How to clean windshield wipers?

While maintenance for windshield wiper blades is often ignored or neglected, they are one of the most important safety items on your vehicle. Clean and undamaged front and rear wiper blades are what provide you the ability to see clearly during rain or winter storms.

Wiper blades should be cleaned and inspected on a routine basis. The primary reason is to ensure the driver’s visibility is not impaired by poor wipe quality. Another reason is  to prevent the windshield from getting scratched. Small pieces of grit or dry tree droppings on the wiper blade or windshield could rub against the glass when the wipers are being used. Scratches to the glass caused by wiper movement can reduce visibility over time.

So how can you avoid these problems? What’s needed is a cleaning and inspection process using the right materials and techniques. To follow are the materials required and the steps for cleaning your wiper blades.  

 1) Glass cleaner spray or washer fluid

 2) Microfiber towel or any other soft cloth 

 3) Rubbing alcohol

Steps for cleaning wiper blades:

1. To begin, you must inspect the condition of the wiper blades. This will ensure that there are no cuts or cracks on the rubber squeegee. This type of wear usually appears at the end of the wiper blades lifecycle. If you do notice cracks or cuts, we advise you to replace the blades as soon as possible.

2. Before cleaning the wipers, you must first clean the windshield using a quality windshield cleaner and a soft cloth. This will ensure that all debris is rinsed off the windshield.

3. Raise the wiper arm to a level where you feel comfortable cleaning the blades. Apply washer fluid on the soft microfibre towel and wipe the wiper blade squeegee from one end to the other. You will notice the dirt sticking to the cloth.

4. Repeat the above step using clean areas of the microfibre towel until you see no coloration on the towel.

5. You may use rubbing alcohol on the blades to clear any foam and leftover particles that were difficult to remove in step 3.

6. Use the same technique for the other wiper blade. If your vehicle is equipped with a rear wiper blade, please apply these steps to it as well.

7. Check the wiper hinges and wash them with soapy water to clear any remaining dirt.

The frequency in which you should clean your wiper blades is dependent on the area in which you live. If it rains or snows quite often, you may want to clean and inspect your wiper blades weekly. This will not only help to improve your visibility during inclement weather, but it will also increase the life of your wiper blades.

Cleaning your wiper blades routinely will also help to determine when your wiper blades are needing to be replaced. Most wiper blades last 1.5 to 3 years. The life of your wiper blades is dependent on the way they’re maintained, the weather, and how often they’re used.

It’s also important to know that heat can affect the life of wiper blades. Heat, along with a lack of rain, can result in your wiper blades sticking to the windshield. This slight adherence to the windshield can result in the wiper blade squeegee tearing or being damaged the next time they’re turned on. The result would be gaps in the wipe and scratches to the windshield.

Now that you know how to clean windshield wipers and the importance of doing it regularly, please share this information with others.