As many of you know, I live in the Chicago area. This is the time of the year we get crazy weather — one day it rains, the next it snows. Yes, it is April, and we can get snow here! When making changes in your home for spring cleaning, it is also important to include your vehicle in that. Making sure that your windshield wiper blades are top notch is very important. Here are a few things to look at:
Streaking
Visual inspection of the wiper blade reveals rubber that has hardened and/or cracked due to exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, tree sap, and road tar, automotive chemicals like oil, brake fluid, coolant, and road grit. Bands of water remain after each wiping stroke.
Chattering
Extreme hot or cold temperatures or extended periods of non-use can cause blades to exhibit chatter. The blades may skip and vibrate. The characteristics to look for include a choppy wiping action or an overall performance set or curve to the blade rubber in one direction and smeared windshield appearance while wiping.
Worn Rubber
When the wiping edge of the blade is no longer sharp, but rounded in shape or appearance, the wiper will smear the water across the windshield instead of clearing it off. This causes cloudy and impaired visibility.
Bent Wiper Arm
Automatic car washes and the wear and tear that results from aggressive removal of snow and ice build up can cause considerable damage to the wiper arm assembly and blade and negatively impact its performance as the blade loses contact with the windshield.
Squeaking
The old or worn rubber of the blade does not move quietly across the windshield.
If if you have any of these, it is time for new blades like the Michelin Stealth Hybrid Technology Wiper Blades. With the crazy weather we’ve had here, I can say they work great in rain, snow, sleet, and everything else in between. To quote Madison, “Mommy, I can actually see out your window”! These blades combine the best performance components of traditional and frameless blades. This results in a better fit to the windshield for superior contact, providing clean, powerful wipes year round for optimum vision and safety. The aerodynamic cover on them will not clog with snow, ice or debris (which is super important for me). They also have a quiet operation in all weather conditions. It’s nice NOT hearing the windshield wiper blades.
If you need new wiper blades, Michelin Stealth Hybrid Technology Wiper Blades are the blades you should definitely get! We love them here!
