# Those people that just clear a little circle of snow from their windshield **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 17, 2008, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546 "2008-12-17T13:04:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/41 "2008-12-17T18:18:41Z")
Glad to be of service. Although I did spend the better part of a decade living in Maine, so I’ve been there, done that, and have the T-shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/42 "2008-12-17T18:22:27Z")
> [@brewha](#): > > 20 Mins? Are you using a toothbrush? > > I can clear my entire driveway of snow in 20 mins. Depends on if you’re talking snow or ice. Snow’s easy, ice not so much. Oh, and keep one of those ice scraper thingies in the house too. It’s even harder to clean the ice off your vehicle if the only scraper you have is stuck inside the thing, as Owls found out one morning when his doors were frozen shut:smack: ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/43 "2008-12-17T18:26:00Z")
> [@brewha](#): > > 20 Mins? Are you using a toothbrush? > > I can clear my entire driveway of snow in 20 mins. Good for you. 20 minutes to warm the car and get every bit of snow and ice that I can off every window, the hood, the roof, the lights, the trunk and spoiler. 20 minutes because I usually can’t find good gloves and need to take a break to warm up. My car looks almost like it’s been in the garage during the bad weather after I am done cleaning everything off of it. Here it often tends to ice then snow then sometimes ice again so it’s not like it’s just quickly brushing a bit of snow off, and I want it all gone. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/44 "2008-12-18T02:01:01Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > [ol] > [li]Go to a hardware store and buy a tarp (with grommets) about as wide as the width of you car, and two bungee cords.[/li][li]Cut the tarp so you have a grommeted piece as wide as your car and as long as the distance from the wipers to the roofline (and about 12 inches more).[/li][li]Use the bungee cords by wrapping around the side view mirrors on each side of the car and securing each end through a grommet.[/li][li]Tuck the tarp under the wipers at one end.[/li][li]It’s easy to remove and pull any accumulated snow/ice with it. Stored in rolled up in the vehicle.[/li][li]Expect the first time you use it outside of your driveway someone will steal it. :)[/li][/ol] Wow, you got _fancy_. In my family, we just bought plastic tablecloths that had the fuzzy backing. Put it over your windshield behind the wipers, fuzzy side down, roll down your front windows and tuck it in before rolling the windows back up. The plastic keeps the fuzzy from getting wet, the fuzzy keeps it from sticking to the windshield. That being said, yeah, people who don’t at least try to clear their cars off are dangerous. So are people who don’t turn their lights on when it’s raining or really overcast. I don’t _care_ if it’s noon, it’s dark out! Put your headlights on! And I wish someone could figure out an easy way to clean off a semi’s roofs. It’s terrifying to see a sheet lift off one of those. Nowadays, I have an attached garage. I love having a garage (never had one before). I never have to clean the car off in the morning, and I never get cold and wet getting into it. 😃 ---
**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 18, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/45 "2008-12-18T03:33:27Z")
> [@myskepticsight](#): > > \ > > Yeah it’s not awesomely fun to spend 20 minutes cleaning off your car, but it’s way better than you being the douchebag that ends up hurting someone because the melted then refrozen ice and snow on your car flies off and hits someone else’s car. > \ Or the douchebag who doesn’t clear the snow off the ledge in front of the license plate, then hits your car on the street and drives off, with you fuming impotently because you can’t read his license plate. The only real compensation for drivers who won’t clear their cars properly (front, top AND back) is that at least once per season I’ll see one of these tools come to a stop and the entire six inches of snow on top of the car will slide onto their front or back window. 😃 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/46 "2008-12-18T04:47:56Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I find it fairly surprising that there’s not a commonly used product on the market that you could spray/wipe on windshields beforehand that would prevent or at least compromise the hold snow and ice have, allowing easy removal afterward. I see RainX claims to offer some protection. Is it actually effective? If so I sure don’t hear much mention of its use. > > Or, Winston, are some people so cheap they just use it in one tiny circle? I use a tarp. Works fine. ---
**Author:** ![MadPansy64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MadPansy64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPansy64)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/47 "2008-12-18T05:10:49Z")
> [@Winston\_Smith](#): > > …should die slowly in firey wrecks. > > That is all. No. They might take me out in the process. How 'bout their car won’t start until they clear their windows, remove the floes from the vehicle roof and trunk, but if they turn the key the third time, without trying to do so, THEN the vehicle instantly vaporizes without heating any nearby vehicles or structures? ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/48 "2008-12-18T10:43:36Z")
> [@MadPansy64](#): > > No. They might take me out in the process. What - you can’t take one for the team? Selfish bastard. ---
