# Idiot's Guide To Cleaning Snow Off Your Car **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 9, 2003, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909 "2003-12-09T13:49:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/41 "2003-12-10T01:27:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cervaise \* > \*\*Arkansas? I thought it just rained chitterlings and kudzu down there. > > Oh wait, AK = Alaska. Never mind. \*\* Hijack/ Oh, you’d be suprised (or maybe not) at how many people make this mistake. IIRC, Arkansas is AR ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/42 "2003-12-10T01:31:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BiblioCat \* > \*\*When there’s frost on windshields, I always like seeing people who just scrape a little 2-inch square off right in the middle. \*\* You can scrape off frost? So _that’s_ why there’s a [blade on top of the can](http://midwayautosupply.com/detailedproductdescription.asp?981)! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/43 "2003-12-10T01:37:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Belrix \* > \*\* > Friend of my father’s threatened to tie his snow-blower to his roof and drive south until somebody asked him what it was. \*\* Then he would plant it in the ground, and then the God of Snow would no longer be angry with him! Right? Right? _Sound of snow crickets_ ---
**Author:** ![LVgeogeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b19c9b/32.png) [@LVgeogeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVgeogeek)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/44 "2003-12-10T01:55:59Z")
In my learning to be a responsible driver many years ago in Nebraska. During the winter I wasn’t allowed to leave the driveway unless all of the windows were cleared of snow/ice and all snow removed from the top/bumpers of the car. I always despised the lazy fucks that couldnt take at least 5 minutes to clear off their car. Of course when you have an inch thick sheet of ice covering your car- it does take time to clear off- but still. people shouls plan ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Computer\_Guru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@Computer\_Guru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Computer_Guru)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/45 "2003-12-10T03:31:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dav01 \* > \*\*Parts of the northeast U.S. just got hit with the first major snowstorms of the season- FYI for anyone in other parts of the world. And so begins another 4 months of driving amongst jackasses who think that as long as they clear the snow off their windshield, their car is streetworthy. > > Listen, you fucks- I’m the guy driving behind you who keeps nearly ramming into your bumper because I can’t see your brake lights. Why? Because there’s snow piled so high on your rear bumper it’s blocking the lights! Why do you think your car has brake lights in the back? It’s so I can see when you’re coming to a stop and I don’t come barrelling into your backseat, which frankly is what I’d like to do. Then the cops would come and they’d ask why I hit you. “Because I couldn’t see his tail lights, officer. The stupid fuck didn’t clear away the snow.” > > Oh- and that goes for your headlights, too, shithead. > > And while you’re at it, as long as you can reach the top of your car, take a moment and swipe away that snow too. Otherwise it will come flying off in great big chunks while you’re tooling down the highway and land with a crash on my windshield. > > You fucks. \*\* I also wish that truckers would clean the top of their trucks off. Do you know what it’s like to be driving behind a truck and then a huge slab of ice comes flying off the top and almost hit your brand new car? This happened to me last Winter. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/46 "2003-12-10T03:52:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ferret Herder \* > \*\*Aw, that’s too bad - how are you supposed to get any kind of snow in those temperatures? ☹ \*\* They make up for it with ice. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/47 "2003-12-10T04:01:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homebrew \* > \*\*Here in NE Texas, it’s in the 60s. Yesterday, too. > Just thought I’d share. \*\* It’s coming your way, dude! A storm moving from NW to SE across Oklahoma right now. 20 something degrees, 32 mph _sustained_ wind (gusts to 50), and, of course, snow. Yummy! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Grelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grelby)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/48 "2003-12-10T04:17:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Polycarp \* > \*\*If you start skidding anyway, _steer into the skid_. \*\* Slight nitpick here - When you steer into the skid, you should be extra not to either brake or step on the gas. If you are on the gas, get off of it. It’s also good to be aware that front-wheel drive cars generally have different skidding behavior than rear-wheel drive cars. If you’re moving very slowly under power (e.g. up a snow-covered driveway) in a front-driver, the most effective thing to do is actually to turn the wheel away from the skid while staying under power. Not a good idea at normal road speeds. Best thing to do: drive slow! I always try, at minimum, to clear off my windshield and windows completely, clear all snow off the hood, lights and bumper. The roof doesn’t usually get the full treatment, because of how frickin’ impossible it is to get the stuff off the roof of my minivan. If it’s ice, though, I’m willing to go the extra mile and clear it. We once pulled to a stop approaching a rotary and had a massive amount of frozen snow and ice cascade onto the windshield. Not fun. Good thing we were going so slow. ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/49 "2003-12-10T04:23:37Z")
Yummy?! Bah! I hate Oklahoma winters! 60 yesterday, tonight’s low, 16! ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/50 "2003-12-10T04:30:05Z")
Aren’t you supposed to steer the opposite way that the car is veering? Or is it the same way…hmm. Let’s just say you want to avoid Dallas roadways in the event of ice/snow. Any weather other than “sunny” turns the driving-challenged into murderers. 72 degrees yesterday, cold as hell today. But, I’m in Texas, so we expect that sort of thing! ---
**Author:** ![eli\_the\_fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ccd318/32.png) [@eli\_the\_fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eli_the_fanatic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/51 "2003-12-10T04:40:34Z")
Blonde, you steer into the skid. Often this will give your wheels purchase to get back on the road. What most people do is hit the brakes and turn the wheel the other way, which is the best to keep sliding. Even worse is to hit the accelerator, like you can use force to get out of it. Remember, at the point you are skidding, you are not driving the car! ---
