Windshield wiper cleaning "renew"?
Bill
they were streaking...
So instead of replacing them with new wipers, I cleaned them with paper
towels and a bit of rubbing alcohol poured on the paper towels.
There were dirt particles on the edges of the wipers. It appeared that when
wiping the windshield, the wiper blade is not straight up and down like this
"|", but at an angle like this"/". And crud on the edges of the blade will
lift the edge of the wiper off the window causing streaking.
So cleaning the crud off the wiper made the wipers work like new again!
I searched on the internet and one site said to clean with soap and water.
Another said vinegar, then rinse with water.
One said to run sandpaper across the wiper blades a couple of times. Also I
saw there is a "wiper conditioner" which can be purchased.
Anyone have any suggestions for making windshield wipers like new again or
what is best?
Al
Those cleaning instructions you cite all seem OK to me. I would
suggest that people be careful not to turn on wipers with a dry
window. This can causes scratches on the glass and rip the rubber
blade at the ends because it sticks to the window over time. If you
have to clean it, wet the edge for a few seconds and gradually lift
the blade off the window. The same sort of precaution goes for an icy
window. Many people like to use the wipers to clean the snow off and
they can rip the blade if it's stuck to the window.
I'm not so sure the sandpaper is a great idea. If it were 200-300#
paper it could help. I use sandpaper on the rollers of old printers
that don't grab the paper and it saves them.
Lastly, naphtha or lighter fluid is a partial solvent for the rubber.
That would deep clean the rubber better than the other stuff (also
good for print rollers). You will notice much more blackness coming
off on your cleaning cloth.
Dave
"Bill" <billnoma...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:7ghuo8F...@mid.individual.net...
What is best? Don't buy anco (blades or refills). They last about 3
months, tops. Just about anything else will last you a couple of years or
longer. Currently believe Rain-X is one of the better brands. Haven't had
a problem with them falling apart in a few months like Anco, anyway. Come
to think of it, the set on my wife's car hasn't been replaced in a few
years, still work great. Rain-X. -Dave
The Real Bev
> "Bill" <billnoma...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>
>> Anyone have any suggestions for making windshield wipers like new again or
>> what is best?
>
> What is best? Don't buy anco (blades or refills). They last about 3
> months, tops. Just about anything else will last you a couple of years or
> longer. Currently believe Rain-X is one of the better brands. Haven't had
> a problem with them falling apart in a few months like Anco, anyway. Come
> to think of it, the set on my wife's car hasn't been replaced in a few
> years, still work great. Rain-X. -Dave
FWIW, I had Triple-Edge wipers (I think they spell it creatively) on my Sentra
for at least 5 years (here in Smogsville), and they were still good when I got
rid of the car. When I need to replace my current ones I'll put those on.
--
Cheers, Bev
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
To define recursion, we must first define recursion.
RickMerrill
NO to sandpaper!
Easiest method is a wet cloth and a small amount of baking soda!
Al
RickMerrill wrote:
>
> NO to sandpaper!
>
> Easiest method is a wet cloth and a small amount of baking soda!
Well, you'd certainly be running the risk of leaving gritty particles
on the glass that would put scratches on it in a single swipe. You
would have to make sure everything were spotless after such a deed.
Probably better to save the sandpaper for emergency scuffing up of the
print rollers. And that Chinese paper is a disaster the way it falls
apart.
Bob F
I tried rain-X once. After a couple of months, I started getting black deposits
on the windshield, as if the rubber were breaking down. Never again.
Bob F
Just rub the blade with a cloth or paper towel and windex or any other glass
cleaner periodically. Mine last for years with that alone. Even the cleaner
solution and paper towels at the gas station work fine. You are just cleaning
off dirt.
Just squeeze the blade with the wet towel and rub back and forth the length of
the blade a couple times.
Also, many cars park the wiper in the "return" angle every time you turn them
off. Occasionally, pull the blade down and release it to reverse the angle when
you park after using them to avoid a permanent flex which can cause them to not
flip back and forth as they work, resulting in streaks as they move up. Or, some
blades can be removed and re-installed from the other end of the blade carrier
to reverse the angle on the blade. Take them out from the bottom - re-install
from the top, or vice-versa.