Your car's windshield wipers are a small but extremely important part of your vehicle. If they are broken or do not function properly, they can extremely adversely affect your ability to see while driving in poor weather conditions, which in turn can decrease the amount of control you have over your car and greatly increase the risk of an accident occurring. Thankfully, there are a number of simple things that you can do to keep your wiper blades in good condition for as long as possible.

Periodic Cleaning

Over time, your wiper blades can begin to pick up dirt and other particles which can cause physical damage to the rubber of the blades. In order to prevent this from happening, you should wipe down the edges of your wiper blades every few weeks using wiper fluid and a clean rag to remove any buildup. Avoid using water, as this tends to be less effective at breaking down organic compounds.

Park in the Shade

While this may seem like a superficial thing to do, it can have real and tangible effects on your wiper blades. This is because the heat from the sun, especially during the peak of the summer months, can cause the rubber of the wiper blades to dry up and become more brittle. This makes cracking much more likely, and will increase the rate at which your wiper blades will be worn away.

Lubricate Before Using

In a similar train of thought to the above point, you should make sure that your windshield wiper is always wet before you use your wipers on it. This is because a dry surface will create much more friction between the glass and the blade, causing your wipers to wear away much faster. Always be sure to utilize wiper fluid, even if it is raining or snowing. If you hear any sort of screeching when you turn your wipers on, you don't have enough lubrication.

Lift the Wipers in Winter

This is an easy but important step to take to ensure that your wipers survive the winter season. If you don't lift your wiper blades off of your windshield when it snows, the snow can melt and freeze the wiper blades to the windshield. This can cause the edges of your wipers to rip off when you try to turn them on, completely ruining the structural integrity of your wipers and necessitating a replacement pair.

Talk to a mechanic, like Professional Automotive, for more help.