**Author:** ![Palewriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@Palewriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palewriter)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/52 "2003-12-10T04:42:35Z")
The best cure is to move to a reasonable climate. Having spent YEARS in a sub-zero winter climate, I finally came to my senses and moved to Texas. Today, I was out smoking on the patio in short sleeves. The sun was shining. And today was a bad-weather day. I don’t even own a sweater. Scraping snow off my car? Perleeeez. Wise up, folks. - PW ---
**Author:** ![eli\_the\_fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ccd318/32.png) [@eli\_the\_fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eli_the_fanatic)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/53 "2003-12-10T04:47:00Z")
Builds character. That’s what Dad said whenever I had to shovel. Damn, but I’ve shoveled a lot of snow, and my character is still highly suspect. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/54 "2003-12-10T04:54:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Palewriter \* > \*\*The best cure is to move to a reasonable climate. Having spent YEARS in a sub-zero winter climate, I finally came to my senses and moved to Texas. Today, I was out smoking on the patio in short sleeves. The sun was shining. And today was a bad-weather day. I don’t even own a sweater. Scraping snow off my car? Perleeeez. Wise up, folks. > > - PW \*\* When exactly did to move to Texas, and what part of our fine state? Because…we get occasional and brutal ice storms in the winter, and the general driving public falls into the following categories: A) Oh shit! Ice! I must drive really, really slow and turn my wheel the wrong way… B) Ice…whoo hoo! I shall drive radically, and really fast! ---
**Author:** ![alibey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@alibey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alibey)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/55 "2003-12-10T05:16:11Z")
It is currently about 70 here in Riyadh 🙂 But I did spend the last 6 winters in the white hell called northern NY, way norther NY, could be considered souther Canada, realy cold enuf to freeze windex, got pics to prove it. but enuf about that. While I was there, I always made sure that my truck was clear of snow and I could not stand those that made the snow tunnel to see out of. Then there are those who have the 4X4 and think that they can drive like mad men. I have been told by those people “well I have 4 wheel drive and can go as fast as I want on snow covered streets” I would always respond “I have 4 wheel brakes, doesn’t help me stop faster on packed snow or ice. Going is good, stopping safely is better”. Now if you can do it right, one can fish tail around a corner, just have to make sure that there is no on comming traffic. I will be back there in 2 week for the holidays, gonna freeze my skin off. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/56 "2003-12-10T05:37:48Z")
Okay, the word on snow brushes from the expert (Canadians are experts in all things cold and snowy - that’s just the way it is. Sorry, all you Americans in Northern states, but you just aren’t Canadian.) Buy the cheap $1.99 ones at Canadian Tire/Walmart. Since you buy one nearly every year, don’t bother with anything expensive or fancy - scraper at one end, brush at the other. That way, when you break it whacking your car when you are nearly crying with frustration at trying to get the layer of ice off, or leave it on top of the car when you drive away and lose it, it doesn’t cost much to replace it. **Polycarp** , we have anti-idling campaigns going on here in Calgary. We are encouraged to not let our cars idle for longer than about two minutes before we get in and go. The powers that be are apparently are more concerned about greenhouse gases than they are about a nice, warm drive for us commuters. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/57 "2003-12-10T11:18:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homebrew \* > \*\*What’s a “snow brush”. No, seriously. I don’t know what it is. I’ve seen a snow shovel on television so I know what they look like. \*\* I realize I don’t know you at all, **Homebrew** , but as soon as I read this, I muttered to myself, “God, I hate that f\*cker.” No offense, of course, I just have stiff and sore…well, _everything_ from shoveling. [hijack] The town I live in didn’t plow the municipal lot across from my apt for at least 48 hours AFTER the snow stopped (they just finally did their half-assed job overnight last night), yet yesterday morning, there was a cop out there, ticketing all the cars which hadn’t moved. I did not get a ticket, perhaps because I was out there with a shovel and a murderous glint in my eye at the time. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/58 "2003-12-10T13:00:11Z")
**Palewriter** invited everybody over to his place! 😃 I like it fine here though - hitting the handbrake in a parking lot gives me experiences you can get only with Colin McRae 3. 😉 About the whole “what’s a snowbrush” thing - what else are warm weather ppl missing out on? Antifreeze? Blue windshield fluid? Block heaters? And what about me? Do Texans idle their cars for the air-conditioning? I’ll give you this one for free - when we rented a car on Vancouver Island, it came with this little squeegee/scraper thing. This made no sense to me at all until we set off the next morning and the condensation on the _inside_ of the car could have kept a desert wanderer alive for days. ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/59 "2003-12-10T14:13:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Polycarp \* > \*\*Pull on your winter wear about 15 minutes before it’s time to leave. Go out. **Start** thecar. Turn on the heater, the window defroster, and any other heat-throwing devices your car has. Put the heater on window-defroster mode. > > Now go back in and have another cup of coffee, tell the kids to get ready, and whatever else you need to do before leaving. When you go back out, the ice that is so hard to scrape off will be largely melted, and come free in large sheets that slide right off. \*\* **Coffeecat** starts car, turns on heater and window defroster. **Coffeecat** goes back in, has more coffee, and tells kid to get ready. Punk who stole hubcap (What the hell does anyone want with _one_ hubcap?) high-fives punk who broke window and stole stereo, and the two of them make off with car. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous\_Coward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Anonymous\_Coward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anonymous_Coward)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909/60 "2003-12-10T14:33:33Z")
I love my remote car starter. I can start my car from hundreds of feet away, and it’s hooked up in such a way that my rear defrost comes on automatically. There’s no chance of anyone stealing the car as the key isn’t in the ignition, and the motor dies as soon as you touch the brakes. Winter is not so bad anymore. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-guide-to-cleaning-snow-off-your-car/217909.md?page=4)