Shovel snow first. Clear walkways to prevent compaction of snow and the formation of ice. The more snow cleared manually, the less salt is needed.
Select the right products. Salt is much less effective at temperatures below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, so use sand for traction when it's too cold, or choose a different deicer.
Scatter your salt. Disperse salt evenly and avoid piles. Spread granules three inches apart for maximum benefit. More salt does not mean more melting.
Sweep up excess. Clean up leftover salt, sand and deicer to save and reuse as needed. This keeps it from entering our storm drains and local waters.
