Posted on 5/30/2025
Your windshield wipers should provide clear, streak-free visibility whenever you need them. But if they’re smearing water across the glass instead of wiping it away cleanly, something’s not right. Smearing makes driving in the rain more dangerous, especially when visibility is already limited. Fortunately, most of the causes are simple and easy to fix. If your wipers are leaving streaks behind, chattering across the glass, or just not clearing the windshield the way they used to, it’s time to take a closer look at what’s going wrong and how to get your wipers back in shape. Wiper Blades Are Worn Out The most common reason for streaking or smearing is worn-out wiper blades. Over time, the rubber edge of the blade hardens, cracks, or becomes misshapen. When that happens, the blade can’t maintain full contact with the glass, and water gets left behind. Most wiper blades need replacement about once a year—more often in areas with freq ... read more