Here’s the surprising secret: Buying salt in bulk is usually cheaper, but don’t do it if you have a tiny basement staircase. I once bought twelve bags online because “It’s a great deal!”—then had to haul them up from the curb by hand. I looked like a muscle failure contestant. Instead, buy three to four bags at a time. That’s enough for two months unless your water softener is on a salt bender.
Also, avoid “ultra-premium” salt with fancy names like “Crystal Clear Supreme.” It’s just salt with a marketing degree. Plain solar salt or evaporated salt works fine for 99% of softeners. The exception: If you have a newer, high-efficiency unit, use “pellets” instead of “cubes”—they dissolve more evenly and prevent “salt bridges,” which is when salt turns into a disgusting, solid crust that blocks your tank. Yes, that’s a real thing, and it smells like a science fair experiment gone wrong.
