It has been said , when mixing saltmix it is best to add salt to the water instead of adding water to the salt ... Sounds same but totally different. When water is added to salt especially if poured slowly , the chances of over saturation is high and this may cause precipitation , the first thing to precipitate is calcium n magnesium, this will explain the cloudy water (case of the wet salt mix).
As for the clumping of salt , it may be caused by moisture getting into the bucket but that should be minimal and if the salt mix well without cloudy water or overly excessive precipitate , then it would be ok to use.