How to Change Windshield Wiper Blades

Many drivers tend to wait way too long to change their windshield wiper blades and suffer through a diminished field of vision in order to avoid admitting that they really do not know how to change their wipers. While this practice may be good to stroke your ego, it is not a wise practice in the area of driving safety. To change windshield wiper blades is actually very simple, with the only tool required being a screwdriver and in many instances no tools at all are necessary. The time to change windshield wiper blades is when they fail to clear the windshield after one or two passes, or when they smear the windshield so badly it becomes difficult to see clearly driving during daylight hours.

The first step to change windshield wiper blades is to remove the old ones, which can be done quickly with little effort. Grasp the wiper arm and gently lift it upward away from the windshield, and then loosen the clip that holds the wiper blade to the wiper arm. The clip can sometimes be stiff and tough to loosen, but it can usually be pried loose with a flat head screwdriver. After removing the old windshield wiper blades take close note of how they were situated on the wiper arm so that installing the new ones will be done properly without much confusion. Take a damp cloth and wipe the windshield wiper blade arms to remove any built up dirt or grease before attempting to install the new wiper blades.

After purchasing the correct replacement windshield wiper blades, it is now time to install them. Position the new windshield wiper blade on the wiper arm and close the tab until the new wiper blade is securely attached. You can check this by gently pulling on the wiper blade to make certain it does not slide or come loose from the wiper arm. When you are convinced the windshield wiper blade change is done correctly, squirt some washer fluid on the windshield and turn on the wipers to make sure they are operating properly. If they are not, it is a easy fix to remove and reattach them a time or two until they perform.

It's always a good idea to change your windshield wiper blades right there in the parking lot of your local auto parts store when possible. By doing this, if any problems arise there is usually help only a few feet away and you will be certain to purchase the correct windshield wiper blades by taking the old ones into the store.