Your windshield wipers might stay out of the way for months but will always come to their element when a storm kicks in. If they are reasonable, you’ll have no trouble picking your way around the puddles.
If they are damaged, you’ll have too much water on your windshield, making it translucent and hard to peer through. Being slowed down by damaged wiper blades is annoying.
This doesn’t have to happen if you replace them often enough. Luckily, they are a simple user replaceable item that you can order online or even find at your local convenience store.
How Long Do Windshield Wipers Last?
Under the ideal conditions, your stock windshield wiper blades can last up to three years. Replacement aftermarket blades, on the other hand, have a shorter lifespan. They will start wearing out within six to 12 months.
If they’re stock wiper blades, you could get away with replacing them after three years. Regular convenience store wiper blades will have to be replaced every six or 12 months, while high-quality blades can serve you well for up to three years.
The lifespan of your wiper blades depends on a couple of things. These include:
How Often You Use Them
Windshield wiper blades are a wear item. The more you use them, the faster they wear out. With every other factor held constant, you will have to replace your wiper blades sooner if you live in a rainy region compared to a driver living in a dry place.
Check this too: Why Are My Windshield Wipers Not Working?
Other Prevailing Weather Conditions
While rain wears down wiper blades by forcing you to use them, other weather elements break down the rubber on your wiper blade squeegee as it rests.
The most notorious is the UV light in sunlight. UV is as harmful to wiper blades’ rubber just as it is to your car’s tires. Parking or driving your car under the sun causes photodegradation. The stronger the sun, the faster your wiper blades degrade.
Other atmospheric components like oxygen and ozone also accelerate the rubber on the blades causing them to age faster. The same will apply if you live in a place with many corrosive pollutants in the air.
The Quality of the Wipers
Quality is everything. Good quality wiper blades not only wipe better but also last longer. The manufacturer uses high-quality rubber and also adds some preservatives to make them last longer.
Cheaper wiper blades give you low-quality rubber or another synthetic alternative that will wear out faster.
Occasional Misuse
The final thing that determines your windshield wiper blade lifespan is how often you misuse them. Misuse counts as any accidental or intentional triggering of the wiper blades in unideal conditions.
A typical example of misuse is running the wipers when the windscreen is dry. There is nothing to lubricate the blades with no water as they run across the glass, meaning that they will wear out faster.
Another common misuse scenario is running the wiper blades on a filthy windshield. While using this with the windshield, washer fluid will lubricate things. The blades will still work harder than usual to rub off any pieces of stuck grime or dirt.
Avoid this by washing very dirty windshields manually and only using the onboard wash feature to wipe off some dust and fresh bugs or to clean the windshield when it’s necessary.
Signs that It’s Time to Replace Your Wiper Blades
While using age to replace your wiper blades could give you a rough idea of when to replace your wiper blades, it is easier to read other physical signs that are hard to miss.
These include:
A Decrease in Visibility When it Rains Due to Raindrops on the Windshield
The hardest to miss signs that it’s time to change your wiper blades is a drastic decrease in visibility whenever it rains.
Bad wiper blades cannot clean off the rain from your windshield fast enough. As the raindrops pile up, it gets more challenging for you to see through.
It is time to change your wiper blades if you have to run your wipers full speed in mild to heavy rain, but they are still not keeping up. Having your blades overwhelmed by very heavy rain could still be expected.
The Rubber on the Blades is Torn and Roughed Up
The rubber on your wiper blades is a squeegee. It relies on perfect contact with the glass to wipe off water, snow, and ice. Once it is loose and worn out, it can’t form this perfect sill.
Moreover, since the windshield curvature changes across a sweep, the rubber must be pliable enough to conform to these contours. The blades will have a hard time if the rubber stiffens up as it ages.
Inspecting your windshield wiper blades at least once a month will help you pinpoint any deterioration.
- Check for cracks, rounded ages or tears on the blades
- Lift your blades to service position and gently flex the rubber edges. They should stay attached and not detach.
Screeching Noise as They Wipe
Usually, windshield wipers should make a dull rubbing noise as they move across your windshield.
Any streaking noise like nails or metal on a chalkboard means a problem. Scratches indicate that your arms or frames are bent and are applying uneven pressure on the screen.
