Should You Put Your Windshield Wipers Up In the Winter?
One of the hacks some people employ during the winter months is to lift their windshield wipers off the glass to prevent them from sticking to the windshield when it's cold and it snows. So is this a good hack, or not?
I've done it the last couple of winters more than a few times. At the least, you're not sitting there forced to run the defroster to melt the snow and ice enough to get the wipers unstuck before you leave. At its best, you're not having to run your hand around the blade to get the caked snow and ice off of them.
There's some bad news for those of us who have done this, it can actually do your wipers more harm than good.
The Drive explains that wipers aren't meant to point up and away from your windshield for hours on end. Not to mention your blades are designed to withstand pressure from one direction, the front. Without the support of the windshield, the wipers become a lot weaker and can be damaged by a wind guest.
So what should you do to protect your windshield and wipers from snow, ice, and cold? Cover the entire windshield with something. My wife a couple of years ago got me a windshield cover, which honestly until I saw this tip on Mental Floss, I forgot I had. It's actually great.
The cover I have keeps the snow and ice off the windshield, and on cold days keeps it from being all frosty. The downside, I've had to bring the cover inside the house and let it thaw out and drip dry during a couple of bigger snows. But it actually is a very efficient way to keep the snow off your windshield. It's also not very time-consuming to put it over the windshield. Mine comes with some flaps and bands that let the side mirrors and doors hold it in place.
Mental Floss, by the way, says you don't need to invest in a windshield cover either. They say you can use an old rug or a tarp and it will work out just fine.