Dealing with winter conditions as a driver can be a whole process. Scraping ice and clearing the windshield on a harsh winter day can feel like it takes an eternity. It always seems to happen when you are in a rush. But is there a better way? A man spied something in a parking lot that has him rethinking winter prep for his vehicle. In a TikTok that’s generated more than 493,000 views as of this writing, Kieron Mitchell (@kieronmitchell2) reveals what he saw in the parking garage that left him baffled. In the TikTok, Mitchell says, "So do you think they don’t know why people put up their windshield wipers like that?" Mitchell films a vehicle prepared for snow with its windshield wipers lifted off the glass. Doing this prevents the wipers from freezing to the windshield. It also makes it easier to clean ice and snow off the windshield. What Was the Driver Thinking? The thing that gives Mitchell pause about the vehicle with the lifted wipers is that it is inside a parking garage. Most people seem to agree. One wrote, "You’re in the garage, why would you do that?" "I live in the Midwest. I have never put up my wipers. Honestly I feel like frozen wipers aren’t as big of a concern as people think they are," another agreed. Others were of a different mind. They believe there is value in putting the wipers up, even if your vehicle is in a parking garage. "I mean if it’s cold enough out, an open concrete garage isn’t necessarily going to stop the wipers from freezing. Especially if there was any type of moisture on them from the drive in," one pointed out. "Even if you park in a garage, if your wipers are wet from the drive and it gets cold, they can still freeze to the windshield," another said. "Do you think that it’s not possible for wipers to still freeze onto the windshield while in a parking garage? Someone isn’t understanding ‘why’ here and it’s not them," a third noted. Are You Supposed To Put Your Windshield Wipers Up In Snow? Lifting the windshield wipers prevents the blades from freezing to the windshield and makes it easier to clear snow. However, this convenience may be causing unnecessary stress on certain car parts. Experts advise against it, according to AutoZone. The main part that can be damaged is the wiper arm springs. These allow the windshield wiper blades to be pressed flat on the glass. Each time you pull the wipers away from the windshield, the springs get stretched. This is fine for short periods, like changing the wiper blades, but leaving them up for extended periods can permanently stretch the springs. "This is why it is not a good idea to leave your wiper blades up in preparation for cold precipitation," per Autozone. After these springs are stretched, their pressure on the windshield weakens. This causes a poor wipe quality, which is the last thing you want during rain or harsh winter conditions. Another thing to consider is that when the wiper arm is in the up position, it can easily slam down onto the windshield. This slam can generate enough force to crack the glass. Overall, putting your windshield wipers up offers convenience when you’re cleaning off snow and ice—but it may come at a cost. Motor1 contacted Mitchell via TikTok direct message and comment on the post. The story will be updated if he replies. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team