Legalities of washing your car in the street

Hi,

Although I have been in Germany for 14 years I still do not know the legalities about washing your car in the street, can anyone help?

Sometimes we cant be bothered to take our car to the car wash and fancy washing it by hand while its parked in front of our garage (so it is off the main road). However, I have vaguley heard that you cant wash your car by hand in the street and by the looks that we get from the neighbours I would not be surprised if this was another stupid German rule? In my 14 years here, I cant ever remember seeing anyone hand washing their car in the street. To top it all off, its often on a Sunday when we want to wash it.

Any advice from fellow car washers?

Thanks

Treacle

Without looking it all up...I think washing your car on the street is a problem because all the lovely oil/petrol/brake nasties and detergent can easily get into the normal drains.
At the garage, the car-wash water is supposed to be filtered/collected and/or cleaned-up before it gets into the drains.
I'm not at all sure if that really happens, but it's the basic justification I got from my German colleagues.
Can anyone contradict that? (I expect so )

I think it varies from Stadt to stadt, where we are you are allowed to give you're
car a "clear water wash" ...which seems pretty pointless ...I still wash
my car in driveway and I haven't been given a stern talking too by anyone so far

basically I think it's a load of bollocks ...I saw an austrailian company selling
inflatable booms to place around your car when you wash it so you can collect
the water which is full of phosphates from the detergents etc and use it for watering
your garden ...apparently the plants love it

The excuses don't wash with me either

When the car does get washed (not very often). It is washed in the yard, you know, around the back where nobody from the street can see...

Is there any tax added to the car-wash services at the garage? In which case I think I know the real reason why you are not supposed to wash your car at home!!!

I don't wash my car at all. What do you think husbands are for?

Did a quick check of our Gemeindesätzung and:


Alles klar?

You see, fatal mistake!

It really makes you wonder how the British Isles manage to survive which just about every car being washed on the drive or on the road nearly every week!

So how come the water/sewage companies in Britain don't complain?

Oh I forgot that if it doesn't rain for a couple of days in the UK, out comes the stand-pipe and there's no water, especially not for the car!

Thanks everyone,

I guess we will have to find something else to do on a Sunday

I go to the Waschstrasse as a treat for the kids. They think it's like a theme park ride and would be really upset if I went without them. Also I can hoover it for free afterwards.

Our neighbours wash cars on their drives or in the street (never on Sunday) but then the culture in our street is very freindly and nobody makes it their business to complain. They also wash their doorsteps so there's plenty of detergent going down the drains.

as I said what a load of bollox ...how is petrol and oil going to get into the
groundwater when washing the body work ...were not talking about washing
the engine bay ...and what happens when it rains ? ...and how many cars are dripping oil onto the roads anyway ...thousands ...I had a look at the "Oelabscheider" (oil-seperator) at the local carwash and it was about as effective as a chocolate teapot !

I HATED going to Waschstraßen in Frankfurt, especially the brush ones, which weren't too healthy for my metalic paintwork!! :doh: (although the Textilwasch on Hanauerlandstraße was ok I s'pose, but probably just as bad really!!!) 1 month before I left the Vaterland a DIY spraygun wash thingy opened just near me at the Hessol Tankstelle in Massenheim (next to Bad Vilbel) (BLOODY FANTASTIC TIMING---why didn't it open 6 years ago!! )
Had I washed my cuddlebubble in the yard my landlady would have had a stroke!!! However, the lad downstairs was allowed to screw bits off and on his shed on wheels of a VW Golf and leave oil all over the flags!!! Just as long as he didn't wash it down the drains then...!!
Ah well, das alles ist Deutschland, whoooaaaaayoooh! (as Die Prinzen would say)

@ Neil : EXACTLY!!!

One of my few reasons to travel to Holland on a Sunday...

...and you can pick up quite a few litres of cheap petrol and diesel while you're at it Bendus! (as long as the Zoll don't catch you )

My impression is that you are allowed to wash the car (perhaps only off-street?) IF you only use water - no detergent or soap of any kind.

2 further comments:

As Neil said - when it rains - whats the difference?

The biggest load of c**p I have come across yet is when someone told me you are not allowed to scrape the snow off the roof of your car into the street. The scary thing is this could quite possibly be true, knowing some of the other barmy rules :excl: Can anyone confirm or deny?

I nearly forgot, last week one of my German colleagues noticed I had a very small bit of bird sh*t on the back of the car. I was supposed to remove it immediately as it will 'obviously' cause major damage to the paint-work.

It's a 10 year-old crappy Modeo and it's had worse on the paint-work than that and not really suffered so far.
Maybe I'll just let the rain wash it off. If it's really that corrosive, imagine the lovely clean drains we will have! The stadt will be so proud I've helped

My German neighbour is right now washing his Porsche in the street outside my house, loads of detergent running into the drain. Of course normal rules don´t apply here in Bayern

When I wash my car on the road, I use a bucket of water with a few drops ow washing up liquid. Where is the difference, washing a car or an awful lot of dishes ??
Its no different to when it rains.

