To every season, turn, turn, turn.  

Certainly, that’s true of windshield wipers as much as anything else. (Ya know, because they spend their whole life cycle turning, turning, turning as they wipe away the rain, sleet, and snow.) 

A general rule is to change your wiper blades every 6-12 months. Wipers are made from rubber, which is inherently degradable — and as such, becomes less and less effective with use, UV rays, and more. Check wipers regularly as they’ll do you little good when they become brittle, crack, or even tear. 

The Will Ferrell scene in OLD SCHOOL aside, the idea of ‘going streaking’ is much less funny when it’s connected to your windshield.  

A little bit’s normal, but if you’re scoping out a film of grime, dirt, or water even after you’ve sprayed windshield wiper fluid… well, consider it a telltale sign that either 1) you didn’t spray enough fluid (especially if perhaps your windows were overly dirty) or 2) your wipers likely need to be replaced. 

But before you bring your car in, double check that the wipers themselves aren’t the dirty culprit by wiping them down with the cloth. If it doesn’t fix the issue, then yeah: it’s time for a replacement. 

Ahem. Just like any relationship, a little dragging or squeaking is normal. Too much, and it’s time to break up and replace them. Overly squeaking wipers are a sure signal that the plastic is being dragged across, the rubber not connecting with the glass, and your frustration or headaches are spiraling into overdrive. 

More significantly, it’ll mean your vision is impaired. And that will obviously cause all sorts of dangerous scenarios.  

Getting all bent out of shape is pretty much never a good thing — emotionally speaking or for anything important connected to your car. If the metal frame or blade gets bent, they won’t fully connect with your windshield. And then they won’t do you much good. 

How do blades get bent? It can occur for any number of reasons: either at the car wash, or when you wipe them down, or when you’re scraping ice or snow or even sticky tree leaves off of your windshield… 

Pro Tip: You’ll usually notice the blade getting bent around the edge. But the bending might be subtle. Meaning: your bent blades likely won’t resemble an Alexander Calder sculpture. So pay attention if they ever stop reaching certain parts of your windshield. While you may be able to glue the rubber back into place, that’s generally a momentary fix, and won’t work as well in intense storm weather.  

In Florida, it rains all the time. In Wisconsin, it snows. In California, there’s a lot of sunshine. They can all do damage to your wipers. Know where you live, and how you drive, and be mindful of your climate and changing seasons when it comes to your wipers. You want to be prepared for when any storms might hit — thunderstorms, snowstorms, dust storms, and anything and everything in between. 

For example, when winter hits in the northern states, get wipers that are specially designed for heavy snow and ice. Wipers that are designed to withstand cold temperatures and frozen windshields are a must for states like Wisconsin. 

Empowered drivers are safer drivers, more thoughtful drivers, more engaged drivers — and let’s face it, more dateable drivers. Check out more helpful tips on our blog, such as:

• Break Up With Bad Driving Habits

• How to Prevent Deer Collisions

• Car Fires: Can It Happen to You? 

As always, empowered drivers are safer drivers, more thoughtful drivers, and more engaged drivers. Check out more of our safety tips on our blog, such as how to prevent engine fires and how to avoid distracted driving.  

What are you waiting for? Join the ride and get a quote today and see how techno-driven coverage can lower your premiums.