A clean windshield will hinder your wipers less than one covered in dirt, dust, ice, or debris, preserving your blades.
It’s detrimental if you do not clean wiper blades with WD40. You can’t look down on its magic.
If you’ve changed your mind and want to master this task, we will show you a step-by-step guide to have the entire process done with ease. Scroll down and have a closer look at all!
How To Clean Wiper Blades With WD40: 4 Easy Steps
Clear one thing first: Can I clean wiper blades with WD40? Yes. Absolutely! Here are 4 simple steps to adopt the product:
Step 1
Pull the wiper blades up from their locked position. The opposite direction – pressing down – makes it tricky to clean this part. Towards SUV and truck, take it off entirely.
Step 2
Can you lubricate wiper blades by yourself? Yes, the water-resistant spray silicone lubricant can make it, such as WD40.
Employ WD40 to spray onto a dry microfiber or paper towel or cloth. Then use it to wipe the wiper blade’s rubber part.
Also, keep the wiper steady with one hand and the other holding the microfiber towel.
Step 3
Repeat this process several times to eliminate all debris and dirt from the rubber. You can’t get enough of a single cleansing swipe to eliminate all the dirt and germs.
Step 4
How do you rejuvenate windshield wipers? Now that you’ve almost completed the process.
Remember to clean the wiper blade on the rear if there is one. After cleaning the wiper, give them a quick once-over to check that everything looks good.
Check out the rubberized area for smoothness by simply running a finger over it. If you spot any imperfections or bumps, repeat step 3 to tidy up entirely.
After finishing all these steps, wait for a while before driving.
It’s also vital to keep your car’s paint free of any WD40 residue before hitting the road. Clean any residue remaining on your vehicle as well.
Why Do My Windshield Wipers Keep Squeaking When In Use?
The squeaking sound may stem from not only bad brakes but also wiper blades, to your surprise.
After getting the answer to “can you clean wiper blades with WD40?”, go for the 5 root causes of the squeaking windshield:
Dirty Glass
Ordinary noise makers are friction and vibration. In most cases, the sound produced by a rubber wiper blade rubbing on a glass window is negligible.
On the other hand, intensive friction will cause loud noise.
Here comes the enemy: dirt. It’s a troublemaker. You can do nothing to prevent the dirt’s buildup on your windshield. Materials wash off the car’s roof and drop onto the windscreen during rain.
Beyond that, your windshield and vehicles get damaged from salt, magnesium, and other road debris.
Uneven Surface
Standard wiper blades have two halves: a rubberized strip and a metal wiper arm. If this rubber piece shifts, slides, or comes loose, leading to uneven parts and leaving stains on the windshield.
Consequently, when it rains, the glass will show uneven streaks. The difficulties, however, do not end there. The rubber isn’t making complete contact with the glass, resulting in extreme noise.
Dirty Wiper Blades
As you can expect, your windshield wipers will get dirty. On the weekend trip or the commute to work, rainfall and a snowstorm will leave a dusty desert behind.
The dirt accumulation on your wipers creates louder noise day after day.
When grime is trapped between your windshield wipers and the glass, the squeaking sound becomes rhythmic as the blade scrapes across the surface.
Old Items
You’re a cheapskate, so you haven’t replaced your current wiper blades for years. And until a day, it gets noisier and bothersome, and you can’t endure it anymore.
To explain, most parts just last 2-3 years, depending on sun or dry exposure. Rubber contact surfaces dry out when exposed to UV and lack moisture.
The wipers are noisy when you must drive a car in the rain.
Clean the glass and wiper blades with glass cleaner. Otherwise, check your wipers thoroughly to track down the root. Replace the wiper blade if it’s too dry or cracked.
Wiping When Dry
Dry wiping causes friction. Even though it seems like two frictionless surfaces are moving, the wiper will latch onto any surface topography or scratches and “jump” across the surface.
And the clattering or squeaking sound will entail and annoy your ears. Just turning off the wipers to stop this.
How Do I Stop My Windshield Wipers From Chattering?
Change Worn-Out Parts
The out-of-date wipers will break easily with cracked rubber or a damaged wiper arm joint. Sometimes, you can catch up with a fractured or deformed wiper assembly.
If this happens, buy new wipers, even a whole new wiper set.
Do some study before purchasing new blades. Not every blade fits your automobile, and even those that do can go wrong when you insist on installing them.
Soften The Rubber
Next is the softening part. Stiff wiper rubber isn’t flexible and constantly rattles on glass. In this case, a replacement is good to go.
Toward a new item, Armor All and rubbing alcohol can soften it. Some people use WD-40, yet it seems not fine because WD-40 can harm blades this way.
Re-adjust The Wipers
Your wipers may require adjustment. Loose and tight wipers generate noise, but differently.
Adjust them with a wrench, so they don’t chatter. Set your eyes on the rubber and change a bit if needed. Move it with your hand until it’s soft and ready for wiping.
Clean Your Windshield And Wipers
This procedure includes cleaning wiper blades and windshield glass. If you don’t drive the automobile for months, debris can build up on either one. So clean them well.
Use warm soapy water and rubbing alcohol to clean the blade’s hinges and body gently and effectively.
Here, you may also ask: Does rubbing alcohol hurt your windshield? Do not fret! It is entirely safe for your windshields.
How To Make Wiper Blades Last Longer
Be Aware of Ice
This part may suffer intensively in icy and snowy weather. As you know, wiper blades comprise rubber. Ice can harm or cut the blades’ rubber when in use.
Be careful when clearing ice from your windshield. This is why cars have windshield wipers up before a snowstorm. Scrapers can remove snow and ice off windshields, but they also cut wipers.
Go For Frequent Cleaning
The last point seems obvious, yet it’s always effective. Wiper blades often last longer when clean. It helps to clean it after every car wash. Try adding this to your auto-washing routine.
It doesn’t take long to clean them. Cleaning after rain also works. Dirt builds on rubber parts, yet a microfiber cloth can easily remove it.
Not just cleaning the wiper blades well, a towel does the trick in preventing frost, as well. On top of that, you can save money this way.
Don’t Park in the Sun
You can’t always choose where to park. In direct sunlight or scorching weather, wiper blades might fade faster. The wiper blade rubber dries out as well.
Rubber cracks when it’s dry and comes with an uneven surface, leaving streaks and lines on your windshield. As a result, try to park in the shade if possible.
Take-home Messages!
Do not rush to judgment about the WD40’s capability. Noisy windshield wipers are a minor automotive concern. Be calm.
The results can’t upset you if you conduct the correct steps to clean wiper blades with WD40.
Other fellows may also manage to overcome the same situation. Please share this with them as well.