If you use any other cleaning agents than washing up liquid then I can understand the issue.

But I still think it's easier to go through the car wash !!

Stephen

Once a year we take a dirty car to Wales where hubbi then proudly washes it in my parents' drive. He does so much more enjoy it than going through a Waschstrasse. My parents get inspired and I usually end up washing my Mum's (in my GREEN wellies - they live in their garage) and she washes Dad's.

The street water run off uses different drains. "Foul water" from houses etc goes to treatment plants 1st, hence being able to use fairy liquid etc.

When i had the company car I drove it through the wash every week, no that I'm paying or it I go in the wash bay, usually for € or two I can wash it.

Speaking of vorboten, the Police on the A8 and A81 are cracking down on pissors!

80€ fine if you get caught watering the grass!

Yikes going to have to pee with my eyes open

Do they fine you on the spot or take a photo ?

Hubbi does that too.

Notices it, or removes it?!

Note to all those that have been talking about washing their car with nothing more than a few squirts of washing up liquid in water: It's supposed to be the most evil thing to wash your car with! Acid rain is probably nicer to the paintwork!
Mind you, most of the web pages I found were the makers of 'special' car wash detergents!!!

And there was me, up to the elbows in it, washing up my crockery and cutlery... I thought Fairy was supposed to be 'kind to your hands' ... but not good enough for cars?

the whole point is : just a few drops of the stuff !!!
And anyway, you rinse the car with clean water afterwards...

Dont see where the problem is. If fairy is good for my hands, my car should be OK !!
Well anyway. At least now, the outside smells lemony fresh !!

Stephen

Doesnt fairy dissolve the paintwork??

Yes it does, and you will find that your car has fallen to pieces the next morning.

Help from a german guy:

Why do you think are you able to buy car shampoo and wax if you are not allowed to wash your car on the street???

Indeed, officially you are not allowed to wash your car on the street but what do you think most german people are doing every Saturday???

There is a german sentence: Wo kein Klaeger da kein Richter...

I have never heard that anybody got a ticket because of washing his car. Don't care about that law.

But I should advise you not to wash your car on Sunday. In germany you are not used to do any work on Sunday. Because Sunday is a holy day in Germany and in the bible is written: ...und am 7. ten Tag sollst du ruhen.

Ok most of the germans are not really religious but it is a tradition not to work on Sunday. It could be that the people think that you are crazy.

Regards

A German now living in London

Hi Jumbes,

on another current topic on this forum. How do you find living in England? What are your impressions, your likes and dislikes about the Brits and life there? Would be interesting to hear! A lot of us here, meself included have been having a good go at Germany. Nows your chance!

Interesting info Jumbes, I think the problem we tend to have (Brits in DE) is that we hear of all these rules/regulations, find them ridiculous, but stick to them because we dont know what the consequences could be (And becuase we are brits!).

I tend to keep a low profile, try not to upset anyone, that sort of thing.

I did wash my car a couple of times on the drive, but felt really self concious doing it, and kept looking to see if anyone was watching.

ButI did of course wonder where all the people who bought car shampoo/sponges/waxes went with their cars.

Neil

Hi all

It is now my fourth week here in London (sorry for my mistakes...my english is not the best) and I think that if you decide to go abroad that you have to accommodate with the culture in the country where you are living.

Of course, we alle live in Europe but there are a lot of differences.

I know that Germany seems to be a country of rules and laws but don't think about that too much.

It could be very easy going if you accept the "social rules".

The only reason to have this crowd of rules is that there won't be any trouble if any follows the rules. As I told yoy: Wo kein Klaeger da kein Richter...

There are a lot of thinks here in UK I am wondering as well as you do in Germany.
But for me: It is ok. It is a challenge and a great experience and perhaps I can catch all the good things here and take it with me back to Germany.

There are some things which really surprise me in UK:

Why can't the british people forget the WW2. Hey folks, it ended 60 yrs ago. Last week someone broke into the car of a german colleague. The guy from the garage saluted with the "Hitler Gruss" ?!?
Especially the yellow press is unbelievable. e.g. "Only the british football fans are not allowed to drink beer in the satdion during the wrold championship" Next sentence was: "Was that Hitlers idea?" I can't understand this point of view. It is a lie. Everybody is allowed to drink beer and there is no reason to compare this with Hitler.

Another e.g.: There was a british pin-up girl:

"I prefer czech guys, germans are rude and agressive?"
Dou you think that she has ever been in Germany.

That makes me angry because there is no reason to think bad about the Germans even if have never spoken to one.

