Although your car wiper blades are a very important part of your car, they are seldom thought of.  At least until it rains.  Usually, a shower will remind us that we've known for about a year and a half that our wiper blades were crappy and that we keep forgetting to do something about it.

I don't know about you but that is a typical scenario for me.  Even when I do finally get around to purchasing a new car wiper, after having been in the auto parts store three times and forgetting to pick it up, it sits on my back seat for a few months before I get around to putting it on.  I don't think that I'm alone in this regard.  I'm pretty sure that many others do the same thing.

Without good windshield wipers, you'd be in a bad way. They are an intregal part of car safety, as they keep your field of vision clear by removing dirt and of course, water.

Years ago, a car wiper was made of rubber. It is just my personal opinion, of course, but I think they were MUCH better. They did a good job of clearing the windshield and they lasted a lot longer. Their condition did not deteriorate as quickly as today's plastic ones do. Now, I say plastic but I honestly don't know what exactly they are made of in our rubber-free society. I suppose that I could look it up but I haven't really seen any need to.  The knowing won't help anything.

Ideally, checking your car wipers is part of your normal car maintenance routine. Is your car wiper worn out, does it have nicks in the blade that leave streaks when you use it? Either of these situations is a good indication that it's time to install a new wiper or set of wipers.

If you know how, go ahead an install the new wiper blades yourself. Otherwise, you may want to pay the $5 or whatever it is where you are, to have someone else put them on for you. You don't want to be driving on the highway in a rain or snow storm and have one of your blades fly off the arm.

Occasionally, it's a good idea to clear your wiper blades, too.  They can sometimes get little bits of dirt on them that can give you streaky results when used.

This is again, my personal opinion. I've used both cheap wiper blades and the top of the line expensive ones. What I've discovered is that either kind works better than the crappy ones you've replaced, however the expensive ones worked better for me. That being said, they did not last longer than the cheaper ones. The first time I realized this was something of a shock to me, as I truly thought that they would. You may have a different experience but that has been mine.

Another issue that I've struggled with in the past is whether or not to buy a seasonal car wiper. You know, one for snow and a different one for the rest of the year. I used to drive a lot but not anymore, so it's not something I can comment on from the past two years but before that, I will say that I felt that the winter car wiper worked well unless you were on the highway. I found that at higher speeds, the wiper would lift off the windshield slightly, as the wind got underneath of it. When I was driving a lot everyday, most of it was highway travel, so I quickly reverted back to using the regular kind of car wiper. I did choose the second most expensive brand and I was happy as anyone can be when living in a snow belt and having to drive.

Regardless of how much you pay for a car wiper, it's a very small investment towards your safety. If you think of the alternative - impaired driving vision leading to an accident - spending $15 or $35 for a car wiper blade is nothing in comparison. Your car and your life are worth far more.

Safe travels, my friend.

Car Wiper Insights by Herald Daily, © 2009