The most common deicing agent used is sodium chloride, also known as rocksalt or even table salt. Rock salt can be very damaging to concrete and metal. It should be used carefully around your vegetation in the landscape it should not be used around rivers and lakes.  It is very harmful to vegetation in your landscape and should be used with as much restraint as possible.

Calcium chloride is one of the more aggressive salts. Sometimes it is used as a water softener. I comes in big clumpy balls. This deicing agent is a skin irritant and you must be very careful when handling it. Be sure that your hands are not moist so that it will not react with your skin. It also is corrosive to concrete and metal,  Watch out with your vegetation within the landscape.

Another agent that is commonly applied to snow and ice is potassium chloride. This is a safer form of salt and it’s not a skin irritant and does not harm vegetation.  It has a limiting factor for only being able to work at temperatures above 15°.  But it can be used in coordination with cinders, sand and another forms of physical grippers.

Best Choice Of Salt Right Here

Magnesium chloride is the newest form of deicing salt. It can work with temperatures above negative 10°F. The great advantages of using this salt is it has considerably less amount of chloride in it. The chloride usually ranges between 35 to 45%.  This salt is the  least damaging to concrete, metal,  plants and is your best choice if you are choosing to use salt.

So before you even use a deicer, you should get rid of as much snow and ice as possible using a snowblower or shovel or scrapper.

Warning

And If you’re going to use a deicer, then make sure you read the instructions on the bag that you’re using.   You don’t want to do more damage than you have to.  So the best one of the best ways to apply per the bag instructions. You should never use a deicer on any concrete product, pavers included,  that has been installed or treated in the last 12 months.  Because the concrete is not fully cured, it cause very very adverse chemical reactions to the newly applied salt.