I know that most of the Germans don't think bad about the british people. And normally you can't find topics in the German yellow press (BILD-Zeitung) like:

The british people are doing this and that...

But what I really can't understand that the pubs are closing at 11 pm. Unbelievable.

If you have any questions you can't understand in Germany don't avoid to ask me.

Hi Jumbes,

yes I agree with you, the british obsession with WW2 and anti-german-ness is very tedious.

The anti-german sentiment comes partly from WW1 and WW2, but only partly. WW2 especially is Britain`s "Wild West" - a nostalgic place based on legends and myths and longing for some time in the past when Britain was "Great". WW2 was not as traumatic and severe a rift for the UK as it was for eg Germany, France, Russia or Poland. The country was not invaded and so the old guard were able to remain in power.

If you go to London`s Imperial War Museum (itself a bit of a dodgy name I feel), you can even visit something called the Blitz Experience (or similar, Im not sure of the exact name). A lot of the IWM to my mind actually is rather like a Disneyland for the Second World War. This is something you do not find in continental european countries and says a lot about the UKs relationship to WW2.

But the anti-german thing also stems I think from the 19th century when Germany started to become stronger, ie especially after 1870. It was becoming more of a competitor to the UK. This became even more so towards the end of the 19th century.

There are many other factors which play a role - traditional status of french language vs german in international diplomacy for example, which accounts for the weak position of the german language in UK today, splendid isolation etc, but I dont have time to go into it all now!

Another thing that plays a role is that the british, and more especially the english are quite insular and have always been somewhat hostile to the continent.

Add to that a jingoistic yellow press and you have what you see today!

Interesting that if people and the press in UK said what they say about Germany and germans about blacks or asians - or muslims? - the law would be down on them in no time! Racism against non-whites is not allowed, but "racism" against germans, french etc is.

PS. not to mention the different ways germans and brits have in washing their cars!! :-)

- I think it is runs much deeper than that - it is etched into the national psyche. Yes it has become mythology - Britain under seige defeating the dark forces - Heroes/Sacrifice etc, & rightly so IMHO. (Something the Germans should appreciate a la Siegfried et al.)

Following the depression in the 1930s suddenly everyone had a purpose - there was meaning to life, & a common aim. In the early years Britain thought it would not prevail - then eventually succeeding despite the odds - this is classic epic stuff.
Then they were promised a better future, welfare state ... :doh:

The under siege mentality continues with the perception of the invasion of the EU, with Germany/France apparently the driving forces.

It will take a few more generations yet to settle down - too many people still alive suffered through the years & passed the tales on to their children/grandchildren. Just look at the Trafalgar stuff going on at the moment - 200 years ago - & people still hate the French.

The Germans I meet are friendly, polite & not the least hostile. Most appear curious about Britain, think we are odd - a curiosity as a people - but generally seems to regard us in a favourable light. Rather like eccentric cousins. I would worry about bringing German friends back to Britain - I would expect a bigoted reaction from many people (e.g. Basil Fawlty), or at least a few "jokes" about the war. I loved Faulty Towers - but I can't watch "The Germans" episode - it makes me cringe.

OK - serious stuff - I'm posting nothing but jokes tomorrow

I have a german friend who loves faulty towers, has the complete DVD set, and as I hadn't seen them in a while we decided to watch them together.
His Girlfriend came over that night too, and I "had" to watch the germans episode with them.

I must say I felt rather uncomfortable, though normally find the episode hilarious.
Told my friend how I felt, and he just laughed and said "why?"
He finds it hysterical.

ok, I haven't read this whole thread yet... but I just got the weirdest looks for 'washing' my car just now. Not sure if it's because it's Sunday, or what? We don't have drains -- we live in a wooded area with dirt roads. I used only the TINIEST bit of soap, as I wasn't sure what the rule is here. Basically, until we build a carport, I have to park under pine trees which are dropping sap on my car and I don't know HOW to get that off (I had a garage in the US). So I guess my questions are multi-fold... Can I hose my car off in front of my house as I please, since there is a daily dump of pine poop on it? Can a professional car wash place do a better job of getting off the sap? Or perhaps someone can recommend a good product in Germany I can use? This can't be good for the paint job... Thanks.

If you are only removing isolated spots no one can give you any aggro. Use a wet cloth and your tiniest bit of soap, dry immediately afterwards and you can't be accused of washing your car.
Contact your manufacturer regarding sap and the paint job, they can probably name the best cleaning agent.

Yes Sara, that is just what I did: "spot cleaned" it. I just went to my car's online forum and it seems that WD40 does the trick. Does anyone know what the equivalent of WD40 is in Germany?? It's perhaps one of the GREATEST American inventions, ever! Also, does one buy this sort of thing in a hardware store, and would that be a Baumarkt? My German husband is so useless in these matters! He had no clue. seriously. not even what a hardware store is called here. Do "mom & pop" small hardware stores even exist? I don't want to go to a huge OBI for the few things I need... like wrenches, door pulls, and some other stuff. Oh, and liquid car soap, too.

