Recondition wiper blades

[barrys]

I put on some Bosch ICON wipers which cost freakin 40.00 for the pair. They started streaking pretty fast and I didn't feel like replacing them.

Note: although most assert the ICONs can't be refilled, in fact they can. See this post:
http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127303
Get the refills from the VW parts counter for like 10.00 for the pair and cut to fit.
A great online source for wholesale VW parts from the dealer is:
http://www.vwpartsdepartment.com/partlocator/index.cfm?siteid=215190
They are my local VW shop and their internet prices are the lowest I could find. The parts techs named Chris and John are amazing.
Doing the refill on those is doable -- I've done it -- but it's a PITA and it's easy to break the little clips on the ends.

Even with that, I was too cheap and lazy to even do the refills. So I googled around and added my own little additions and came up with something that worked and should work for any blades.

1. Get a kitchen grade ScotchBrite pad and soak it with some isopropyl alcohol.
2. Wipe down the squeegee a few times and then wipe repeatedly with clean paper towel until the paper towel is clean.
3. Repeat step 2. that 2 or three times.
4. Spray the wiper blade with some silicon spray and let it sit for 10 mintues or so.
5. Wipe it down again, repeatedly until it's clean.
6. Soak a paper towel with alcohol and wipe down the squeegee.
7. Follow up with a clean paper towel until clean.
Sounds like a lot, but it was like 5 - 10 minutes of real work.
Good as new -- no kidding. Streak free when running the windshield washer.
Put the 40.00 in the kitty for your next tune-up...

I'm interested on getting some feedback on this...
One thing I thought about was to not do anything after applying the silicon spray since people rave about the the PIAA silicon coated wipers. But, I thought I'd have an oil and water problem smearing the silicon on the windshield.

Another thing people said on other forums is that the alcohol will dry out the rubber. But, I can't see that being an issue relative to the rubber sitting out in the weather. And, the cleaning with alcohol seems to be universally accepted method for cleaning.
Let's see what others think...

Whadaya think???

 

[06RangerXLT]

cool. but id rather just try a new brand of wipers. my stock motomasters havent let me down yet, 4 years in.

 

[barrys]

4 years is amazing. I actually just ordered a pair of stock replacements today -- 14.00 for the pair from Tousley:
http://www.trademotion.com/PARTLOCATOR/INDEX.CFM?SITEID=214771
But, I was bored and thought I'd try to recondition the ones I had. I had another set of ICONs collecting dust (I got them pretty much for free with some crazy rebate years back) so I redid those too. Now I have enough wiper blades to probably outlast the truck.

But, this worked so well, I thought I'd share...

If I were going to try something new and different, those PIAA silicon blades are supposed to be the cat's meow. But, I'm not a cat person...

 

[barrys]

Oh yeah, P.S. I do not recommend the ICONs even though tons of people love them. They're way too rich, they streak too soon, and the pressure is not even on our windshields. I used to have a Passat with stock Bosch Aero blades which were great. The ICONs were the bolt-on equivalient for our trucks so I gave them a try. Never again...

 

[06RangerXLT]

the ones that are one piece without any moving parts work best.

 

[LearjetMinako]

If you live in a colder, wet climate, wiper blades tend to last a little longer. Down here in the southern parts (Oklahoma), the heat, dirt, dust, and UV kill wiper blades in a year. Keeping the vehicle garaged helps. Thou my Ranger doesn't get that option. I know exactly how expensive those Bosch Icon's, but they are the best wiper blade that I have ever used that never let me down in any climate condition. My Blazer has a set thats been on for 2 years, thou it gets garaged. And my Ranger's set has been on for almost 2 years, but the passenger blade is shot and smears.

 

[barrys]

That's what the ICONs are. I just didn't have a great experience with them. But, I could be an outlier.

 

[barrys]

> the heat, dirt, dust, and UV kill wiper blades in a year.
That's me. Always outside in in CA.

 

[straycat]

Darn, it is not worth a scratched windsheild...just buy another pair. I have to get at least two pair a year for our rides. Wipers just don't last like they used to due to then climate change the earth has gone through or they are getting made with cheaper products!! I remember that I used to only have to buy new wipers about every other year...but now I go through at least two pair a year now. I use good name brands as well!!!!

 

[The purple one]

I went to walmart for my last pair (5 years ago) Got the cheapest ones they had too( I think they were $6 for both)

 

[straycat]

I went to walmart for my last pair (5 years ago) Got the cheapest ones they had too( I think they were $6 for both)

Man. I never get that long out of a pair. 5 years??? Man...that is great. I useed Wallmart and never got that long out of a pair.

 

[adsm08]

An alcohol wipe will get you pretty much the same results as this procedure.

 

[straycat]

An alcohol wipe will get you pretty much the same results as this procedure.

This I have heard of before...but once you see nicks of unusual wear it is time to scrap them. Some people tell me they just wash the blades when they was their cars and wipe off the blades with a lint free towel and that should keep them new...but I do this and I still get streaks. I even use Rainx in my windsheild water bottle and I clean the windows with rainx.

 

[superds]

straycat, I think using rainx is fighting your streak free quest. I used to use that and I always had streaking, too. I stopped using it and the streaking subsided, at least this is what I can remember, this was years ago that I stopped using it.

I've just done the adsm08 method of cleaning it with rubbing alcohol, works pretty good, imo.

 

[82eye]

i used the motomasters that come with the teflon wipes for the windshield. had them on 2 months, so far the results are amazing, but i expect the performance to weaken quickly.

a great way to lose the streaking is to refurbish the windows by polishing them. our windshields are pretty upright and take a beating from road debris and whatnot as a result. the pitting this creates on a near microscopic level helps to wear the wiper blades prematurely and exacerbates streaking.

autoglym, meguiars, and a couple other decent brands make auto glass specific polishes that work well, especially if the windshield is only a few seasons old. sometimes they are hard to source in local markets, but they can usually be bought through an auto glass company if they are not available at the usual parts places.

older windshields may need a more aggressive polish. stainless steel and metal polish can work well on older windshields. it is more abrasive and should be tested first to ensure it does not scratch the window itself. i have never had a problem myself, i use the generic stuff meant for cleaning jewelery and restaurant food surfaces. after the metal polish i'll go over the windshield again with meguiars or autoglym glass polish, tho you may find that overkill.

the result is amazing looking windows that remain streak free for months and wiper blades that usually last two or more seasons in good repair. i swap blades out for the summer and winter seasons as a general rule, so i get about a full year out of each set give or take.

**note do not polish the inside of your windows as they can be coated and you will mess them up beyond all possible religious belief**