Snow Removal Brush

[JoeyO]

Any recommendations for a hand-held brush that I can remove snow from my X3? My car is often garaged but it’s needed here in snow-country, when a car sits in an open parking lot and it snows.

Normally I would get any $5 run-of-the-mill brush, but I’ve had brushes in the past that scratch my paint finish. So I want one with very soft bristles. Most come with a window scraper.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by JoeyO

Normally I would get any $5 run-of-the-mill brush, but I’ve had brushes in the past that scratch my paint finish. So I want one with very soft bristles. Most come with a window scraper.

ALL brushes will scrape your paint, 100% of the time.
If the bristles are hard enough to push snow, they will be too hard for the paint. It's the cost of using brushes.

There is no harm to brushing snow off the glass, but try to keep them off the paint, unless absolutely unavoidable. And if so, be prepared to re-polish the paint in the spring.

Personally, I don't use any brushes on the ///M car, but have something similar to these in the trunks of winter beaters:
https://www.amazon.com/EcoNour-Scrap...9&sr=8-17&th=1

YMMV,
a

[John in VA]

I, too, try to avoid the paint but check:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/SnoBrum-...1THS/303240928

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Snow-Joe-18-in-4-in-1-Telescoping-Snow-Broom-and-Ice-Scraper-with-Headlights-SJBLZD-LED/301072466

[Randall V]

Originally Posted by JoeyO

Any recommendations for a hand-held brush that I can remove snow from my X3? My car is often garaged but it’s needed here in snow-country, when a car sits in an open parking lot and it snows.

Normally I would get any $5 run-of-the-mill brush, but I’ve had brushes in the past that scratch my paint finish. So I want one with very soft bristles. Most come with a window scraper.

Mink Glove should do it.. Though,I will shed a single tear for the mink that will have to give its life for it.

[Slaxer]

The ones I have grabbed from costco have been on the softer side, but I will agree that its a no win situation if the goal is to keep the paint prestine.

[JoeyO]

Thanks for the advice. Yes, I try to avoid touching the paint, but sometimes it unavoidable…

1) In the past, I’ve noticed the scratches around the perimeter of the windows. In blizzard conditions, it’s hard to focus and be neat in clearing the windows.

2) If a lot of snow gets dumped on the car, sometimes it must be removed from the hood or roof. Otherwise, it goes flying off in the air when reaching highway speeds.

I was hoping there’s some type of brush that has very fine or delicate bristles like horse hair or something like that.

Keep the advice coming, if anyone has any more.

[T.R.S.]

Originally Posted by JoeyO

Thanks for the advice. Yes, I try to avoid touching the paint, but sometimes it unavoidable…

1) In the past, I’ve noticed the scratches around the perimeter of the windows. In blizzard conditions, it’s hard to focus and be neat in clearing the windows.

2) If a lot of snow gets dumped on the car, sometimes it must be removed from the hood or roof. Otherwise, it goes flying off in the air when reaching highway speeds.

I was hoping there’s some type of brush that has very fine or delicate bristles like horse hair or something like that.

Keep the advice coming, if anyone has any more.

Just use a brush with feathered bristle ends, and then don't be too aggressive with it. May take a bit more effort to clear it all off, but then your paint will appreciate it. Those of us around and behind you appreciate your cleaning all the snow off of you vehicle so that you have full vision around you, and that "slabs" of snow don't come flying off at us.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by T.R.S.

Just use a brush with feathered bristle ends, and then don't be too aggressive with it. May take a bit more effort to clear it all off, but then your paint will appreciate it. Those of us around and behind you appreciate your cleaning all the snow off of you vehicle so that you have full vision around you, and that "slabs" of snow don't come flying off at us.

Exactly. I know that no one wants scratches, but please don't kill someone to avoid them – clear the damn snow off of your car.

[ayilar]

My M3 will hopefully never see snow, but for other cars that do I have been extremely happy with this one:

SubZero 80037 60" Quick Lock Pivoting Head Snowbroom with Integrated Squeegee and Ice Scraper

It was recommended by Wirecutter, and I concur with all the pluses they identify -- in particular, it really speeds up the ice/snow removal:

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/r...t-ice-scraper/

It is not small, but that is a trade-off that I am willing to make in return for much greater ease/speed -- especially for larger vehicles like SUVs or large wagons.

[Pathy01]

I prefer the designs with foam pushers rather than nylon brushes and generally try to push most of the snow without getting all the way down to the paint, and then use my hand with fleece gloves to wipe the remainder. A big part of the problem with scratching is that it doesn't matter how soft the brush is if the paint wasn't clean before the snow. Any salt, sand, grit etc. on the surface can scratch the paint, no matter how soft of an object you are using to push the snow.

If at all possible, I try to do a wash before an expected snowfall of significant accumulation. Sure, it'll be dirty again once I drive in the snow, but at least I'm not pushing any dirt and grit across the paint to clear off the snow. It's not perfect, but especially with black paint, every little bit helps to minimize swirl marks.

[jkoral]

I have Snow Joe foam pushers for all my cars. Kinda a pain to do side windows, but better for removing all snow from roof, hood, windshield, etc.

Out of stock on Amazon, but there are other brands:
https://www.amazon.com/Snow-Joe-SJBL.../dp/B008FV5R0Y

Recently saw a dealership cleaning off their new inventory and they all had foam pushers.

[ptpending]

Due the laws in europe it is not allowed to warmup the car on the street. And due that the BMW and other autochemy vendors have ice-dissolving sprays.
So you can use them. Wait a little and them move the ice and snow with less efforts

[starlights]

If its fresh powder snow, you could try blowing it with a powerful handheld blower?

