Everything You Need to Know About Cleaning Your Wiper Blades
The best way to ensure your wiper blades remain in tip-top condition is to ensure they are clean enough to carry out their job...
The best way to ensure your wiper blades remain in tip-top condition is to ensure they are clean enough to carry out their job of clearing windscreens effectively.
It might seem counterintuitive to consider that the device charged with cleaning your windscreen also needs cleaning now and again, but giving your wiper blades some TLC can make a huge difference to their effectiveness and durability.
Indeed, wiper blades can become dirty themselves which will affect their performance, so a few easy steps to clean them can prolong their life and save you money in the long run.
Why It Is Important to Clean your Wiper Blades
The main purpose of your wiper blades is to keep your windscreen clean. But if they aren’t clean themselves, they can’t do their job properly.
Just as you would wash your car, it’s important to also give your wipers some extra attention every so often.
Regular use can lead to dirt and debris becoming trapped under your blades. If left untreated, your wiper blades may start to miss spots on your windscreen and potentially leave scratches.
During the winter months, grit can also damage your wipers and corrode your paintwork.
What Are the Benefits of Cleaning my Wiper Blades?
With regular cleaning, you can enjoy a range of benefits including:
- Improved performance – a few simple steps will ensure that your wiper blades are working at their best. As well as retaining good contact and pressure over your windscreen.
- Longer lifespan – with clean wiper blades, you can get the most out of them and save money as you won’t need to replace them as often.
- Prevent windscreen damage – protect your windscreen and avoid unnecessary repair costs.
How Do I Clean my Wiper Blades?
Firstly, you’ll need to grab a few items including:
- A sponge, rag or paper towel
- A bucket filled with warm soapy water or washer fluid
- Surgical spirit for rinsing
You have a few different options on what to use to clean your wiper blades. If you prefer to keep things simple, you can use warm soapy water. Or you can also use a water and vinegar-based mixture.
A lot of online sources recommend WD40, but this can cause more harm than good. As it's a water displacer, it will leave streaks and smears if used on your windscreen, which ultimately will make it harder to wipe away rain.
To clean your wiper blades, follow the below steps:
- Have a general clean of your car
With hot, soapy water and focus on the windscreen area.
- Carefully lift your wiper blade arms
Gently lift them from the windscreen until they are locked into a standing position. You will need to hold them yourself if they don’t lock or you can remove them altogether for cleaning.
- Clean your wiper blade
Gently wipe up and down with your chosen cleaning materials and carefully clean the rubber blade. Keep doing this until the sponge or rag is clean or if using a paper towel, use a new towel for each wipe.
- Clean the wiper mechanism
Once you’ve cleaned the blade, it’s time to move onto the wiper arm and mechanism. Both can have dirt trapped within them which can lead to sticking. Be careful when you clean these to avoid causing any damage to your wiper blades.
- Rinse your wiper blades
Using your surgical spirit, make sure to remove any remaining suds and residue left behind from cleaning. This step is extra important if you’ve used water and vinegar to clean your wipers. Stay clear of using white spirit as this isn’t as effective and can lead to damage.
- Place your wiper blades back into position
After your wiper blades are completely dry, slowly and carefully lower them back into place on your windscreen. If you opted to take them off for cleaning, it’s worth giving them a quick test to make sure that they are secure.
Wiper Blade FAQs
How can I stop my wiper blades from smearing?
You can prevent smearing by giving your wipers a clean with hot soapy water or surgical spirit. If smearing persists after cleaning them, this may be a sign that they need replacing.
Why are my wiper blades not touching the glass in the middle?
Worn out rubber can lead to gaps between your wiper and windscreen. As they are designed with natural rubber, your wiper blades can start to deteriorate over time. If this happens, it can reduce the effectiveness of your wipers, and it’s recommended that you replace them.
What is the best thing to clean my wiper blades with?
You can use hot, soapy water, surgical spirit, or a water and vinegar mixture. Whatever you use, make sure to properly rinse down your wiper blades after cleaning to remove any residue. Also be careful when cleaning to avoid getting some of these on your paintwork as it can lead to damage.
Can I use shampoo to clean my wiper blades?
Some people may recommend creating a cleaning solution with shampoo and water. But we suggest sticking to hot, soapy water or surgical spirit.
Can I use Vaseline on my wiper blades?
Vaseline, also known as petroleum jelly, can help to soften the rubber component of your wiper blade. If your vehicle is regularly parked in direct sunlight, this can come in handy if the rubber has started to harden.
Why do my wiper blades rub against my windscreen?
A pressure imbalance between your wiper blade and windscreen can lead to friction and a squeaking sound. If you notice that rubber along the length of the blade has worn out, it’s recommended that you replace your wipers.
When Is The Right Time To Change My Wiper Blades?
Wiper blades undergo a lot of stress when they are fixed to your car. As well as being a moving component exposed to the elements, the materials will inevitably wear down gradually when in use as they are making constant contact with the windscreen.
Indeed, wiper blades cope with more than simply wiping away water from your windscreen during rainy conditions – UV rays from the sun, deposits of oil from other cars around you, bugs and unforeseen debris all take their toll on them.
Wiper blades are designed to be durable and sturdy to withstand these challenges but they will ultimately wear down over time and if you don’t replace them, they could be classified as dangerous or illegal –your car won’t pass an MOT if this is the case.
So how do you know when to replace them? When driving, you might notice over time that the rubber blades will clear the windscreen less evenly, leaving some streaks of moisture in places. They may also start to squeak as the rubber encounters friction on the windscreen.
Regardless, it is recommended you change your wiper blades every 12 months to ensure you are getting optimum windscreen wiping performance.
If in doubt, you can inspect them close up and assess the blades for any blemishes, such as chips, tears and unevenness. If this occurs, then the time has come to get new wiper blades.
Which Wiper Blades Fit My Vehicle?
Using our easy registration search tool, Wiperblades.co.uk takes the hassle out of looking for complex part codes by only returning results of wiper blades that are guaranteed to fit your specific model.
It’s an entirely risk-free way to ensure you are buying the correct wiper blades for your vehicle… it takes seconds and means no more time-consuming shop searches!
