Make windshield wipers stop squeaking

Video: How to Make Windshield Wipers Stop Squeaking - 6 Ways!

Content

To step
Method 1 of 3: Cleaning the windshield and wipers
Method 2 of 3: Fix common causes of squeaks
Method 3 of 3: Replace wiper parts
Tips
Warnings
Necessities

Hardly anything is more annoying than the sound of squeaking windshield wipers. That squeak can turn any rain shower into a nightmare for your ears. Often times, the squeaking is caused by dirt on the windshield or wiper blades. A thorough cleaning may be enough to stop the squeaking. If that doesn't help, there are a few more common causes of wheezing. For example dried out rubber or a loose fastening nut. However, if the wiper blades are warped, falling apart or brittle, it is time to replace them with a new set.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Cleaning the windshield and wipers

Remove any build-up from the wiper blades. Raise the wipers so that they are pointing up. Take a paper towel and wet it with warm water and soapy water. You can also use a little bit of cleaning alcohol. Now wipe the wiper blades until no more dirt remains on the kitchen paper.
- Do not forget to clean the metal arm and the hinged parts as well. Build-up of debris on the wiper hinges can keep them from turning smoothly. That too can lead to squeaks.
- If a lot of dirt has built up on the wipers, you may need more paper towels. Fold thin kitchen paper in half before wiping the wiper blades. You can also use an old cloth.
- If the wipers don't stay up on their own, hold them up with your free hand. Now clean them one by one.
Clean the windshield thoroughly with glass cleaner. Spray the windshield with a generous amount of glass cleaner. After this, wipe the windshield with a lint-free cloth, such as a microfiber cloth. Wipe from top to bottom until the windshield is completely clean.
- Undiluted white vinegar can also be used instead of glass cleaner. Put the vinegar in a spray bottle and use it in the same way as the glass cleaner. Do not get vinegar on the car's paint.
- Ammonia based cleaners can attack tinted glass. In addition, they can damage plastic parts on a car. The detergent label should clearly state that it is ammonia-free.
Clean a heavily soiled windshield with baking soda. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on a damp paper towel for a thorough cleaning of the windshield. Then wipe the windshield from top to bottom for a radiant result.
Get rid of squeaks on the go with alcohol wipes. If the windshield wipers suddenly start to squeak along the way, you probably don't have access to the cleaning products described above. It is therefore useful to keep some alcohol wipes or cleaning wipes in the car. In case of a squeak, wipe the rubber of both wiper blades with a cloth.

Method 2 of 3: Fix common causes of squeaks

Top up the washer fluid. Windshield wipers may squeak because the windshield is too dry. Check regularly that there is still enough windshield washer fluid in the system and top it up as needed. For example, the nozzles are always ready to help make the windscreen extra wet in the event of an unwanted squeak.
Adjust the position of the wiper blades if necessary. The blades are designed to follow the movement of the wiper arm. Over time, the wiper blades can become a bit stiff. As a result, they can no longer properly follow the back and forth movement of the windshield wiper. Move the blades back and forth by hand so that they can move smoothly again.
- Wiper blades that are too stiff cannot move back and forth smoothly. This can cause a squeak and rattle of the windshield wiper.
- It should never appear as if the wiper blades are "digging" themselves into the windshield or that they are standing straight as they move back and forth across the windshield.
Smooth the wiper blades. Stiff wiper blades can cause rattling and squeaking. Sometimes new wiper blades are stiff or sometimes they become stiff over time due to exposure to the weather. Windshield wiper blades older than a year should be replaced. Blades less than a year old can be smoothed with:
- ArmorAll. Put a generous amount of ArmorAll on a piece of kitchen paper. Work the ArmorAll on the rubber of the windshield wiper with circular movements to make it smoother.
- Cleaning alcohol. Put a little bit of cleaning alcohol on a paper towel. Gently rub the wiper blades with the damp kitchen paper.
- WD-40. Do not use this medicine too often. WD-40 can dry out rubber. Spray a little bit of WD-40 on a paper towel. Apply the WD-40 to the rubber and then wipe the blades dry with a clean paper towel.
Adjust the fastening nut. Check that the wiper blades and entire wiper are not too loose or too tight. Too little or too much friction between the windshield and wiper can also cause rattling or squeaking.
- In general, when you turn clockwise, tighten the mounting nut tighter and less counterclockwise.
- Experiment with the tightness of the mounting nut. Ideally, the wipers are held securely in place, but are still loose enough to move smoothly back and forth.
Remove friction-increasing window film. Anti rain film, Anti rain spray such as Rain-X or certain types of wax can cause rattling and squeaking. Remove the product and use a normal type of window cleaner to prevent annoying noises.
- The film left behind with some car polishes can increase the friction between the wipers and the windshield. This can cause unpleasant noises such as squeaking.

Method 3 of 3: Replace wiper parts

Install new rubber inserts. When all non-rubber parts are still in good condition, they don't need to be replaced, of course. However, it can sometimes happen that the rubber parts of the wipers wear out faster than the non-rubber parts (especially in a lot of sun). If so, remove and replace the rubber wiper inserts.
Replace the wiper blades regularly. Lift the wiper arm so that it is pointing up. There should be a hinge where the noise wiper blade is attached to the arm. Here you will also find the mechanism to remove the wiper blade from the wiper arm. Open the mechanism and remove the old wiper blade. Install the new wiper blade and close the mechanism.
- Some cars have a push-on tab or tension hook that secures the wiper blades to the wiper arm. You can loosen these tabs by hand to remove the wiper blade.
- Some experts recommend replacing the wiper blades every six months or every other year. In any case, it's a smart idea to do it before it starts to rain a lot, like in the fall.
Replace the entire windshield wiper. Follow the wiper arm to the bottom where it attaches to the car. Here you should see a nut. Loosen the nut with a wrench. Now you should be able to remove the entire windshield wiper from the car. Install the correct replacement wiper arm and retighten the nut. Everything should now work perfectly again.
- Over time and depending on use, the entire wiper can become deformed or lose all flexibility. This contributes to annoying beeping noises.

Tips

When you have found the perfect parts for the windshield wipers of your car, write down the make and model number. So you never have to look for the right parts again.

Warnings

Build-up of debris on the windshield, such as mud, can cause squeaking. During rain showers, try to avoid large puddles to minimize mud splashes on the windshield.
Never add detergent to the windshield washer fluid. This will only make the windshield squeak more.
Replacing wiper blades can involve some trial and error. Different car models also have different shape and size windshield wiper blades.
Never use car wax on the windshield. Wax on the windshield can make the windshield and wiper blades very slippery. In severe weather this can lead to reduced visibility and very dangerous situations.
Do not use the wipers with ice on the windshield. This can lead to extra wear or even cracks in the rubber.