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by starlights

If its fresh powder snow, you could try blowing it with a powerful handheld blower?

+1. I use my cordless leaf blower. When it's not coming down too fast or too wet I clean my driveway with it too. I don't fire up the snow blower for less than a three inch fall.

[CGG]

They actually do make snow brushes that use natural boars hair and are designed to limit the scratches vs regular snow brush:

https://www.eshine.ca/products/wheel...der-brush-copy

[nazali]

OK not read all replies, but Ive lived and driven in Canada for about 15 years

ONTARIO: It is illegal to drive your car without clearing the snow, its also illegal to run your engine without being by the car for longer than 1 minute unoccupied, but upto 10 minutes in cold weather... MOST remote starts cut off after 15 minutes

Forget the fact that idling your car engine is crap for it, you need to get in and drive it.

THAT SAID

-----------------------------------------------------

I have seriously scratched my paint damaged my top by doing STUPID shiznit, I had to spend money on buffing scratches in spring after the snow has stopped, my top has cut marks from trying to get a snow brush (ice scraper under some ice)

My detailed was pissed with me... THIS IS WHAT I LEARNED and what I do
(YOUR own region, laws insurance determines your actions)


1> IN snow if light and fluffy i use my leaf blower to clean our cars and drive/walk ways
2> IN wet snow if light, I use a rubber blade to CLEAN the windscreens only, and drive away
3> IF there is a lot of snow, I use the rubber blade (LIGHTLY to push snow off) from the top layers
4> I heard tell and seen, its a good idea to wrap a MF towel around the rubber to give extra protection

I NEVER EVER EVER use a brush

AND some mental people use fruckkin snow shovels to get snow of there car if very deep, my next door neighbour nearly took a snow shovel to my car in an effort to help me, I had to control my temper and I was close to swearing and the dumb fub, he has some crappy POS car, he didnt realise his snow shovel had a friccken metal BLADE underneath (as an ice scraper)

IF YOU have a good detailer, use a brush, if you DONT wanna keep machine poliching scracthes dont TOUCH the bodywork

WHAT I USE

[JoeyO]

Arghhh! Speaking of snow and winter time blahs, anybody else frustrated that they can’t wash their vehicle in these cold temperatures? Yes, I’ve done the whole warm water bucket wash in the past, but it’s not fun. It’s a lot of work, and there’s the real chance the water will simply freeze on the exterior of the vehicle.

It pains me to see my baby covered in a white blanket of road salt. I hope some warm weather comes soon.

[Car-Addicted]

My M4 is a garage baby but if I had to I would use the blower I have been using for washing. If you must a Snow Joe will still leave scratches but if your lucky they will be small. Oh and never buy a black car if you care about scratches as they come from the factory scratched

[JoeyO]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

My M4 is a garage baby but if I had to I would use the blower I have been using for washing. If you must a Snow Joe will still leave scratches but if you’re lucky they will be small. Oh and never buy a black car if you care about scratches as they come from the factory scratched

Yea, just breathing on a black car causes scratches. Speaking of black cars, my coworker (a non-car guy) was completely flabbergasted when I told him black cars show dirt the easiest and white cars conceal dirt the best.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by JoeyO

Yea, just breathing on a black car causes scratches. Speaking of black cars, my coworker (a non-car guy) was completely flabbergasted when I told him black cars show dirt the easiest and white cars conceal dirt the best.

We have a very heavy month of pine pollen here in the Spring and everything has a dingy yellow coating. It's frustrating to wash it off of the car only to have it covered again in 15 minutes; I usually just don't bother for the month and accept that I have BMW Individual paints – Dingy Yellow Black and Puke Yellow Green (San Remo Green shows dirt and dust pretty damn well too).

I love my black Z4s, but keeping them clean is a challenge, lol.

[Elderado82]

Something as simple as gently sliding snow off your paint with your hands can easily scratch the surface. Any road grime, salt, sand, or dirt mixed in with the snow will drag across the paint and leave long scratches. The best thing to do is lightly brush the snow off, not down to the paint, but just enough so it’s no longer a visual obstruction or a danger to other drivers.

Nothing is worse in winter than driving down the interstate and having fifty pounds of snow fly off someone else’s car, slam into your windshield, and shatter it. That actually happened to me in Boulder, CO when I was a teenager heading to meet friends for a ski trip. Someone hadn’t brushed the snow off the roof of their car, and it had melted into a hard, crusty slab. The wind caught it, launched it straight at me, and it smashed into my windshield. One of the loudest, scariest interstate moments of my life, right up there with the time a turkey flew into my windshield when I was hauling fuel for Sapp Brothers.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by Elderado82

Something as simple as gently sliding snow off your paint with your hands can easily scratch the surface. Any road grime, salt, sand, or dirt mixed in with the snow will drag across the paint and leave long scratches. The best thing to do is lightly brush the snow off, not down to the paint, but just enough so it’s no longer a visual obstruction or a danger to other drivers.

Nothing is worse in winter than driving down the interstate and having fifty pounds of snow fly off someone else’s car, slam into your windshield, and shatter it. That actually happened to me in Boulder, CO when I was a teenager heading to meet friends for a ski trip. Someone hadn’t brushed the snow off the roof of their car, and it had melted into a hard, crusty slab. The wind caught it, launched it straight at me, and it smashed into my windshield. One of the loudest, scariest interstate moments of my life, right up there with the time a turkey flew into my windshield when I was hauling fuel for Sapp Brothers.

There's a special place in Hell for people who don't clear snow off of their car before driving. Right alongside people who drive slowly in the left-hand lane.