Your car's windshield wipers are an important part of your safety on the road. The wipers keep the windshield clean and improve visibility. However, they can only do this if they are intact and clean. This calls for the following wiper maintenance measures:

Don't Use Wipers to Clear Snow/Ice off the Windshield

Don't use wipers to clear snow or ice off the windshield; instead, use other methods such as deicing or scraping. This may look like windshield care, but it is also beneficial for your wipers. If you use wipers to clear the ice and snow, then the frozen water may tear into the soft rubber that makes up the wipers' surfaces. The next time you use the wipers, they may leave lines of unwiped areas because of decreased pressure from the damaged parts of the rubber.

Wipe the Rubbers after Cleaning the Windshield

After cleaning the windshield, there is a chance that some bits of dirt or grime may still be stuck on the wipers' rubber elements. Clean the rubber elements by wiping them down with a paper towel.  If you don't clean the wipers, then they will leave streaks of dirty lines on your clean windshield the next time you activate them.

Clean the Windshield

Cleaning your windshield not only increases your visibility, it also protects your wipers from premature deterioration. As you know, the cleaning elements of windshield wipers are made of rubber. While the rubber is formulated to withstand the action of different weather elements, it is affected by dirt, grime, and chemicals. Such things eat away at the rubber, reducing its flexibility. The more your windshield is clean, the more your wipers' rubber elements will stay intact.

Replace the Wipers Regularly 

The measures outlined above will keep your wipers intact and efficient for a long time, but not forever. After all, their job is to "wipe" your windshield and keep it clean, and all this wiping deteriorates them. Eventually, you will have to replace them, and it is advisable to do this every six months.

When replacing the wipers, you have the option of replacing the assembly and refills or just the refills. Replacing just the refills may be cheap, but it isn't as effective as replacing the entire assembly system. Replacing both the assembly and the refills helps to improve wiper contact with the windscreen, which is what you want.

If you haven't been taking care of your wipers, then they will need replacing before they hit the six-month limit. You should replace them if they leave streaks of dirt on your windshield or scrape and chatter when wiping moisture from the windshield.

For more information, contact G P Automotive or a similar company.