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The Perils of Worn-out Wiper Blades

It's an automotive fact of life that wiper blades wear out sooner or later. If you're lucky enough to be in the latter category, yours may last up to 18 months. If you fall into the sooner camp, you may be fortunate if you get six months to wear out of them before it's time for a new pair. Since you know who you are, it's best to replace them before they start to display any of the warning signs.

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Signs That You Need New Wiper Blades

Depending on your windshield, type of wipers, and the weather conditions in your area, your wipers may exhibit visual signs like skipping, streaking, or smearing. They may also give audible warnings like chattering or squeaking. These are all results of the rubber no longer making contact with the glass of the windshield. And the reason for this is the rubber has worn away. Don't think you're home-free if you live in an area that goes long stretches without rain. Now that doesn't apply to us in the greater Milwaukee area, but there are areas of California that go all summer without a drop of rain. And guess what? Drivers in those dry areas have to need new wiper blades just as often as we do in Wisconsin. Maybe more so, since sunshine presents its own problems.

Why Your Wiper Blades Wear Out

The ultraviolet rays of the unrelenting sun can be just as deadly as road salt, mud, debris, and dirt, the airborne enemies we usually associate with wear and tear on wiper blades. Add ozone deterioration, car exhaust, saltwater, and acid rain to the mix, and you have a fool-proof recipe for worn-out rubber wiper blades. If you think wax is a friend to your car's finish, you're right, but keep it away from the windshield since wax can hold rubber-deteriorating oil.

What You Can Do to Make Your Wiper Blades Last Longer

Giving your wipers regular tender loving care can add to the life of your wiper blades. For example, you can:

• Use your defroster to melt ice and snow before turning on your wipers. A window scraper will work too.
• Make it a wintertime habit to pull the wiper arms away from the windshield so that ice and hard snow don't accumulate on the rubber squeegee edge of the blades.
• Make it an always habit to clean the windshield every time you get gas.
• When you wash your car, don't forget to use a damp paper towel to remove any oil or dirt that may be building on the squeegee.

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