In theory, if you keep your windshield clean with windex or invisible glass, that should help in aiding the life of wiper blades, correct? its dirt and grime that wears them out, versus regular usage...so I was wondering if by cleaning the windshield once a day, will that make the blades last longer? It seems like I go through the expensive blades once a year. I prefer them instead of buying cheap $3 replacements because they never clear the glass that great when its raining. So I buy the more expensive ones. Anything else I can do to help them last longer than once a year?

 

I would say your argument shows validity. By having dead bugs, road oils, and dirt on the windshield it could wear out the blades faster. If the blades are flowing across a smooth/slick surface, it would have less friction, resistance, and would wear out slower.



However... your wipers aren't used on a daily basis, and when it's raining, your windshield is already being cleaned (somewhat) by the water.



Cleaning daily would make sense on my wife's Murano. Her wipers are always set on the automatic rain sensing setting. With that setting, they come on when they sense rain, speed up with heavier precipitation and vehicle speeds, and turn off on their own. But almost daily they'll activate when the car is started, and any bugs/dirt on the windshield will wear them down.



I always buy a good blade for the driver's side and a cheaper blade for the passenger side. The driver's blade is usually more than enough for me to see clearly, and the cheap passenger blade allows me to compare whether the expensive blade was worth it (which wears out faster?). The expensive blade usually lasts longer, but not by much.



I know people who clean their wiper blades with a q-tip everytime they detail their car. I don't know if it helps at all, but it usually has a lot of oil and black stuff on the blades.

 

That is why I dislike that feature. It sounds nice and dandy, but the computer doesn't know if your windshield doesn't have mud or other particles that could destroy the blades. I think salt crystals can destroy them good too.

 

Kalecoauto has wiper blade sharpeners

 

I can't see spending double-digits of dollars on wiper blades, but then it is only once or twice a year if that I have to set condition "can't see sh*t" and pull over until it clears. Clean the window when it is likely to rain that day, and Rain-x the windscreen and see how far you get on a set of cheap blades.

 

+1 on the rain x

 

twice a year, take some 400 grit sand paper to your wiper blades. It take off the dirt and grim thats accumulated as well as take off the top layer of hardened, weathered rubber off the blade. Amazing how long you can make a set of blades last by doing this.

 

^^For reals?

 

Hmm, I'll try the sandpaper thing. I just wipe the blades with a alcohol pad.

 

DTN why not? I (twice) resurrected my dead HP LaserJet 4 by scuffing up the rubber outfeed rollers. If you have hard rubber wiper blades and want soft rubber, take off the super-thin layer of hard rubber. It makes sense to me. If your blades are silicone, it may not be as effective but still worth a shot if the alternative is to buy a new set of blades.