How To Prevent Frozen Windscreen Wipers in Winter

The colder months can prove to be a challenge to many drivers across the country. With icy roads, poor tyre grip, and iced-over windows, there are many issues to potentially face - including frozen windscreen wipers - a problem that is often overlooked.

But, it’s important to remove any ice and snow from your car windscreen, as driving in this condition is actually illegal, and could lead you to face a fine of £60, or penalty points on your license (under the CU20 penalty code).

Yet in the morning rush of getting to work or taking the kids to school, many Brits are often left with little time to de-ice their vehicles. And whilst it can be tempting to try and scrape away any ice with your wipers, using frozen wiper blades to de-ice your car will make the problem much worse.

If you do choose to use your windscreen wipers when frozen, you run the risk of any jagged ice damaging the rubber edge of the wiper, leaving your windscreen wipers not working properly - meaning you’ll have to fully replace them. 

If you find your windscreen wipers are frozen to your car windscreen, you may consider scraping them off - but this will not only damage your wipers but potentially leave you needing to fix your windscreen itself as any nicks caused can progress into cracks in your windscreen. So unless you’re wanting to have some car glass repair done, it’s important to completely de-ice your car first, before using your wipers.

But, if you plan ahead for icy conditions, you can save yourself a lot of hassle, and the team here at Group 1 Automotive have shared 3 ways to prevent the issue of frozen windscreen wipers - without damaging both your wipers and your windscreen.

1. Put the wipers in the service position

One of the easiest methods to prevent a windscreen wiper from freezing to the glass is to place them in the service position and fold them up. 

The service position is when the windscreen wipers are in a vertical position, and by doing so, you can minimise the risk of the wiper blades sticking to the windscreen during cold and icy conditions. 

2. Use a windscreen cover

Another one of the easiest and most effective solutions to protect your windscreen wipers during winter is to use a car windscreen cover. These covers are often made of aluminium foil and act as a barrier to prevent the windscreen from freezing overnight when temperatures drop to their lowest.

This not only helps you avoid the tedious task of scraping ice from your windscreen, but also helps to protect the rubber on your wiper blades from any potential damage that could be caused by frost and ice.

3. Wrap your wipers in plastic sleeves

Finally, another method to prevent frozen windscreen wipers is to use clear plastic sleeves as a protective barrier. To do this, simply wrap the sleeves around the wiper arms, ensuring they form a ‘tubular’ cover around the wiper blades. 

Then, secure the plastic sleeves in place using adhesive tape, but be careful not to wrap them too tightly. Leaving a bit of slack will make it much easier to remove the protective covers when they are no longer needed, but you should be able to peel the tape off easily - just be sure to not pull too hard, as this could snap or damage the wipers.

This simple technique helps shield the rubber blades from frost and ice, keeping them in good condition and ready for use, as well as being a cost-effective solution that requires minimal effort, especially during the colder months.