It could also mean that your wiper blades are worn down to the metal, and the noise you are hearing is metal scrapping against your windshield. If this is the case, you will see scratches on your windshield.
Your Windshield Cleans Streaky
Good wiper blades leave perfectly dry and clean glass with every pass. If you are getting any streaks, chances are there is some sticky residue on the windshield at that point, or your blades are torn at that point.
If you get streaks on an immaculate screen and clean wiper blades, then it is time to replace them.
You also should consider an immediate replacement if you are getting wet spots after each wipe. A bigger tear means a good portion of the squeegee isn’t wiping the glass clean.
Consequently, you will have spots of water or moisture on the screen that are hard to see through. This is the unmistakable sign that it’s time to have your blades replaced.
What Happens if You Don’t Change Your Wiper Blades On Time?
People who live in dry areas and rarely see rain can easily forget their windshield wipers. However, you won’t get away with this oversight once the rain sets in.
If they are slightly broken, they won’t clean the windshield well and will impair your visibility. If the damage is significant and the metal part of the wiper arm is exposed, it will scratch your windshield, forcing you to replace the windshield.
Top Tricks to Help Your Wiper Blades Last Long
We’ve already seen what damages windshield wipers. We can use this information to develop a couple of good practices to help you get the most extended lifespan possible from your wiper blades. These include:
Clean Your Wipers Often
The first step is cleaning your wipers every time you inspect them. You can use clean water to clean any debris and gunk off the blades and wiper arms.
Using some rubbing alcohol now and then will help them last longer.
Only Use Your Wipers on Wet Glass
Never run your wipers on dry glass – whether accidentally or intentionally. Please wait until it rains well before running them.
Ensure that you match the wiper intensity to how fast the rain is falling. Running them too quickly will dry the windscreen since the rain can’t get it fast enough.
If you are wiping off snow or ice, occasionally activate the wash cycle to wet and lubricate the windshield. You can also do this if it is raining and you have windshield washer fluid in your reservoir.
Clean Dirty Windshields Manually
Finally, resist the urge just to run your windshield wipers on a clean cycle when you have a dirty screen. While it might work after a couple of tries, you put too much strain on the wiper blades by running them over caked dirty.
The rubber has to flex over the dried-up mud, bugs, or bird poop a couple of times before dislodging it. It might get the job done, but it isn’t good for their lifespan.
Use a squeegee or a wet piece of cloth to clean your windshield before using the wiper blades to rinse it off.
Are Expensive Windshield Wipers Worth It?
Yes. Slightly expensive wipers could give you better performance than cheap units you get off a convenience store. If possible, you could go for OEM or better-grade wipers for longevity and the perfect wiping effect.
However, don’t spend too much money on super-premium wipers with catchy marketing gimmicks. They might be accurate, but it could not be worth the extra money.
How Often Should You Replace Windshield Wiper Arms?
Windshield wiper arms can last a lifetime. They don’t strain so much and will keep on working as long as they don’t take any direct damage.
They will also stay in good working condition if they don’t stay unused for ages and corrode over when they connect to the motor.
Can You Replace Windshield Wipers Yourself?
Yes. Wiper blades are a tool-free replacement. The approach always involves releasing some clips and pulling out the wiper blade from the arm the right way.
Since wiper arm connectors vary from one vehicle to another, it would be wise to consult your user manual or a vehicle-specific guide to get a step-by-step guide on swapping your car’s wiper blades.
How Often Should I Replace My Windscreen Washing Fluid
You should replace it as soon as the levels are low. The wiper fluid bottle is under your hood. There is a dipstick to check its level too. The location of the bottle varies depending on your vehicle.
Keep track of it, primarily if you activate your washers often.
When filling it up, ensure that you only use actual windshield washer fluid or plain pure water. Refrain from using soapy water. Even though you think the soap will help clean, it could be too corrosive for the pumps, the wiper blades and the wiper arm.
Luckily you can order high-quality windshield washer fluid from Amazon (Prestone All-Season is my favorite) or grab some from your local auto store/convenience store.
Bottom Line
Keeping your windshield wiper blades in excellent condition is one of the most straightforward yet most ignored services you could do to your car. Don’t let negligence impair your vision when driving in rain or snow.