It's raining. You turn on the wipers. And instead of cleaning the windscreen, they make that horrible "rrrr-rrrr-rrrr" noise while dragging a strip of dirty water that stops you from seeing the road. Congratulations, your wiper blades are dead and you're driving blind.
Wiper blades are probably the most ignored maintenance item on any car. They cost between 10 and 30 euros a pair, take 5 minutes to change and can be the difference between seeing the road and seeing nothing at all in heavy rain. But most people only remember them when it's already too late.
Sign 1: Streaks and Bands on the Glass 🌧️
If, when you turn on the wipers, the windscreen ends up with streaks, bands of water or zones that simply don't get clean, the rubber on the blade is deformed or hardened. Instead of gliding smoothly over the glass and dragging all the water, the rubber "skips" and leaves zones uncleaned.
Quick test: On a rainy day, turn on the wipers at the slowest speed. If you see vertical strips of water that don't disappear, it's time to change them.
Sign 2: The Hellish Noise 🔊
That "rrrr" or "tac-tac-tac" sound every time the blade passes over the glass is the most obvious sign. It means the rubber has lost its flexibility and is vibrating against the glass instead of gliding.
Sometimes, the noise only happens in one direction (going or coming back). This indicates that the rubber is deformed and only makes proper contact in one direction.
Watch out: If the noise is new and appeared suddenly, first check that there's no dirt on the glass (tree resin, badly applied wax). Clean the windscreen with isopropyl alcohol and test again. If the noise persists, it's the blades.
Sign 3: Visually Damaged Rubber 👀
Lift the blade off the glass and look closely at the rubber. If you see any of these signs, it's time to change them:
- Cracks or fissures in the rubber (they look like wrinkles of old age).
- Hardened rubber that doesn't bend easily when you press on it with your finger.
- Missing chunks or uneven edges.
- Discolouration (the rubber has gone grey instead of black).
Tips to Make the Blades Last Longer ⏳
- Clean the rubber regularly: Once a month, run a damp cloth along the rubber to remove accumulated dust and dirt.
- Don't use the wipers on dry glass: Rubber dragging on dry glass wears down much faster. Always use the water spray first.
- In summer, lift the blades off the glass: If the car will be in the sun, the rubber "sticks" to the hot glass and deforms. Lift the blades to avoid this.
- Change them at least once a year: Even if they look fine, the rubber degrades over time, in the sun and with temperature changes.
The Hook: Don't Discover Your Wipers Are Dead on the Way to the Airport 🌧️✈️
Imagine the scene: it's pouring with rain, your flight is in an hour and a half, and your wipers decide today is the day to retire. You can't see anything, you're stressed and driving with your face glued to the windscreen.
With Multipark, this nightmare doesn't exist. When you hand over the car to our Valet, we run a visual check on the vehicle. If your blades are clearly worn, we can change them while you're on holiday (through our partners) so that, when you come back, the car is ready for any storm.
Don't wait for the next downpour to find out you can't see anything. Run the simulation and book your Valet Parking on the Multipark website and travel with the certainty that your car is in good hands!
