The South African winter season is officially a month away. That means cold weather, wet streams and an abundance of misty mornings – all of which have various effects on one’s vehicle.
One of the components that are often overlooked, but plays a vital role in producing clear visibility through the above-mentioned conditions is the car’s wiper blades.
Because it is often forgotten, not much thought goes into how important this accessory is for our own safety, and if left unprotected by wet weather while in park, the condition of the blades might deteriorate quickly.
According to car parts manufacturing company Champion Auto Parts cold weather can stiffen and damage your wiper blades, making them more brittle.
Additionally, Arizona Auto Glass explains that the added amount of work required to remove frosted ice flakes or condensation means that your blades work twice as hard during the winter season than in summer. This makes it easier for the blades to wear out.
The above-mentioned company therefore recommends either finding alternative solutions to defrost the ice flakes on your windscreen or finding various ways of protecting your wiper blades when the vehicle is stationary.
Below are a few tips on how to protect your wipers to ensure longevity as recommended by the automotive company Nissan:
Replace your windshield wipers
Nissan believes that it is important to replace your blades at least every six months or when cracks become visible. Because they are so essential to one’s driving experience it is important to see that they are in excellent condition.
Clean your windshield
To avoid overworking your wipers unnecessarily, it’s important that you manually clean your windshield using a scraper for ice or cloth to remove dirt or grime. This will extend the life span.
Protect your windshield wipers
As the cold freezing months drew closer, it’s best to make use of an old pair of socks and cover your blades to prevent it from sticking to your windscreen overnight.
Don’t use wipers to remove ice
While snow is usually uncommon in South Africa, there are certain parts of the country that experience it at times. If the province you live in does, the best thing to do is use a scraper to remove ice from your windshield.
Also see: Basic car maintenance you need to know
