Windscreen wipers are essential for cleaning all the dirt and debris that may fall onto your windscreen day-to-day. That’s why it’s so important to keep them in excellent condition, as worn windscreen wipers are both dangerous and illegal.
In this helpful guide, we’ll teach you how to replace your windscreen wipers when they show signs of wear and tear, as well as how to know when they need replacing.
How to know when your windscreen wipers need replacing?
There are a few signs to look out for when you suspect your windshield wipers are reaching the end of their life:
- The wiper blades appear damaged or split, making them ineffective for removing water from your windscreen
- They make a squeaky noise when moving
- The windshield wipers leave smears or marks on your screen
- You might find missing pieces of rubber on the windshield wipers
- Your wipers don’t clean the entire windscreen
How to remove windscreen wipers
Things you will need
- Bucket of warm soapy water
- Gloves
- Towel
- Handheld windscreen wiper
- Clean your windscreen – firstly, remove any grime or debris that might be on your screen using a windscreen wiper and warm soapy water.
- Grab a towel – we recommend placing a soft item directly under the blade because if your wiper blade unexpectedly snaps back, this could cause damage to your windscreen.
- Lift your wiper arms – lift each wiper off the glass one at a time. When you lift your wiper blade, you will see a fastening mechanism that will allow you to remove the blades. Double check your vehicle handbook for your manufacturer instruction if you’re not sure.
- Remove your old wiper blades – once the arms are lifted, you will then be able to remove the old blades. There are various ways you can do this – some windscreen wipers need you to slide the blade down to unhook it, whilst others need to be put in a specific position before you remove them. Again, it is advised you check your vehicle handbook to find this out.
Fitting your new windscreen wipers
Once you have removed your windscreen wiper blades, all you have to do is fit your new ones in with the same method you used previously. Be careful not to use excessive force, as this could cause the wipers to break. The final step is to check your windscreen wipers are working with a mini test run – after this, you should be good to go!
It is very important to make sure you are replacing your windscreen wipers with the correct blades that fit your car – consult your vehicle handbook to find out the ones you need. If you are unsure that your windscreen wipers are adequately fitted, you can pop into one of our garages for a specialist to check them over.
For more information on motoring queries, do not hesitate to contact our helpful team today.