Replacing worn-out windshield wipers should be one of the simplest ways to improve visibility, but sometimes brand-new blades can leave your windshield looking worse than before. If you've just installed a fresh set, and you're still seeing streaks, smears, or patches of water left behind, the problem may not be the blades themselves. Several less obvious issues can prevent even a new set of wipers from making proper contact with the glass.
Before you buy another set of blades, there are a few simple things worth checking out. Grime on the windshield or rubber, an improperly installed blade, and even old washer fluid can all contribute to poor wiping performance. Fortunately, most of these problems are easy and inexpensive to fix, meaning you may be able to restore clear visibility without replacing your brand-new wipers all over again.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various automaker websites and other authoritative sources.
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If you've installed new wiper blades, and you're still getting streaks, or the streaks are even worse, then the likeliest reason is that your new wiper blades or your windshield are covered in a layer of grime. While they may look clean, things like oil, tree sap, or just general grime could be built up to the point where using your wipers is actually making things worse. Wax treatments or rain repellents could also be the cause.
First, the wiper blades. Grab yourself a clean microfiber cloth and some warm soapy water and dunk the cloth in the water. Lift up your windshield wiper arm and pinch the rubber closely with the cloth. Firmly wipe from end to end and rinse your cloth off, repeating this until the cloth is no longer picking up any grime.
Next, comes cleaning your windshield. Give it a good rinse with some water, and some car wash soap if you want to be thorough. Dry your windshield and then grab yourself some ammonia-free glass cleaner, which you can usually pick up at any auto store. Spray this onto your windshield and then wipe back and forth in smooth strokes with a fresh microfiber towel.
With a handful of basic tools and about an hour of free time, you can handle the job yourself and save the money.
One of the most obvious reasons that your new wiper blades could still be leaving streaks on your windshield is that your new wiper blades might not be installed correctly. It might sound silly, but if the wiper blades aren't installed correctly, and aren't sitting flush against your windshield, then they could be spreading grime around rather than washing it away.
The first step is making sure that you have the correct wiper blades. Different cars require different length wiper blades. Make sure the ones you have match your model. If they are the correct length, then the next step is to make sure that they are installed properly.
First, unclip your wiper blades. Lift your wiper arm up and away from the windshield and place a towel or something soft against the glass just to make sure that no damage is done while you work. Find the tab on the wiper where the blade meets the metal arm and press it to release the wiper. Some wipers are hook style, where you tilt them until they are horizontal and then you pull them downwards to release. Next, reinstall them by sliding them back in until you hear or feel a distinct click. Give them a light tug to make sure they are all the way in.
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If you're sure that your wiper blades are installed properly and that they are flat against your windshield, the next step would be to check your wiper fluid. If you notice that the streaks mainly occur when you go to spray your windshield using your car's washer, then there's a high chance that your wiper fluid is the problem.
It's something that most of us don't often think about, but making sure you have fresh, clean wiper fluid can make a world of difference. Old or poor quality washer fluid can definitely be the reason that you're still getting streaks after putting new wipers on your car.
If you think that old or dirty wiper fluid could be the culprit, then you'll want to change the wiper fluid in your car. While there are some tricks to draining the wiper fluid, we think that the easiest way is just to use your car's built-in pump. Turn on your car and hold down the stalk until no more liquid is sprayed out.
