How to Care for and Clean Your Windscreen Wiper Blades: A Guide by Hyper-Blades
Windscreen wiper blades are an essential component of your vehicle and your safety, but are often overlooked. Keeping them in top condition by maintaining them ensures clear visibility during the worst of weather conditions, which is crucial for safe driving. At Hyper-Blades, we understand the importance of reliable wiper blades and want to help you maintain them for optimal performance. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to care for and clean your wiper blades.
Why Wiper Blade Maintenance Matters
Your wiper blades are constantly exposed to harsh elements—sunlight, rain, dirt, and debris. Over time, these factors can degrade the rubber, causing streaks, smears, and reduced visibility. Proper maintenance can extend the life of your wiper blades and ensure they function effectively when you need them most.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Wiper Blades
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Lift the Wiper Arms: Start by gently lifting the wiper arms away from the windscreen until they lock into an upright position. This makes it easier to access and clean the blades. Some vehicles have a park feature on the wipers, this allows wipers that are tucked under the bonnet to move and then stop in an accessible position. Check your owners manual if you are struggling to access them. Consider placing something across your windscreen like a few microfibre towels or a piece of cardboard, this will help in the event of the wiper arms falling back down towards the windscreen.
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Wipe Down the Blades: Use a clean, damp cloth or sponge to wipe down the length of the wiper blades by pinching the blade slightly whilst running down the blade. For a deeper clean, use mild soap and water. Avoid harsh chemicals as they can damage the rubber. Repeat the process using different sections of the cloth or sponge until clean. Do not apply too much pressure whilst wiping as this can stretch and distort the rubber. Doing this as part of your maintenance washes will ensure your wipers remain clean at all times.
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Check for Damage: While cleaning, inspect the blades for any signs of wear and tear, such as cracks, splits, or a hard texture. If the rubber is damaged, it’s time to replace the blades. Putting this off could damage your windscreen so make it a priority, its much cheaper to replace wiper blades than it is to repair or replace your windscreen.
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Clean the Windscreen: Dirt and grime on the windscreen can quickly transfer to the wiper blades. Clean the windscreen with a quality glass cleaner to ensure a smooth surface for the blades to glide over. Also try to avoid spraying liquid waxes on your windscreen, many can cause streaking and noisy wiper blades. If using car washes ask them not to apply any liquid waxes to your windscreen.
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Dry the Blades: After cleaning the blades and windscreen, use a dry lint free cloth or microfibre to remove any remaining moisture from the blades. This helps prevent water spots and streaking. Again be gentle, you don't want to be stretching the rubber too much.
Additional Tips for Wiper Blade Care
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Regular Inspections: Check your wiper blades at least once a month, especially during winter and rainy seasons when they are used more frequently but still need to be cleaned just as often. We recommend doing it whilst washing your vehicle.
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Use the Right Washer Fluid: Use a washer fluid that is formulated to clean effectively without damaging the rubber on your wiper blades. Check to make sure if the fluid is concentrated or not, if concentrated then make sure your are mixing it as suggested by the manufacturer. Another thing to check if it is seasonal or not, make sure your using the right fluid for the right season.
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Frost and snow: Avoid using your wiper blades to clear frost or snow from your windscreen, We suggest clearing the screen first with a soft brush or a dedicated ice scraper if needed only using them once clear and fully defrosted. The rubber on wiper blades can sometimes freeze the the windscreen, activating them to clean the frozen screen can tear the rubber from the frame of the blade. Wiping over ice can prematurely wear down the blade.
Final Thoughts
It takes less than a minute to maintain your wiper blades but its more than often overlooked. Taking the time to care for and clean your windscreen wiper blades can make a significant difference in your driving safety. Regular maintenance not only extends the life of your blades but also ensures you have a clear view of the road ahead.