**Author:** ![SomeUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e480ec/32.png) [@SomeUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SomeUserName)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/49 "2008-12-18T11:06:50Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > How about the guys and gals who don’t clear their brake lights. I’d complain about their headlamps too, but they probably don’t have daytime running lights and probably aren’t smart enough to know that making your car more visible to other cars is a good thing. Slowly dieing in a fiery car wreck is too good for them. Hanging them by their balls smothered in honey above a pit of fire ants is too good for them. They should be torn into little bitsy pieces and buried alive! On a related note. Turn on your fucking lights in heavy rain and snow storms. I want to be able to see your fucking car so I don’t, you know, slam in to it. That is one of my biggest fucking pet peeves. I try hard to clean off my Jeep but I am 5’ 2" and there are times I just can’t get all the snow off the top even with my extended snow brush ☹ And to top it off my Jeep has no heat right now. There is enough barely warm air to defrost the windshield and I have rear defrost but it is not enough to heat the truck. It is like driving around in a damn freezer. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/50 "2008-12-18T11:21:46Z")
All of your “solutions” notwithstanding, the only real solution is for people to take responsibility for themselves. The people who do this are probably the same people who don’t signal when they’re turning, and refuse to turn their lights on in bad weather, and text-messaging while they drive. They think they’re immune to the consequences of their inactions, and if they cause an accident they can always blame the other guy. ---
**Author:** ![Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3da27b/32.png) [@Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nikki_Tikki_Tavi)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/51 "2008-12-18T16:35:48Z")
A few years ago my grandma gave me one of [these](http://www.amazon.com/Auto-Expressions-5048114-Warrior-Windshield/dp/B000BYRHIS) for Xmas. I sure wish I could remember where I put it. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![MadPansy64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MadPansy64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPansy64)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/52 "2008-12-18T17:59:58Z")
> [@Winston\_Smith](#): > > What - you can’t take one for the team? > > Selfish bastard. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Borborygmi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/borborygmi/32/217_2.png) [@Borborygmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borborygmi)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/53 "2008-12-18T18:28:18Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > > [@Astroboy14](#): > > > > I never clear any snow off my car. What a bunch of pussies! > > > > 😃 > > Asshole!! > > 😃 You know, the whole lot of you are [censored, just in case this is one of those weird-ass NON-PIT RULES APPLY threads]. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/54 "2008-12-18T18:46:35Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > The only real compensation for drivers who won’t clear their cars properly (front, top AND back) is that at least once per season I’ll see one of these tools come to a stop and the entire six inches of snow on top of the car will slide onto their front or back window. 😃 😃 😃 Yes, you break sharply and it all goes “flob” down onto the windshield, just when you needed to see what’s going on. Next time you take the time to clear it off first. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/55 "2008-12-18T18:55:03Z")
One morning I was driving my truck down the highway and this car behind me starts honking and flashing their lights, so I stop, thinking they may need help. Out gets this attractive blonde woman and start to tear me a new one about how all the snow is falling out of the back of my truck. I explained to her "Lady, this is Canada, and this is the salt truck! > [@](#): > > Yes, you break sharply and it all goes “flob” down onto the windshield, just when you needed to see what’s going on. > Next time you take the time to clear it off first. Yep, breaking the windshield will teach you! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/56 "2008-12-18T19:03:00Z")
I don’t think some of the people recommending cardboard and tarps have spent much time living in a really cold climate. Up here, all you’re going to do is ice weld that shit to your windshield. – that’s if you can get to it after you shovel and chisel through the 8 or 10 inches of hard packed ice and snow lying on top of it. I got ticketed once for doing the little hole thing. It was a long time ago – like in the late 80’s. I was perpetually broke and didn’t have a scraper. I didn’t like driving that way. It was nerve wracking. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/57 "2008-12-18T19:18:34Z")
Yeah, cardboard won’t work here. That would be interesting, in an ice storm. _peel_ _RIIIP!_ _cardboard sticks to car_ Plus, it does take more than 20 minutes to clean your car, and the surroundings, if you have over a foot of snow. When we had three feet of snow\* all in one 24 hour period it took me almost an hour to clean it. \*Seriously. It was last Valentine’s Day and sedan’s tires were buried. It was something amazing. But a PITA. ---
**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 19, 2008, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/58 "2008-12-19T03:38:47Z")
You don’t need any fancy brush or scraper, either - I always use the $1.99 special you can find anywhere; it works just fine, and I don’t care much if I forget it on top of my car and drive away. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/59 "2008-12-19T04:02:32Z")
Maybe I need a new thread but are there any options (no matter how ungodly expensive) for like heated driveways or something. ---
**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 19, 2008, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546/60 "2008-12-19T04:24:25Z")
The University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon had heated sidewalks, if I remember correctly. I’m sure you could heat a driveway if you really wanted to. On a related note, I’ve been thinking for awhile that Canada needs to start making a car specifically for Canada - there are too many flaws in cars not made for these conditions. We make do, but we can do much better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-people-that-just-clear-a-little-circle-of-snow-from-their-windshield/477546.md?page=4)