Pleasant Ranch

Clear visibility is essential when motoring, so decent quality, well-maintained windshield wiper blades are a must for the safety of you and your family.

Although a vehicle’s engine, tires, bodywork and other parts tend to receive a lot of attention, wiper blades can often be forgotten at our peril. Good motoring depends on excellent visibility and bad weather, insects and dust all work to decrease the quality of our vision. Old wiper blades simply do not work well enough for safe driving.

In general, wiper blades are made from rubber and so are prone to wear and tear. Sunlight, freezing conditions, dirt, time, oil and many other factors contribute to their deterioration. Even if they are used infrequently, wiper blades must be replaced regularly.

Windshield wiper blades must be replaced every six months or every six thousand. Failure to do so puts you at a significant risk. The most economical option is to simply change the squeegees – the rubber sections which actually make contact with your windshield. This should only set you back a few dollars, though you may need to cut the squeegee to fit your exact type of windshield wiper blade.

The other option is to replace the whole wiper blade. This is the complete windshield wiper which includes the metal arm as well as the squeegee. These are a little more expensive but should be done at least every two years. The metal frame needs good tension to make sure the rubber keeps good contact with your windshield.

While they are a relatively small car part, it is vital to buy good wiper blades. Different sizes, slopes and shapes of windshields can all dictate the type of wiper blades you need and certain models require more tension than others. In addition, the arm should have a few ‘claws’ that ensure the blade makes firm contact with the windshield.

The squeegees are usually made with rubber. More expensive squeegees will use softer rubber against the glass, with tougher rubber behind for extra support and durability. Once more, in the interest safe motoring, it is worth spending those extra few dollars on decent quality.

Considering it is recommended that wiper blades are replaced twice a year, this should coincide with your vehicle’s service schedule. However, if you prefer to service your own vehicle or wish to save a few dollars, windshield wiper replacement is a fairly easy task.

To examine the condition of your wiper blades simply pull the arm back from the windshield and closely examine the rubber edge. It needs to be perfectly straight, without any distortions or brittle areas.

Jim is a publicist with over ten years of writing experience. Jim is currently engaged as a national correspondent for our b2b site and has become the in house authority on windshield wipers. Be sure to visit our great website for more information on Windscreen Wipers and Wiper Blade.