Replace wiper blades and stop a smeary windscreen

Use this guide when your wipers smear, judder, squeak or leave streaks, which shows up badly in autumn rain and low sun. Have your car's handbook, a tape measure, glass cleaner or isopropyl wipes, a microfibre cloth and an old towel ready.

Step by step

1. Diagnose the cause before buying blades

   Clean the windscreen thoroughly inside and out, then wipe the rubber edge of each blade with a damp cloth and test again. If smears disappear, the problem was road film, not the blades. If you still see streaks, judder or unwiped arcs, look at the rubber: cracks, splits, a rounded or torn edge, or rubber hardened by sun all mean the blades need replacing.