(NEXSTAR) – Much of the eastern U.S. is about to be battered by a massive winter storm that could bring nearly every form of precipitation and frigid temperatures through the weekend. While you may be stocking up on bread and milk, there's another aspect to consider: how you'll get out of your driveway or walk down your sidewalk once the precipitation and freezing temperatures have set in. Your default may be to turn to salt. Not from your spice rack, of course, but pavement salt. Whether or not you should use salt comes down to the precipitation type and temperatures you're experiencing. Salt works by lowering the freezing temperature of the ice or snow it's added to, making it melt faster than if it remained untouched. However, once temperatures drop below 20 °F, ice melt becomes less effective, Dave Longley of Nexstar's WSYR explains. Below 15 °F, it's largely ineffective. When snow or ice is in the forecast, and the temperatures are right, Longley recommends putting down salt before the precipitation starts to fall. Put down too late, and it could be ineffective. "The best times are before the precipitation arrives, and it is good to put some down after you finish shoveling or plowing," Longley explains. By putting salt down after you've cleared your driveway and walkways, you can get ahead of any wet surfaces turning to ice as temperatures drop after sunset. How much salt you apply is largely up to you. If you use too much, you might find yourself with leftover salt residue or chunks on your driveway. Experts recommend about a handful of rock salt per square yard. For calcium chloride ice melt, you can use far less, at a handful per three yards. That means in many cases, you may only need a few scoops for your driveway, and possibly less for your sidewalk or other walkways. There may also be a benefit in leaving some snow on your driveway or sidewalk, which could give you a surface of traction rather than a surface of slippery ice. If there is a layer of ice you're hoping to knock out without chipping away at it, Longley recommends a combination of salt and sunshine, if you're lucky enough to get some. If it doesn't completely melt the ice, it should at least make it easier to remove. Rock salt and calcium chloride, both commonly used to tackle ice, have been known to damage pavement, cause rusting on cars, and even pollute water. If you're looking for a less-harmful means of melting ice (and the sun isn't helping you), the Denver's Department of Environmental Health recommends magnesium chloride, which is also considered the most pet-safe option by the ASPCA; calcium magnesium acetate; or a "carbonate-based solution."