Rock Salt

Tips for Working With Rock Salts
There are some tips worth considering before applying rock salt to your property to melt snow and ice. 
Start early: The best time to treat your ground is before snow falls. This helps ice and snow from collecting in the first place, saving you precious time later. Salt has a lower freezing point than water, which is why this tip is so effective. 
Outside temperature is important: The vast majority of rock salt products stop working when temperatures fall below 15 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature drops immediately after a snowfall event, use sand or cat litter to help with traction and save the rock salt for when the temperature rises a bit. 
Shovel hard and often: Rock salt performs miracles, but not without some help. If there are large amounts of snow, the salt struggles to make headway on its own. This is where shoveling comes in. If possible, shovel during the storm to limit accumulation. If the snow is hard already, apply rock salt on the top layer and try shoveling after letting it work for an hour or so. 
Protect yourself: As with most ice-melting products, protect yourself by wearing gloves during the application process and by exercising extreme caution as you navigate the frozen tundra of your yard. 
Protect family pets: Keep your pets away from treated areas, wipe paws with a damp cloth if they walk on treated areas, and if you suspect ingestion, contact poison control and your vet immediately.