Some signs of wiper deterioration are skipping – caused by a curvature in the blade from sitting too long in the same position; streaking, caused by the squeegee drying and cracking or debris such as sap and oil being stuck to the blade; wearing from extended use; and splitting of the squeegee from the metal frame due to ultraviolet light from the sun causing the rubber to deteriorate.

There are a number of ways to maintain the good condition of your windshield wipers that are very easy and quick to take care of. One is to wash your windshield whenever you fill up your gas tank. If your gas station has those windshield washing stations and the liquid doesn’t look too murky, take a minute and wash your windshield. Wipe down your wiper blades as well, while you’re at it! Another tip is not to use your wipers to de-ice your windshield. If you have enough time, you should use the defroster in your vehicle, or at least a dedicated ice scraper. If you know it’s going to snow or be icy, make sure every time you get out of your vehicle, you raise the windshield wipers so they look like little car antennas.

Whenever you do need to replace your wipers, you should always make sure you are getting the correct size for your vehicle. Incorrectly sized windshield wipers can cause damage to the glass of your windshield and will be more costly than a new set of wipers by far.

We hope this helps – and if you ever need any help with your wipers, stop into Mohawk Auto Center and our professionals will be more than happy to help you with anything from wiper maintenance to replacing your wipers entirely.