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My windshield wipers do not remove all the water from my windshield. In the photos, you can see that there are portions of the windshield that should be cleaned by the wiper, but are not.

I’m not sure how long it has been since I replaced my wipers. But the most recent time, I purchased Michelin brand wipers because I was having the same problem with my previous wipers, with the same exact problem spots.

Where is the problem, the windshield or the wiper? Will it help if I get new wipers? How often are you supposed to replace wipers? Will it help if I apply Rain-X? Any other suggestions on what to do?

Hey Michelin Man, you missed a spot! It's kinda hard to see through this you know

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3 Answers

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This happens due to the wiper blade wearing out - it is generally considered a consumable item.

I replace mine at least once a year (just before winter) and often late spring as well if I find any areas of the windscreen not getting cleared correctly. In the UK you can be committing an offence if your wipers do not clean the windscreen enough.

Rain-X definitely helps. If you ensure your windscreen is completely clean and then treat with Rain-X you will be able to go longer without using your wipers, but once you start to use your wipers you will remove the Rain-X pretty quickly. It is most useful in very wet conditions at a reasonable speed.

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FWIW, I've had problems with smearing when I changed my wipers and applied Rain-X at the same time. I'd recommend cleaning your windshield and applying the Rain-X first, then replace the wipers after the next rainstorm. – TMN Mar 9 '12 at 13:53
you should change wipers or at least wash them well and rub them with a rain-X soaked tissue. That should help. In general, with Rain-X you shouldn't need to use wipers at all for a while - that's the general idea. – Rory Alsop Mar 9 '12 at 14:00
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I prefer washer fluid with RainX premixed. – mikes Mar 17 '12 at 1:22
+1 @mikes. The washer fluid is great stuff. – mac Oct 28 '12 at 22:11
Wipers seem to last me about 6 months if I get the cheap ones and 2-3 years if I get the expensive ones. I don't use rain-x anymore as if you do choose to use wipers with the rain-x on the windshield it makes a smeary mess. :-) – Brian Knoblauch Oct 30 '12 at 15:59
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If there is any kind of divot or crack on the windshield, even brand new wipers will leave streaks since the windshield could be off balance or the crack could be cutting into the surface of the wiper creating an uneven surface.

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up vote 1 down vote

If you replace the blades and it makes no difference, it could be a worn spring in the wiper arm(s). Especially on an older vehicle or arm.

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