April showers bring May flowers! And we have sure gotten our fair share of rain so far. Although rain might not be our favorite weather, it’s still better than snow, right? Well, only if your wiper blades are working properly! You might be thinking “what do you mean if they’re working?” Well, your wiper blades are not working properly if they are leaving smudge marks, screeching, or falling apart…if all they are doing is getting rain off your window and not really making your view better, then this week’s blog is for you!

Windshield wipers are made to help wipe away anything that might block our view to the road, like rain, snow, mud, dirt, etc. However, if your wipers are falling apart they probably aren’t doing you much help. So, as part of your spring cleaning this year, we want you to take a look at your wiper blades and see if it’s time to give them a change. But what should you look for? Great question! Check out all of our helpful tips below and see what you should keep an eye out for and how to prolong the lifespan of your wipers!

What to look for:

• Broken frame: detachment from frame arms
• Metal corrosion: specifically at joints and claws
• Cracks, tears, or missing pieces in the rubber
• Check squeegee’s wiping edge, if it is rounded the wiper blade will be unable to make strong contact with the windshield

Maintenance tips:

• Wiper blades should be checked at least every six months and changed out once a year. Weather conditions play a vital role in the life of your wiper blades and can sometimes cause them to deteriorate at a quickened pace.
• Check over both the squeegee and the metal frames to avoid common problems like streaking, skipping, splitting, and clattering. By doing this you will avoid reduced visibility when weather strikes.

These tips can help your blades:

• Clean your windshield each time you fill up your gas tank
• Gently wipe off any dirt or oil with a damp towel that has built up on the rubber squeegee.