surfaces.
mary
1/25/2016 12:57 PMhow long do they last? Do u have to replace the salt and if so how? Do they cone in other shapes and forms?
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 1:04 PM@mary Each mat has about 5lbs of melting agent in them. At 15° this will melt 13" of snow, so their life span will depend on your local weather conditions. In Cincinnati they average about 3" of snow a month, so it would last the whole winter.
mary
1/25/2016 1:01 PMhave another question ... are they heavy enough where they wont fly away with the wind? When u r not using them how do u store them?
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 1:08 PM@mary Each mat weighs about 6lbs, so they are very stable in the wind. During the winter, they can be rolled up and stored in your garage or on the porch. The melting agent does pull moisture from the air and surrounding environment, so they are shipped in a sealed plastic wrap like other melting agents. Keep them sealed up in hot or humid months for best results.
Phyllis
1/25/2016 1:25 PM@Jason Is the melting agent safe for concrete? We have used rock salt and ice melt that have literally eaten holes into our concrete.
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 1:27 PM@Phyllis It does have rock salt in the mats. They dramatically reduce the amount you are using on your concrete and you can pick them up once they have melted the snow or ice. This allows you to make sure you don't use any excessive salt.
Lynne
1/25/2016 1:27 PMHi Jason. Can you please tell me what happens to the mat if it is out in the rain? Will that wash the salt out of the mat and decrease its effectiveness against forthcoming ice/snow?
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 1:32 PM@Lynne Yes, if you leave the mat out in the rain, (like unconfined salt) it will eventually dissolve and reduce the life span of your mat. This is a great feature of Saltnets, when the weather is calling for snow and we proactively dump salt everywhere and it rains instead - all of the salt is going into the environment. With Saltnets, you can wait to treat your surfaces and prevent all the wasted melting agent use.
Jonathan
1/25/2016 1:43 PMThe most important thing for our house is that products, plants, and such are safe for our pets. We have a tough time keeping our back patio clear during the winter and would be interested in these mats but worry that the salt on our dogs' feet would then get into their system if they licked their paws or if the salt caused the pads of their feet to dry out. Have you done any research on how the saltmats affect pets?
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 1:48 PM@Jonathan The Saltnets will eliminate the rock salt from getting stuck in your pets' paws. The only way the melting agent gets out is as a liquid solution. By using the type of nylon we have, we designed it to dry very quickly and evaporate in the winter due to the low humidity. This is how we have made ice and snow control safer for your pets.
Molly
1/25/2016 2:20 PMJason, have you, or are you planning to make these available in long narrow strips to use on driveways?
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 2:58 PM@Molly We are just offering the one size at this time. If there are other sizes you would like to see, please let The Grommet know. Thank you!
Guest
1/25/2016 2:22 PMWe live in an extremely cold climate- Fairbanks ak. We often have weeks that are -30 or -40 F. What will happen to the mat at this temperature? Will it be damaged? Will it still work?
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 2:53 PM@Guest The mats will only work down to about -15. The colder temps will no damage the mats, tbey just won't be very effective below -15.
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 3:33 PM@Jason If the weather gets above -15 during the day, the mats will melt the snow/ice and that moisture would evaporate off. This will potentially help keep those areas safer if the temps drop during the night as long as there is no snowfall during the -30/-40 temps.
Linda
1/25/2016 2:43 PMI was wondering how you recommend storing the mats from one winter to the next? Also, have you had senior citizens try to pick up the mats to move or store them? Just wondering if they're something my mom, at 82, would be able to manage on her own. Thank you!
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 3:01 PM@Linda Yes, this is a great option for senior citizens, as they are only about 6lbs they can be easily picked up and moved. Most of the melting agents come in large bags that are hard for seniors to pick up and move. During the offseason we recommend storing them in a plastic bag or container that will keep the humidity off of them.
Myk
1/25/2016 3:49 PMHow long do they last and are they refillable oe recyclable?
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 4:02 PM@Myk Their life span will be determined by the local weather. Each mat has about 5lbs of melting agent, which is enough to melt 13" of snow at 15º. The casing is 100% nylon and has a wide variety of recycling options. We have not offered a refillable design at this time, we decided to fill them with our blend of melting agent that is a balance between effectiveness and conservation. If you would like to see a refillable option please let The Grommet know. Thank you!
Linda
1/25/2016 3:57 PMI had "melting agent" completely destroy my entry sidewalk. I had to replace the whole thing. So.....don't think so!
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 4:09 PM@Linda I'm sorry to hear that, reducing surface damage is one of our features. We have blended our melting agent with Magnesium, Calcium and Sodium Chlorides. These are the most effective at melting snow and ice and creating a safe walking surface, since they are corrosive we have contained them inside of the nylon casing. This, unlike spreading melting agent directly on to the concrete, offers the ability to remove it when it is not needed as well as eliminate all of the wasted agent.
Diane
1/25/2016 5:41 PMHi Jason - I was wondering....I know salts can damage cement and wood surfaces...will this product do that as well? Would love to see this in a smaller size for steps!
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 5:48 PM@Diane Hi Diane, we use the common melting agent salts as they are the most effective. By containing them, we are able to reduce any potential damage because they can be placed on the ice/snow to be melted and picked up after the area is clear. This allows you to only use the minimum necessary amount of salt on your surfaces. Thank you and please let The Grommet know you would like step mats available!
Rachel
1/25/2016 6:14 PMHi Jason,
Will the mats keep the salt from being tracked into my home? I'm tired of always sweeping the loose salt that gets tracked in.
Jason – Special Guest
1/25/2016 6:18 PM@Rachel Yes, one of our best features is that the mess created from salt tracked into your home is eliminated. This helps keep your floors clean and protects them from being scratched by the rock salt crystals.