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.
EDIT 3: Didn’t have time to go to the carwash today, will have to ask later.
the car wash is automated, it won’t care
it won’t wash your car as well, though
My main goal is to get salt off the bottom.
EDIT 2: I think I’m gonna go in and ask the workers today what they think.
Ya, you are rude. Don’t do that either. Just stop. Remove the snow before you leave the driveway. It is unsafe for you and everyone around you on the road. Also, in general, yes, making someone do extra work above and beyond what is being offered, at the same price, is a rude thing to do. By your description they “did a lot more work than usual” - did you pay them a lot more money than usual?
Well usually when you go through, the person with the sprayer maybe spritzes the car for a split second, and sends the car through. On the snowy day, the carwash place had two employees stationed there with sprayers, and they were much more thorough spraying the car. That’s why I thought maybe this is something they are prepared for, and factor into the membership.
I pay $35 for unlimited car washes a month, only in the winter, so no I didn’t pay any more. It is kind of a lot, but I do it to try to keep the bottom of my old car from rusting from all the salt. And I count it towards entertainment too because the carwash has lots of colorful lights and stuff, and I listen to Plantasia real loud in the car as I go through.
It seems like you’ve already decided that I’m an asshole, though.
Yes, it is. It’s absurdly rude because in order for you to get there, you would’ve had your driven with all that Snow on that car.
And people who drive with a bunch of snow on their car are assholes. So rest assured that today you were that asshole.
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
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 passed a police car on the interstate a few weeks ago in Kentucky that had its windshield smashed out by snow/ice flying off the top of a semi. The amount of damage was impressive and scary.
I think it’s rude to drive around without removing the snow from your car to begin with.
I think it’s illegal in most states.
If definitely is in the state of social awareness.
op is using piefed, they’re probably canadian. it’s also illegal here tbf
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.
If an employee needs to do more work than they normally would, give them a tip and a thank you. Judge tip based on how much effort/time required. If you don’t have cash for a tip, clean the car off yourself before going.
I don’t go to sit down restaurants unless I can afford to tip 20%, so I usually don’t. I can afford the monthly membership, but I’ve never seen anyone tip there. Did not expect this question to become a referendum on tipping at carwashes in the USA.
I put in another comment, they have more people scheduled to work the sprayers on busy snowy days. It also moves so fast idk how you are supposed to tip – you don’t really roll down the windows at any point either, or you mess up their process and/or get wet.
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?
If you’ve removed 95% of the snow and it’s just the ice left then yeah you’re pretty fine to drive.
The car wash should have heated water which should melt the ice/remaining snow pretty quickly as long as it’s indoors.
Yeah that’s what I experienced, and the people out front use the spray to dislodge any chunks holding on.
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.
Thanks, yeah, that makes sense.
You are driving the car though, even if it’s just down the street, that’s not a great move: Knock the snow off before you get onto the road, even if it’s a short trip.
I get most of it off before leaving the driveway.
Lazy
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.
If its more work than tip more than usual.
Google a “Sno Brum” and get yourself one.
For the benefit of others:
$24.95
