There are many ways to maintain your vehicle, but one of the most important and often overlooked features are a vehicle’s windshield wipers. And because September and October are prime months for those fall road trips, it’s important to maintain them for ultimate safety.
Did you know? As a rule of thumb, you should count on cleaning your car's wiper blades every six months with a cloth soaked in vinegar. Even better, wipe them off with a damp cloth each time you get gas. This will help maintain them regularly and you won’t have to worry about annoying wiper problems so often. Wiper blades should be checked every six months and changed at least once a year, depending on your climate. We’ve gathered a few more tips on ways you can maintain your windshield wipers this fall.
Are Your Wipers Road Ready? Follow these tips:
Check the rubber. Did you know you can use sandpaper to remove rough spots? This can delay the need to buy new ones. However, if they’re still making that screeching sound and/or scratching your windshield, it’s time to replace them.
Stay out of the sun. Shady parking spots are much better on your wipers so that they don’t dry out and begin to crack. Just by finding shade during those sunny fall days, you can prolong the life of your wipers.
Frequently wash your windshield. Instead of only thinking about wiper condition, also don’t forget to keep your actual windshield clean by removing dead bugs and debris so that the wipers don’t catch and scratch. You can use a strong glass cleaner to do this. And try not to ever run them on a dry window!
Don’t scrape ice with them. A great ice scraper is a great investment! If you try to use your wipers, this can quickly damage the rubber on them, making them useless.
Shut them off before turning on your car. If you leave your wipers on when you turn your vehicle off, the wipers will remain operational the next time the vehicle is started. Leaving the wipers on is bad for the wiper blades because it causes unnecessary wear and tear.
