Most of us stock up on de-icing salt to keep our walks and driveways clear from ice and snow. This can be quite costly, but if you buy water softener salt, it can cost less than half the price and be just as effective. The only difference between the salts is that water softening salt has most of the impurities removed. A tip within a tip: if your store is out of rock salt head to the aisle of water softener salt, there’s usually plenty on the shelf!