Winter salting and pre-salting before snow falls using calcium and magnesium salts

If you put down a layer of salt before the snow starts accumulating, the liquid area on the cement makes it easier to clear very cleanly because of that melted layer underneath.

Pre-salting with new salts to deice help shoveling, clear snow, prevent ice, and are less caustic to animals and plants, or damaging to cement.

Regular rock salt costs only $4 for 25-pound bag, but buying calcium chloride at $9 is the better deal. Calcium chloride at $9 for 25 pounds protects to -50F, covers 2.5 times the area, and is less harmful.

The 4 rock salt chlorides with respective ice-melting temperature limits are:
- regular rock salt (sodium chloride) is good to +20F
- magnesium chloride to -15
- calcium chloride to -50
- potassium chloride to +25.

Regular sodium chloride rock salt is the cheapest and best option if the homeowner uses little.

Its main drawback is its damage to plants and grass.

The magnesium chloride is less corrosive to metals, like railings, carpeting and auto interiors, is easier on vegetation and pets, and works well at low temperatures. It is moderately priced and packaged by different manufactures. Magnesium chloride is hard to find.

Calcium chloride is the best, but expensive. Best bang for your buck.

Potassium chloride for deicing is not economical anymore because it's a fertilizer product that is now part of the biofuels mania.

Dogs and cats may lick these salt-based chemical products off their paws and coats developing skin conditions, intestinal problems and stomach inflammation. There are snow melters without salts, like Safe Paw and Ice Melt Down.

Currently there is a calcium chloride liquid that is sprayed on the ground instead of the dispersing the usual pellets. It is said to be in a concentration of 33%; I don't know the chemical law that tests the limits of solutions. If that works, then you could pre-spray your dry driveway with a common pump sprayer, and have an easy job in the morning.

Pre-salting requires a light, even coat over the areas, just enough to melt ice. Do not leave piles of ice melter to damage the cement. Environmentally, consider runoff eventually drains into the lakes. Most chemicals when used in high enough concentration can damage stone, metal and living things.

Try pre-spreading some salt before the snow is on the ground. Save some effort because winter is hard enough as it is.