Should You Shovel or Salt First? Here’s the Smartest Way to Keep Your Sidewalks and Steps Ice

Key Takeaways

Salt works best on a thin layer of ice, not inches of snow—so you should apply it when you're done shoveling away as much snow as possible.

Use tools like an ice chopper to help you break up the ice and make your salt application more effective.

Look at newer salt formulations, which can melt ice at lower temperatures and are less destructive to your gardens and pavement.

Add sand to your mix to help improve traction and avoid slips and falls on any remaining ice.

When the weather outside is frightful, the last thing you want to do is deal with all that snow and ice that's building up on your driveway and sidewalk. But eventually, you do have to start digging out (if only to go get more hot cocoa). Growing up in Buffalo, New York—where snow can often be measured in feet—