Signs your wiper blades are worn
- Streaks or a film left on the glass
- Chattering or skipping across the windshield
- Squeaking
- Cracked, split or hardened rubber
- A bent frame, or a blade that doesn’t sit flat on the glass
Making them last longer
- Don’t use wipers to clear ice — scrape the windshield first.
- Lift them off the glass, or park under cover, in heavy frost.
- Wipe the rubber edge with a damp cloth now and then.
- Keep the washer fluid topped up so you’re not wiping a dry, dirty windshield.
Getting the right blades
Driver and passenger blades are often different lengths. The owner’s manual, a parts store’s lookup, or measuring the old blades will give you the sizes. Most blades clip on by hand in a couple of minutes — lower the arm gently so it doesn’t snap against the glass.