Guide
How to Replace Your Windshield Wiper Blades
Streaky, chattering wipers? Here’s how to pick the right size and swap them yourself in under five minutes.
Reviewed by Michael Koster · Updated April 2026
1. Know when to replace them
- Streaking, skipping, chattering, or smearing means the rubber edge is worn or hardened.
- Most wiper blades last 6–12 months. Heat, sun, and ice all shorten their life.
- Replace them in pairs so both sides clear evenly.
2. Get the right size
- The driver and passenger blades are often different lengths — measure both or look them up.
- Use a wiper size guide at the parts store, or look up your exact year, make, and model online.
- Note the attachment style (hook, pinch tab, bayonet) so the new blade clicks onto your arm.
3. Remove the old blade
- Lift the wiper arm away from the glass until it locks upright.
- Find the small tab or clip where the blade meets the arm, press it, and slide the blade down and off the hook.
- Hold onto the arm — if it snaps back, the bare metal can crack your windshield. Lay a towel on the glass as a precaution.
4. Install the new blade
- Slide the new blade onto the arm until it clicks firmly into place.
- Gently fold the arm back down against the windshield.
- Repeat for the other side, then run the wipers with washer fluid to confirm a clean, quiet wipe.
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