We do not always treat the condition of the wiper blades with the necessary attention and we only revise them when the stains on the windshield already seriously impair visibility, or the creaking of rubber bands on the glass surface begins to seriously affect the psyche.
Brushes are consumables, but timely and simple preventive maintenance is quite capable of significantly extending their life, and making your driving experience more comfortable. Wiper blades are also an important detail that affects the quality and driving comfort. Almost all motorists pay due attention to the choice of battery, look through review tires, and no one is worried about the cleanliness of their windshield.
What “kills” windshield wiper blades
To begin with, a few simple tips that will surely help extend the life of your car’s windshield wipers blades. First, regularly inspect the surfaces of the rubber bands and remove the dirt that has stuck to them in a timely manner. This will help both increase the efficiency of the wipers and avoid scratches on the windshield. By the way, the condition of the windshield has the most direct impact on the durability of the brushes – scratches and chips (not to mention cracks, the presence of which, by the way, is in direct conflict with the traffic rules) will have a negative impact on the condition of the rubber bands during the operation of the wipers. You also need to remember that it is necessary to avoid trying to wash heavily soiled glass by running the wipers. And in no case do not use the “wipers” in dry weather without turning on the windshield washer – the dust collected on the glass is an abrasive.
It is also a good idea to periodically remove the brushes and wash them with warm soapy water. Especially in winter, when dirty windshield wipers tan faster in the cold. And for frame brushes, such a bath is also useful in that at the same time it is possible to clean the swivel joints from dirt and rust, which, after bath procedures and drying, it is desirable to lubricate. In winter, do not try to remove ice from the windshield with windshield wipers – this definitely does not help extend the life of the rubber bands. For the same reason, in winter, leaving the car in the parking lot, it is advisable to remove the brushes or take the wiper arms away from the windshield. And if the rubber bands are frozen to the glass, do not try to tear them off it.
How often do you need to change the wipers
There is some general recommendation from manufacturing companies that says to replace the brushes annually. This, of course, is not an axiom, and, as a rule, we replace it as it wears out. Of course, to the extent that we ourselves understand the degree of wear and tear. In fact, everything is simple – as soon as the level of windshield cleaning has ceased to suit you, it’s time to change the brushes. Or, if the wear is not critical, that is, the rubber bands do not have visible damage, try resuscitating the brushes. As a rule, a number of simple procedures will significantly extend their life.
After removing the brushes, first of all, you need to carefully inspect their working surfaces. If notches, cracks are visible on them, or they have a different density over the entire surface, you should part with such brushes, because no resuscitation will help them. If external examination does not reveal visible damage, the brushes should be thoroughly washed with soap and water.
It must be remembered that the cheeks have to work in a rather aggressive environment. Traces of fuel, oils and tar – all the dirt that is on the surface of the road, in the form of a thin film, also appears on the windshields of cars. And in the summer, these are also spots from insects, which very quickly, as Vladimir Semenovich Vysotsky wrote, “turn windshield into a Dali painting.” Therefore, over time, a certain substance forms on the surface of the brushes, with which neither the fluid from the washer reservoir nor the soap solution are able to cope. This is only possible with solvents, for example, white spirit. The photo clearly shows how much dirt was left on the brush after it was washed with soap. But here it is important not to overdo it, trying to wash the brush “to white” – this way you can completely destroy the graphite coating, which allows the brush to slide on the glass without causing a squeak.
Like any rubber product, the wiper blade loses its elasticity over time. Silicone grease will help restore it. It is enough to walk on the surface of the brush with a swab dipped in lubricant, or spray silicone from a can. In the latter case, the brushes must be thoroughly dried, and then wiped off excess silicone (the required amount will remain in the structure of the rubber bands), otherwise stains from traces of grease will appear on the glass for a long time.
When removing the brushes for “restoration”, do not be too lazy to look at the condition of the leashes. In particular, the viability of the springs – it depends on them how tightly the brushes will be pressed against the windshield. Here it is enough to remember once again that cleanliness is the key to health. Therefore, in case of doubt, it makes sense to remove the leash (especially since it is fastened with one bolt) and clean it. But, in order to avoid injuries, be careful when removing the spring installed inside the case – despite its small size, it is quite powerful.
