You might have cleaned your car recently, but when was the last time you cleaned your windscreen wipers? Not sure? Never? Well, you’re not alone, but as self-confessed windscreen wiper boffins, we recommend regular cleaning of your wiper blades, at least once every few weeks, depending on how often you drive.
Clean wiper blades will be safer and longer lived, so to help you get the most out of your wipers, we’re going to run through why and how to clean yours, as well as common mistakes to avoid and signs that it might be time to replace rather than clean.
If your wipers are beyond cleaning, grab a fresh set now from WipeWave and enjoy free, next-day delivery. Just enter your reg here.
Why it’s Important to Clean Your Wiper Blades Regularly
Before we get into some wiper blade cleaning tips, why does any of this matter? Well, a few reasons. Firstly, clean wiper blades will, to no surprise, clean better. Your wipers rely on direct contact with your windscreen, and small particles of dirt accumulated from everyday driving can disrupt that contact, meaning they can’t clear water as effectively.
Secondly, regular wiper blade maintenance is the best way to extend their lifespan, by removing dirt and harsh chemicals that can degrade the rubber.
Steps to Clean Your Windscreen Wiper Blades
Right, now you know the why, let’s talk about the how. This bit’s very simple; you won’t need bags of time or fancy tools, just household cleaning supplies and a few spare minutes.
Step 1 – To begin with, it’s always advisable to thoroughly wash your whole car. This step isn’t essential, but otherwise, you’ll be cleaning your wipers just to place them back down on a dirty screen.
Step 2 – Now, lift your wiper arms to give access to the whole edge of the wiper blade.
Step 3 – Using warm, soapy water (dish soap will do) and a sponge, rag or even kitchen towel, wipe down the contact edge of your wiper blade, taking care to use a clean wiping surface each time you wipe. Don’t re-wipe with a dirty part of the sponge, rag or kitchen towel. Repeat this until your trusty wiping tools come away clean.
Step 4 – Next, clean the rest of your wipers. That means everything from the arms down to the mechanism itself. You may have done most of the work when you cleaned the car as a whole, but it pays to be sure. This should shift any debris that might affect the mechanism or the movement of the arms.
Step 5 – Finally, remove any soap residue from your wiper blade edges with a quick swipe of surgical spirit. And voila, clean wiper blades.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cleaning Wiper Blades
So, now you know how to clean wiper blades; life-changing, we know. However, we should also touch on some common pitfalls to avoid before we leave you to fend for yourself.
WD-40 – Don’t, just don’t. Recently, WD-40 windscreen wiper cleaning ‘hacks’ began cropping up on TikTok. WD-40 will not only leave streaks all over your windscreen, but it will also eat away at the crucial rubber part of your wiper blade. Steer clear of this one (yes, that is a bad car pun).
Abrasive cleaners or scourers – When cleaning your wiper blades, make sure to avoid harsh chemicals or rough cleaning tools. Use gentle, everyday soaps and soft sponges or cloths to prevent damage to your wipers.
Neglecting your wipers – It’s easy to forget just how important your wiper blades are, until, of course, you need them in a downpour. Make sure to give them a thorough clean regularly to get the most out of them.
When to Replace Instead of Clean?
As we’ve said, clean wiper blades will last longer and perform better. However, they do have an expiry date and will need replacing over time (usually about once a year). If, even after cleaning, you notice your wipers aren’t performing as they should or are making squeaking noises, it’s time to replace them.
Thankfully, this bit’s possibly even easier than cleaning them. All you need to do is click here, enter your vehicle registration and checkout before 3 pm to enjoy free next-day delivery on quality WipeWave wiper blades, guaranteed to fit your car. You can also browse our knowledge hub for simple fitting instructions.