Many motors provide an everyday means of getting to where you need to be. These everyday motors are generally four-door saloons or people carrier for moving people around, but for moving goods around you might need something larger, such as a mini van, and then you might need something even larger like a wagon. These motors make up the most of vehicles that you will find on the roads today, and they all have wiper blades that are used to clear precipitation and muck, as well as bugs that can build up on the wind shield. If the precipitation and muck is not removed from an motors wind shield, it can make it impossible to drive safely. Most of these wiper blades are made from rubber, which is the traditional material to make wiper blades from.

The wiper blades made from rubber work rather well but when compared to other newfangled materials that are now used to make replacement wiper blades, they have short comings. The main reason for rubber being used for wiper blades is it is a cheap material to make them from, and as a result, vehicle makers fit them to all new cars. This is also the reason people choose replacement wiper blades made of rubber, but this is a not economic because of the short comings in rubber wiper blades.

We have said that rubber replacement wiper blades have their short comings compared to other materials, making them a not economic for people, but what are these better materials and what are the short comings in rubber wiper blades? Rubber wiper blades frequently last 1000 wipes, but this number is rarely achieved as muck and other things damage the wiper blade. Some of the things that harm them are cold, UV radiation, ozone, pollution and chemicals. The main cause of damage to rubber wiper blades is the cold, this causes the rubber to harden and then crack and fracture when in use. If water gets into these crack and fracture and then freezes it can cause serious damage to the rubber wiper blades, and this can then cause the wiper blades to split when in use, making it useless at its job. To a lesser extent, UV radiation, ozone, pollution and chemicals attack the rubber wiper blades which slowly cause them to rot and crack, degrading their ability to clear the wind shield of precipitation and muck.

There are materials that when used to create replacement wiper blades are extremely resistant to this type of attack, and the best of these is extruded pure silicon resin, as this is resistant to UV radiation, ozone, pollution and chemicals and it is also much more resistant to the cold. Typically, they can be used in temperatures as low as -60° and as high as 200° C. Also, silicon is more durable than rubber and with all these factors together, you can get a wiper blade that lasts 3 to 5 times longer than the classic rubber wiper blade. Silicon wiper blades are a little more dear than rubber wiper blades, but coupled with the fact that they last longer, you soon make the money back by having to buy wiper blades less frequently. It is recommended by most rubber blade manufacturers to replace your wiper blades twice a year, whereas quality replacement wiper blades made of silicon comes with a a year guarantee.

Some of the other improvements in wiper blades over the years have been the invention of flat wiper blades. flat wiper blades are frameless wiper blades, because of their frameless design, the wiper blade gives an even pressure along the blade, allowing for a smooth judder free operation. flat wiper blades also look good and sleek due to their frameless design; they also have advantages in aerodynamic efficiency making them useful in increasing economy of motors.

It is amazing the number of people that don’t know how to properly clean or polish and wax their cars. Many people use products that were never intended for their car and others use products and equipment that should only be used by properly trained professionals. Some never even wax or clean their cars. Then they wonder why their car is given a very low trade in figure at the dealer, or why their paint is dull and flaking. Go to Car Care for more information.

For the purpose of this article we interviewed numerous professional automotive detailers and similar professionals. We asked them what products they used and for tips that consumers could use. They pretty much came back with the same advice:

Properly clean the car: This is very important as the use of harsh, non-automotive products can actually harm your cars finish and make it wear quicker. Spray the car first and get it wet. Use the water to spray off dirt and other contaminates that will scratch your car if you immediately start using a sponge and water first. Also do not clean your car in the sun on a hot day. Do make sure you use warm water as it works best to loosen contaminates. After getting your car wet, use an automotive car wash solution and add to water in a bucket. Follow the directions on the bottle. Then wash the car. You will find it easier if you use a long handled wash brush (most auto parts stores have these). Be sure to wash and rinse in sections so the car wash soap doesn’t dry before being washed off. Then using terry cloth towels or chamois, dry the car off. Expert tip: use a squeegee. It is much faster and easier.

Remove stubborn contaminants: There will be dirt, bugs, tar, etc… that will be left after washing. There are many products that are made specifically for removing these items you’re your paint and car. The resounding answer from the experts was Meguiar’s bug and tar cleaner. Remove all the contaminants and follow the directions (some products can remove paint if not used correctly). Expert tip: 3M and other manufacturers make a plastic shield that can be applied over areas of your car’s paint like bumpers and behind the tires to protect from contaminants and rock chips. Refer to Car Care for more information.

Use a cleaner polish: This will remove any left over stubborn contaminates like ground in bug splatter on your painted bumper, acid rain etching, bird drop spots, and minor scratches. Use a circular motion, just like for wax. Follow the directions for that particular cleaner polish (some require a wet or damp applicator pad others don’t). Do the car one section at a time and use a clean section of cloth to buff once dry. Most cleaner polishes will dry to a whitish haze. Be sure to buff off all the haze and residue from the cleaner polish. When done the car finish will be really smooth. Expert tip: for deeper scratches, contaminants, etc… you can use an orbital buffer or polisher to apply the cleaner polish. Be careful and use low rpm’s (under 2000) anything above this and you risk burning the paint.

Apply several coats of polish or wax: There is a big difference between car wax and car polish. Car wax is usually a blend of carnauba and other waxes which will give a deep, wet look and new car shine. It comes in both a liquid and a paste, and it will not last as long as a car polish. Car wax is also less effective in high temperatures and can actually melt on hot areas like the hood. Car polish is a polymer blend usually with no wax. Car polishes can last 1 year between coats and is very durable protection for your paint. The experts recommend a car polish with Teflon in it for maximum protection and durability. The experts love the extra, deeper shine from car wax, but all agreed it was better suited for car shows. Whichever you choose, they are both applied the same way. Apply in a circular motion and let it dry to a haze. Then buff dry with a clean terry cloth or microfiber towel. Expert tip: Don’t use regular towels or diaper cloths as they can trap dirt particles and similar and leave scratch patterns in your finish. A microfiber cloth works best for removing dried car polish or car wax haze. 2 to 3 coats are recommended for maximum protection and shine. A good rule is to reapply the car polish or car wax at least 2 times per year. Expert tip: Apply car wax, not car polish (as car polish will leave streaks and smudges on glass), to your windows. Do one light coat and completely buff it off. The car wax will work better than the leading brand glass treatment for rain (it will also quite your windshield wipers). Visit Car Care for more information.