Daily I get into my vehicle, turn on the engine, and drive away. If it is a hot day, I choose to turn on the air conditioning or retract my convertible roof. On cool days I adjust the heat system, to ensure I am comfortable as I am driving. When it is raining, snowing or foggy I utilise my Wiper blades to clear the windshield.

I never as a rule think of how these things evolved for my comfort, I just assume that vehicles have these features to boost my driving experience. However, as winter nears, it led me to consider the Windscreen wipers and what a great invention they are.

I have searched for information on this subject and established that in 1903, when the first windshields were added to automobiles, an inventor by the name of J H Apjohn came up with the notion of Windscreen wipers in the form of brushes which swept up and down the windshield to clear it. I imagine that the brushes almost certainly caused quite a few scuffs to the windshield, so in 1905, when the American inventor, Mary Anderson, patented the swinging arm style of windshield wiper, with a rubber blade, this must have been keenly accepted by the automotive industry.

These early Windscreen wipers called for the operator to move a lever in the car to work the wipers, so the next big move was towards electric Windscreen wipers. A dentist from Hawaii, Dr Ormand Wall, invented the electric wipers in 1917, some 12 years after Mary Anderson’s first Wiper Blades were added to motor vehicles.

All Windscreen wipers had rubber blades until relatively recently. The problems found with these were that owing to changes in temperature, heat in summer, frost in winter, the rubber rotted and the Wiper blades needed replacing in a comparatively quick period of time.

Silicone wiper blades are now also offered and these are less susceptible to temperature variations than their rubber forerunners. While the Silicone wiper blades are a little more dear than the rubber Windscreen wipers, they frequently come with a guarantee to not rot or split, as occurs with the rubber wipers, and also allege to be able to follow the contours of the windshield better, giving a cleaner sweep.

We require much from these great little inventions. I expect to push or pull or turn a stick on my driving wheel and get an instant effect from the Wiper blades. They are needed to clear dirt and flies from my windshield in the summer. When the roads are grimy, I want the grime to be cleared from my windscreen straight away, to give me good visibility. If it is icy early in the day, I turn on the heater and impatiently switch the Windscreen wipers on to clear the windshield fast. In winter the thick snow is given no mercy.

Because of the above I am thankful to the ingenious Mary Anderson, the inventor of Windscreen wipers.I also marvel at the type of mind that could come up with such an invention out of just being faced with a problem. It’s a lesson to us all when we’re facing adversity.

Each day I climb into my vehicle, start the engine, and drive off. If it is a hot day, I decide to turn on the air conditioning or put down my convertible roof. On cool days I set the heat system, to be certain I am comfy as I am driving. When it is raining, snowing or foggy I utilise my Wiper blades to clear the windscreen.

I never generally think of how these things developed for my comfort, I just assume that vehicles have these facilities to improve my driving experience. However, as winter nears, it caused me to consider the Windscreen wipers and what a wonderful invention they are.

I have searched for information on this area and found that in 1903, when the first windscreens were added to automobiles, an inventor by the name of J H Apjohn came up with the idea of Windscreen wipers in the form of brushes which swept up and down the windshield to clear it. I imagine that the brushes most likely caused quite a few scratches to the windshield, so in 1905, when the American inventor, Mary Anderson, patented the swinging arm style of windshield wiper, with a rubber blade, this must have been eagerly accepted by the motor industry.

These early Windscreen wipers called for the driver to move a lever in the vehicle to operate the wipers, so the next major move was towards electric Windscreen wipers. A dentist from Hawaii, Dr Ormand Wall, invented the electric wipers in 1917, some 12 years after Mary Anderson’s first Wiper Blades were added to vehicles.

All Windscreen wipers had rubber blades until relatively recently. The problems found with these were that due to temperature changes, heat in summer, frost in winter, the rubber perished and the Wiper blades needed replacing in a relatively short period of time.

Silicone wiper blades are now also offered and these are less at risk from temperature variants than their rubber forerunners. Though the Silicone wiper blades are slightly more pricey than the rubber Windscreen wipers, they frequently come with a guarantee to not rot or split, as happens with the rubber wipers, and also claim to be able to follow the contours of the windshield better, giving a cleaner sweep.

We request a lot from these wonderful little inventions. I expect to press or pull or twist at a stick on my driving wheel and receive an instant effect from the Wiper blades. They are expected to clear dust and bugs from my windshield in the summer. When the roads are grimy, I want the mud to be removed from my windscreen promptly, to give me clear vision. If it is icy early in the day, I switch on the heater and impatiently turn the Windscreen wipers on to clear the windscreen fast. In winter the thick snow is given no mercy.

Because of the above I give thanks to the ingenious Mary Anderson, the inventor of Windscreen wipers.I also marvel at the type of mind that could come up with such an invention out of just being faced with a problem. It’s a lesson to us all when we’re facing adversity.

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.