Experts Warn Not to Flip Up Windshield Wipers During Michigan Winters

Every winter we see it right before heavy snow or a possible ice storm. Cars everywhere with their wipers propped up. In theory, this seems like a smart move, but honestly, it can cause some unwanted problems.

Why Leaving Windshield Wipers Up Can Cause Damage

Windshield wipers are pressed against the glass by springs inside the wiper arms. When you flip them up, those springs stretch. Doing that for a few minutes while you change blades is no big deal. Leaving them up overnight or for days at a time is where things start to go sideways.

Experts say those springs can stretch out permanently. And once that happens, the wipers don’t press against the windshield the way they should. That’s when you get streaks, skipping, or that annoying chattering sound at highway speeds, even if the blades are brand new.

The Risk of Cracking Your Windshield

There’s also the risk of the wiper arm snapping back down. When they’re upright, wiper arms aren’t very stable. A strong gust of wind or an accidental bump can send the arm slamming into the windshield, and experts say that impact can be hard enough to crack the glass. Sounds a little over dramatic, but apparently, it happens.

I get it. There’s nothing more annoying than driving with chunks of ice stuck to your wiper blades, making it almost impossible to see every time they swipe across the windshield. But there are better options.

Better Ways to Handle Frost, Snow, and Ice

If the goal is just keeping your wiper blades from freezing, there are better ways to do it. Windshield covers work great and protect both the glass and the wipers. Deicer spray or winter washer fluid can melt frost fast without putting extra stress on the wiper arms. Some people even cover the blades overnight instead of flipping them up. The latter sounds like the best way to go, in my opinion.