Every car owner knows that over time your windshield wipers will age, wear out, and need to be replaced and when the rubber blade takes a lot of damage, it will harden, become brittle, and crack.

Damaged windshield wipers can be difficult to deal with, as they can leave unsightly streaks or residue that make it difficult to see, and they can scratch windshields. However, replacing these blades several times a year can be a headache.

How to extend the life of windshield wiper blades

There are ways in which you can extend the life of your wiper blades, let's learn about them:

I park in the shade

One of the biggest things that ruin wiper blades is exposure to extreme heat, which is why summer is especially hard on them and when the sun starts beating down on your windshield.

The surface can get very hot, and it's that hot surface that causes the rubbery blade to soften, then harden, and eventually lose that flexibility in exchange for that hard, flaky feel.

While you can't prevent summer from being harsh on your car, you can prevent some roughness by keeping your car out of direct sunlight, park in your garage when you're at home or under a covered parking lot whenever possible and you'll enjoy your long-lasting wiper blades. and better performance.

Do not use wipers to clean the windshield

Are you one of those people who don't wash their cars often? If so, you are probably familiar with the problems of having a dirty windshield.

A dirty windshield makes it hard to drive, it makes it hard to see at night when the lights are shining on it, it makes it hard to see ahead during the day, and much more.

But your car likely has a built-in solution to this problem: a small pump that sprays wiper fluid on your windshield to loosen the dirt and once the dirt is removed, the wipers simply wipe the dirt away.

While this can clean things like bug stains, dirt, or dust, washing isn't something wiper blades are designed for.

They're designed to flex and maintain a tight seal against your windshield and when your wipers slip on that extra texture, they can warp, loosen, or even fray, causing them to wear out faster.

Think of it like running wiper blades over a thin piece of sandpaper and while it's nice for cars to have this feature for emergencies, try to avoid using it as much as possible, and instead clean your windshield while you wash your car or wait until you can find a wiper. Mop and sponge at a gas station.

Do not use your blades to remove ice

It can be tempting to use wiper blades to try to remove ice from your windshield during the cold winter months, but this has a similar effect to using wipers to clean dirt and bugs off your windshield. Texture can damage the blades and corrode the outside of them faster.

Ice is especially tough on wiper blades because it's so hard, and the sharp edges and texture can cause massive blade damage. Instead, use a defroster to warm your windshield, then take a plastic scraper to the windshield to remove the ice by hand.

It may be less convenient to do things this way, but it will be more efficient and also cheaper because you will spare the wiper blades from excessive wear.