Replacing windshield wiper blades is one of those things that most of us forget right up until the five foot blizzard hits. Those wiper blades that have been baking unused in the hot sun all summer? Toast. The good news is that replacing wiper blades or wiper refills takes minutes, and can provide improved visibility in even the crummiest weather. Swapping out a set of wiper blades is a task best performed on a balmy day with an iced beverage, instead of a freezing rainstorm at the supermegamart parking lot.
The meat of a windshield wiper is a strip of rubbery material attached to an assembly that holds the strip against the windshield. The job of the windshield wiper is to clear water, bugs, snow, dirt, and lobsters falling from trucks off the windshield to clear up the forward line of vision. Rear wiper blades also come in handy to remove the same from rearward glass. If heavy rains, snow, slush, or downright harsh weather is more the norm than upgrading to heavy-duty winter wiper blades can help get through the slush and ice.
How to Replace Windshield Wipers of Wiper Refills Step-by-Step
Wet weather is not the only thing what wears out wiper blades. Wiper blades take their greatest amount of abuse sitting unused in the baking hot sun. The same UV rays that make the summer days long and lazy can cook the flexibility and usefulness out of wiper blade material. Worn blades that worked OK during summer showers will usually give up when the first winter storm hits. Danger can strike with just one unfortunate moment of impaired vision. The good news swapping out crusty old blades for the new replacements is an easy deal. Some auto parts stores will even swap out wiper blades or refills with purchase for you while-u-wait.
Use wax and rain-x instead of wipers. I never used the wipers in my 944, the water just rolled right off at any speed greater than 15mph.
That’s all well and good if you own an old Porsche, meatbag, but I drive an old Volvo. Water rolls *down* my windshield until I top forty miles an hour. Rain-X is lovely stuff though.
Replacing wipers on a 25* day is no fun what so ever. Oh how I do not miss frozen fingers attempting to manipulate little brittle plastic clips and cold cold metal…
Better yet, get silicone wipers. They last 3-4 years and they coat the glass with a rain-x like film that makes the water roll right off. I use Silblades and I get them at Amazon for $12-$15. They’ve also got the one piece blades for a bit over $20. Piaa makes them too.
Mr. Cheapo never buys new blades.
Mr. Cheapo swaps the passenger side blade with the driver’s side. Presto, Mr Cheapo sees the road again.
Mr. Cheapo scrubs the rubber squeegee with a scrub sponge, you know, the kind you use on Teflon frying pans, to expose the fresh rubber underneath. Ah ha! Now Mr Cheapo drives fast in the rain.
Go Mr Cheapo go!
It’s been years since I changed my wipers. Then again – it’s not for lack of trying. Everytime I remember I need them, I go to the local auto part store, and they don’t have any 14″ or 15″ blades in stock that would come close to fitting my Fulvia. Same problem with the Alfa… most stores don’t stock smaller sizes. Guess I’ll have to order all new arms online.