Effective wiper blades are an important tool for a vehicle’s safe operation. 100% visibility is essential to drive your car safely and even momentary loss of visibility due to sudden rain or water splashing by another vehicle or from the overhead irrigation system can be very dangerous. So remember to change your wiper blades at least once a year, to inspect them frequently for wear and tear and enjoy the view!
- Use the Wash & Wipe function in your car at least once a week, so that the wiper blade rubber remains soft & supple.
- Whenever you wash your car, pull your wiper blades away from the windshield and gently wipe the rubber blade with a damp paper towel to remove any loose dirt or oil. Do not use a cloth for this, as it may leave a black stain on the cloth. You can dampen the paper towel with White Alcohol also for better results.
- Never use your windshield wipers to clean your windshield when it is muddy. This will damage both your wiper blades and your windshield.
- Pull your wiper blades away from the windshield, if you do not use your car regularly, so that the pressure on the wiper blades is reduced and prevent them from sticking to the windshield.
- Inspect your wiper system once a month and look for the following:
- Broken frame – detachment of frame arms at joints or connection points.
- Metal Corrosion – especially at joints and claws.
- Visible cracks, tears, and missing pieces in the rubber squeegee’s edge.
- Flex rubber squeegee back and forth to see if it is still flexible. Aged squeegees will have difficulty conforming to the shape of your windshield and create streaks.
- Check squeegee wiping edge for rounded edges which can prevent the wiper blade from making strong contact with the windshield and reduces wipe quality.
- Tug to ensure wiper blade has been securely installed on the wiper arm.
- Check that squeegee is secure in the wiper frame.
REMEMBER TO LOOK BACK!
Don’t forget to check your rear windscreen wiper periodically if your vehicle is fitted with one. Although used less often, the rear wiper blade can also become worn so include it in your monthly checklist and keep an eye out for the obvious signs that it needs replacing when it is operated.
