So, it just snowed, but it is above freezing today. I went through the car wash once earlier this year with snow on the car, and the workers did a lot more work than usual, spraying and moving the snow off the top of the car before I went through. Which was nice because I didn’t have to do it.
Is it rude to go through the car wash with snow on your car or is that part of the service provided by the car wash?
EDIT: For more context, the car wash is right down the street from where I live, so by going through, I’m removing the snow so I’m NOT driving around with snow on the car.
I’m also removing a lot of snow before leaving the driveway, but not getting 100% off.
Seems like the consensus is that driving with dangerous amounts of snow on a car is not ok, but few people have addressed the carwash portion of the question.
EDIT 2: I think I’m gonna go in and ask the workers today what they think.
As someone who used to work carwashes for a few years, I don’t really give a shit, it’s my job and I get paid by the hour. If I wasn’t rinsing off your car I’d be rinsing the next one, and if there wasn’t one to rinse then I’d be cleaning something in the wash bay or something, and tbh I’d rather clean cars than the wash bay.
As a driver, that’s kinda dangerous, even if it’s only for a short distance. It’s only a few seconds to brush off the snow, it takes barely more time than scraping the windshield.
Here’s my routine: with my arm brush off enough snow around the door that I can open it without any falling inside, start the car, turn on defrost, efficiently push snow off the car with broad strokes (I’m not getting every flake, but anything you could make a snowball out of, you know?), scrape windshield and if necessary mirrors and other windows I need to see out of. By now it’s been a couple minutes and you’ve at least given your engine the chance to warm up a little bit, which you should do in the winter anyway.
Google a “Sno Brum” and get yourself one.
Since the car wash is right down the street from you ChatGPT says you should just walk there.
😂😂
It’s so good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3400S4qMH6o
If its more work than tip more than usual.
In my state you’re legally required to remove the snow from your car before driving, because it’s a danger to the people around you. So I think it’s rude.
This.
You shouldn’t set off with snow or frozen chunks still left on your car. If you brake and it slides forward it can obscure your view, or when you get up to highway speeds it can fly off and damage whoever is behind you.
Please be considerate of others and don’t do it :)
I’ve laughed a number of times watching a car stop at a light or stop sign only to have the entire contents of their snow covered roof slide down the windshield completely obscuring their view. Like had to put flashers on and get out to clean.
As a sidenote to things flying off, if you’re in an area that’s had snow, ice, or even just freezing temps, stay far back from any semis pulling a trailer. Guarantee that they don’t get up there to remove what’s there, and large chunks of ice can not only do damage to a following car, it could be lethal. It is absolutely the responsibility and even maybe the legality of the truck driver, but that doesn’t help the dead.
I think it’s rude to drive around without removing the snow from your car to begin with.
op is using piefed, they’re probably canadian. it’s also illegal here tbf
I think it’s illegal in most states.
If definitely is in the state of social awareness.
As others have said: the rude part is driving with snow on your car in the first place. It can be dangerous to others.
Less rude and more potentially dangerous tbh. The metal of the roof will conduct just enough heat to melt the snow into a thin sheet of water and the second you stop or slow down a little too hard all of the snow on your roof is now obstructing your front view. For the sake of yourself and everyone else you share the road with please brush off any significant snow on top of your vehicle before you start moving
I can remove a lot of the snow before driving, but it is difficult to get it all off. The carwash is right down the street from me so the snow melting and falling off at low speed in transit is not likely.
Assuming it is safe and not rude to get to the carwash, is it ok to go through with snow snow still on the vehicle?
The people in this thread are either misunderstanding you (thinking you have a big 8" slab of snow on your roof) or are unfamiliar with regularly snowy places, or are completely unhinged. That, or I misunderstand and you are talking about driving with inches of snow on your roof, in which case, yeah brush off what you can before driving.
But I get it, especially when it gets a bit warmer and the snow kinda melts a bit and gets icy and sticks.
The hot water will melt the snow and ice, don’t worry. The car wash deals with ice chunks from wheel wells all the time. Its just more water and road grime.
Lazy
You are a piece of shit the moment you leave your driveway without cleaning snow off your car.
By driving down the street before clearing snow you are driving with snow on it. Don’t do that. Not for 500m or 5km.
They need to remove snow because it could clog up the drains etc. at least temporarily and if there’s a lot and water temp is low it can build a dam. If everyone did what you’re proposing it takes a lot longer to prep cars and they’ll need to shovel frequently.
Just scrape your car.
Legality, courtesy and customs aside, I would not risk cracking my windshield/windows by going through a liquid water car wash with anything frozen on my car.
Not only is it dangerous to leave snow on your vehicle and drive (just running the engine and turning it off can thaw and refreeze into ice chunks), it is in many places illegal to do so. Get a longer snow brush and clear your vehicle properly.
It’s definitely a bit lazy. But everyone is allowed to be lazy sometimes. Or maybe you’re short, I guess, and legitimately can’t get to the top of your car.
The real question is: how well did you tip? People in these types of service jobs have an easier time doing that sort of thing if they get something extra out of it.
I didn’t realize this was a tipped position… The carwash is very expensive already :/
I don’t know where those people are, but in my state I’ve never heard of that. There’s no tipping option when you pay, no tip jar etc. Not everyone carries cash around.
In the US it is absolutely a tipped position, and has been for decades.
Car wash? I’ve never heard of that and there’s never even an option to tip. You pay list price ahead of time, then when they’re done you drive away.
It’s probably different if you get your car detailed, but that’s already not something I’m willing to pay for
Oh, well it definitely is, at least in the US. They’re not getting paid below minimum like waiters are, but tipping is still customary. Normally it’s only the ones with the towels on the other end getting tipped, though. I always assumed that they all split the tips equally, but I guess I don’t know.
If I were taking a car there knowing it needed extra work on the front end, I definitely would bring tips for both ends.
Honestly I have never seen a car wash that isn’t automatic.
There’s a place I used to pass frequently that has an automated car wash at one side of the road and a manual car wash at the other. In the sense that they have staff there who do all the washing, cleaning and even detailing if you’re willing to pay for it.
As far as I know they’re not owned by the same people.
I have, but they’re essentially just pay per use pressure washers.
If they can clean it easier than you can, that is a good service. But driving there could be risky.
