Noisy windshield wipers are enough to drive a person insane. If your wipers are making loud squeaking noises, then you are probably dreading the next time that it rains. No one wants to hear the shrill sounds that are produced by wiper blades when they’re experiencing problems. You actually don’t have to put up with those annoying squeaking sounds, though.
You will be able to stop your windshield wipers from squeaking as long as you take a few common-sense steps. I’m going to go over a few important ways that you can stop your windshield wipers from making that squeaking noise that you hate so much.
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1. Clean Both Your Wiper Blades and Your Windshield
One of the most common causes of squeaky windshield wipers is a dirty windshield. If you can do a thorough job cleaning everything, then you might be able to eliminate the squeaking noises. To start off, you will want to lift your wiper blades up so that you can clean them. Wipe them down with some soapy water to get any residue or gunk off of the wipers.
It’s also important to take the time to clean off the arm and the hinges. When the hinges of the wiper blade get caked with dirt or other types of debris, it will contribute to the squeaking. A little bit of cleaning is enough to alleviate this problem so take the time to do it. You’ll be able to remove a lot of dirt from the blades and can then turn your attention to the windshield.
The windshield itself should be cleaned using glass cleaner. Spray the windshield down with plenty of glass cleaner and then start wiping it down. Using a microfiber towel for this cleaning job is going to be ideal. If you don’t have a microfiber cloth, then you should use a lint-free cloth that can do the job.
Also, consider keeping alcohol wipes in your glove box. These wipes can be handy for cleaning your wipers off quickly. There are going to be times where your wipers will start squeaking while you’re driving. If you have some of these alcohol wipes handy, then you will be able to fix the problem quickly the next time that you park the car.
2. Check Your Windshield Wiper Fluid
Sometimes checking your windshield wiper fluid is going to be enough to fix the problem. If your fluid is too low, then the windshield may not be sufficiently wet when you’re using the wipers. This will cause the squeaking noises that you hate so much. It’s always a good idea to check your wiper fluid to ensure that you have enough.
You could try to make it a habit to check your wiper fluid once per month. This will ensure that you never wind up running low. Try to top off your fluid as often as you can. You also need to make sure that you’re using the right fluid to get the best results.
3. Soften the Rubber on the Wipers
The rubber on your windshield wipers will sometimes become hard. This can happen due to exposure to the sun or for many other reasons. Fixing this issue is not overly difficult, though. You can soften the rubber on your wiper blades by using a little bit of rubbing alcohol.
Applying rubbing alcohol to the rubber part of the blade should soften it up. Use a paper towel and wipe the rubbing alcohol up and down the length of the rubber parts of your wiper blades. This should make it so that you can use the wiper blades again without having to deal with the noise.
4. Adjust the Position of Your Wiper Blades
You might need to consider adjusting the position of your wiper blades. Sometimes blades can be stiff and they will not be getting the right motion in order to work properly. This can be fixed by simply adjusting the position of the blades in most cases. You might need to twist the arm in order to get the best results.
If your wiper blades are digging into the windshield, then you definitely need to make some adjustments. Also, the wiper blades should not remain vertical when they are wiping across your windshield. Ensure that things are positioned correctly and you will likely be able to alleviate your squeaking problem. It should be apparent if there is an issue with the position of your blades so take the time to observe the blades to see if something is amiss.
5. Tighten the Fasteners
Sometimes tightening the fasteners is going to be worthwhile too. You see, when fasteners are too loose, it can lead to squeaky wiper blades. This can happen when things are too tight as well. You want to be able to tighten things just enough so that the wiper blades are working optimally.
If you’re having trouble figuring out how tight these fasteners should be, then take the time to experiment. See what is working and what is not. You can spray some fluid and turn the blades on to listen for any squeaking. Once you get it right, the squeaking will subside if the fasteners were the culprit.
6. Consider Removing Surface Protectants
You might be using surface protectants in order to protect your windshield from the elements. Rain-X is one of the most popular products that people use for this purpose. The problem is that this may wind up causing increased friction when you’re using your wiper blades. Removing the protectant might be necessary in order to eliminate your squeaky wiper blade problem.
7. Replace Your Wiper Blades
It might simply be time to change out your wiper blades as well. Wiper blades are meant to be changed out every six months or every year. If it has been longer than one year since you changed your wiper blades, then it is time to install new ones. You should buy a set of quiet wiper blades and install them as soon as you can.
If the wiper blades are between six months and one year old, then you might be able to keep using them. Consider using the rubber softening method or cleaning them off thoroughly. If you aren’t getting the best results, then you could replace the rubber on the blades in order to get things working right again. The cost of replacing wiper blades is actually really low so it’s usually smart to just buy new wiper blades.
8. You May Need to Replace Your Wiper Blade Assembly
Sometimes you will need to replace your wiper blade assembly as well. This is not as common as needing to replace the wiper blades but the assembly can become worn down over time. Years of regular use can cause the assembly to lose its shape and it may not be working properly any longer. Luckily, fixing this issue is not going to take a lot of effort.
All you need to do is remove the nut that is holding the assembly in place. You can then remove the arm and install your new assembly. This might fix your squeaking wiper problem. The squeaking could have been caused by the wiper not being able to stay in the right position so it is worth taking a look at the assembly to see if it’s in the right shape.
9. You Could Also Have a Windshield Problem
It is also possible that you may have a windshield problem. This is not going to be the most common cause of squeaky wiper blades but it is worth mentioning. Sometimes your windshield may have a rough surface due to years of being exposed to dirt and harsh weather conditions. If cleaning the windshield doesn’t fix this problem, then you might need to consider replacing the windshield.
Keep in mind that this problem is not the most common cause of squeaky wiper blades. If none of the other methods in this guide work for you, then you should consider that your windshield might be to blame. Replacing a windshield is definitely the most costly option; hopefully, you won’t encounter this problem.
Fix Your Squeaky Wipers Today
Fixing your squeaky wiper blade problems should not be too hard at all. Many people are able to fix the noise issue by simply cleaning things up. It can also be beneficial to make some changes to your wiper blades or to the windshield itself. One of these methods is definitely going to work for you so try them out until you figure out what is causing your squeaking problem.
You don’t have to continue to put up with squeaking wiper blades if you don’t want to. The fixes that have been presented are all easy enough to accomplish. You just need to take the time to fix things up right and you’ll have a much more pleasant driving experience.
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