Windshields are a very small component of your vehicle, but, they play a very crucial part. Without them you tend to put your safety and the safety of other people at risk.
What’s just as bad as not having windshield wipers is worn out windshield wipers. Instead of cleaning the windshield they just make things worse by hampering our vision. Sometimes your wipers can create lines and streaks on the windshield which are extremely distracting and can also prevent you from seeing the road clearly.
How to Extend the Life of Your Wipers?
- Wash your wipers
Every time you wash your vehicle, don’t forget to wash and clean your windshield wipers. To do this, pour some rubbing alcohol onto a soft cloth till it is saturated with the liquid. Then wipe the rubber part of the blades. Cleaning your wipers regularly allows you to get rid of dirt, dust, and larger debris lodged between your windshield and the wipers.
The dirt and grime is what causes the streaks all over your windshield. The rubbing alcohol will eliminate the troublesome dirt and grime embedded in the wipers reducing the noise and marks they may when switched on.
- Get a shady parking spot
Another easy way to increase the life of your windshield wipers is to keep your car parked in the shade. So get your stuff out of the garage and make room for your car. When you are out finding a parking lot that provides shade or look for a spot under a tree or near a building that will shield your vehicle against the direct sunlight.
The heat and light from the sun cause the rubber on your wipers to dry up much quicker. This makes them crack easily and as a result ware out fast. Know it won’t be just the wipers you’ll be saving. Your car’s paint will fade slower, and other exterior damages will be reduced as well.
- Don’t over wipe
You’ve probably seen people driving around with their wipers shifting up and down like crazy even after the rain or snow has stopped. Most think there’s no harm in leaving our wipers on longer than necessary. But they couldn’t be more wrong. There is a little thing called friction that occurs when your wipers go to work. And the more friction the worse it is for our wipers because of wear and tear. Sure, moving back and forth is what they’ve been designed to do, but only across a sleek wet surface not a dry windshield.
- Check the washer fluid
Bird poop can obstruct your visibility through the vehicle windshield. So to get rid of it you’ll need to squirt some of the washer liquid onto the windshield before turning on our wipers. But what happens if you don’t have any washer liquid in the washer reservoir?
You definitely don’t start the windshield wipers! It will not only ruin our windshield wiper blades, but your windshield as well. This makes it important for you to check the level of your washer fluid reservoir, so that you can avoid unpredictable situations like these. Refilling your washer fluid reservoir is easy enough for you to do yourself. All you need is the washer liquid and clean water.
When should You Change Your Windshield Wipers?
If your vehicle’s wipers start squeaking and leaving marks on the windshield in spite of following the above tips, you should know it is time to look for new wipers. It is advisable to use your windshield wiper blades for not more than six months. The amount of wear and tear the wiper blades experience will depend on the climate you live in. In other words, some people may be able to use their wipers much longer, sometimes even for a whole year.
A new windshield wiper upgrade is an easy fix for worn out wipers. It will improve your safety on the road and can be done at a very affordable price. Here are a couple of clear signs you need to change your windshield wipers:
- The metal arm of the wipers are bent.
- The edges of the rubber blades are torn or worn out in some places.
- Hazing or the formation of streaks across the windshield when you use the wipers during the rain or snow.
- The rubber blades are beginning to split or are being pulled away from the wiper arm. It will result in a slapping sound every time you use the wipers.
- You notice an alloying chattering noise when the wipers are in use, mainly because the wipers are not sweeping across the screen smoothly. Instead, they are popping up and down.
- The wiper blades refuse to sit snugly against the windshield. At high speeds they actually pull away from the windshield.
Now that you have the necessary knowledge to save your windshield wipers and change them when required, you can improve your safety on the road whenever it rains or snows.