Wiper blades should be replaced every six months to a year or as soon as you notice a difference in driving visibility.

When wiper blades no longer make proper contact with the windshield surface, they can begin to squeak, chatter, skip, smear or streak reducing driving visibility.

An easy way to remember to proactively change your wiper blades is to replace them on Groundhog Day. Whether the Groundhog predicts six more weeks of winter or an early spring, new wiper blades are necessary to prepare you for 6 weeks of harsh winter driving conditions or 6 weeks of Spring showers. Either way, Rain-X will help you prepare for the unexpected.

When inspecting wiper blades, look for the following:

• Broken frame - detachment of frame arms at joints or connection points
• Metal Corrosion - especially at joints and claws
• Visible cracks, tears, and missing pieces in the rubber squeegee's edge
• Flex rubber squeegee back and forth to see if it is still flexible. Aged squeegees will have difficulty conforming to the shape of your windshield and create streaks.
• Check squeegee wiping edge for rounded edges which can prevent the wiper blade from making strong contact with the windshield and reduces wipe quality
• Tug to ensure wiper blade has been securely installed on the wiper arm
• Check that squeegee is secure in the wiper frame

Remember to check your wiper blades as part of your regular preventative maintenance program!