The equivalent of WD40 in Germany is WD40!!

excellent news!! ROFL thanks.

Now, what are the rules about playing fairly loud music in your home on a Sunday?... or any other day, for that matter?

it's called...WD-40

A few drops of Diesel works just as well, if not better than WD40

...

hmm... the paint job on my car is really really lame, so I'd have to try that first on an inner panel or something. bird poop eats away the clear coat! I've also heard rubbing alcohol... can I get that at an Apoteke here like in the US? I also read liquid dish soap -- well I tried that and it didn't work.

I think I may have figured out why I got the stares today -- because I was doing this, and not my husband. LOL Well it's MY car!

Didn't know that! What we used, before our neighbour cut down her tree, was some eucalyptus oil. If the resin isn't too baked on then that also does the trick. It will also remove left over glue from old hooks that have fallen off the wall/door etc, and also those blasted price labels on CDs that you want to give as a present. Of course they will then smell, but especially important in the case of presents it does wear off!

It is probably worth going to Obi. Not that small shops shouldn't be supported, but if you don't know of one, then a baumarkt will have most of what you need.

If it's any comfort, I also have a German husband who is AS and non-functioning in the "handyman mode" - sadly he has two left hands. But I usually start the projects, and then he comes and lends some muscle. Good that I have a Dad who was/still is very handy and who can give advice over the phone if he's in a different country. When we lived in the UK they used to come to visit us and he would bring his toolkit in the car - did things like shaving off sticking doors, drilling holes in tiles. On their last visit to Germany he even guided us through repairing the flat roof of the garage which saved us paying someone else.

LOL spatown, it sounds like our husbands are long lost brothers. I come from a VERY handy family... so I was the one to bring all the tools, etc into the marriage, haha. Well, he apparently decided we didn't need them here. uh... HUH??? I try to encourage him by buying him gifts like one of those enormous Craftsman tool holders on wheels with drawers, ladders, etc, and he just looks at me like he wants to throw me off a bridge. So all that stuff is in storage in America and I have to start all over again, ugh! Well, we could only fit SO much into the container...

It has been very frustrating for me to do/find the simplest things here... when "alle ist anders". I have really appreciated finding this forum.

Heaven help us!

I must say that there is some hope. When we first married I had to show my husband how to put a plug onto an electric whatever - though my father did say on his last visit that I shouldn't let him do that again, apparently he fused all the lights when I was out by mixing up the wires - and I weaned him off the idea of taking a nail and bashing until it went into the wall to hang up pictures. We now have proper sized drill bits and raw plugs. When I moved into the house he was living in, after we married (different country so I had only been there once), I discovered that the curtains in the master bedroom were nailed into the wall (of course they didn't ever open) and I seem to remember he fused all the lights in our rented house on Christmas Eve a year later (another plug attaching effort), which did make me a bit cross since we didn't then have the simple little switches that you just flip up again. But you see his father was the same, and my husband's step mother just did everything herself (mostly muddled through) whilst bringing up a big bunch of children. But she was not a very good example either - I remember her trying to persuade me to paint around the fridge in the kitchen when I was having a nesting attack just before No 2 was born. She said "no-one will notice!!!"

But do not give large DIY presents. They can cause palpitations and anxiety attacks. Well, perhaps not but they will not be welcome. About as much as the book on driving 4 X 4s that my friend's husband gave her for her birthday.

Deep breathing helps, a belief in your own abilities and a sense of humour!

... sorry, nothing to do with cleaning the car, but I just have to mention that I once got an iron and ironing board from my husband for christmas - he had to iron his own shirts for the next couple of months!!
- what a thoughtful present!!!

OMG!!! I don't DO ironing. I warned my husband before marriage.

And spatown, your gift story cracked me up... *I* am the one with the 4x4 car, the 4x4 books, and the husband who is very resistant to go offroad... LOL. ah well, he is a decent cook and enjoys cleaning house more than I do, so I shouldn't complain. I'm happy to fix things if he will mop the floor.

Ducks I am the one who drove the car off road when we lived in Africa and we took our guests to a lodge where rains had washed away the road. And when we (actually not he, he doesn't fish) went fishing, driving along the beaches. He couldn't remember how the low and high gear ratio thingummy worked. But he is a nice guy, will still keep him!

Robinson 100. Yes, I also remember when I bought mother in law a gold pin and a silk scarf for Christmas, showed my husband, and he said "but we have to buy her a proper present for Christmas". "What?" I asked rather puzzled. Yes, you've guessed it, an iron.

PS My don't do is darning socks! It took him years and years before he gave up asking!

Of course this all has masses to do with the original post.