# Why lift windshield wipers off glass? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067 "2012-01-10T18:56:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/21 "2012-01-12T04:02:39Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > > [@60wag](#): > > > > I > > If it really helps, I wonder why none of the auto manufacturers design them to lift? > > 😕 > > Virtually all wiper arms lift. > > Decades ago, some recessed wipers could only be lifted if they were stopped short of being recessed. Still, the arm was spring loaded and was able to be retracted from the windshield. I believe what \*\*60wag \*\*meant was that he wondered why wipers aren’t designed to always be lifted off the glass by the drive mechanism whenever they’re parked. That way they’d never take a set, they’d never get iced onto the glass, etc. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/23 "2013-05-03T00:51:26Z")
Reported. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/24 "2013-05-03T01:06:24Z")
I don’t have any idea what those ‘Blade Boot’ things cost, but I’ll bet you a ‘dollar against a dime’ that you can buy a 4’ piece of ‘foam’ pipe insulation for a _ **lot** _ less than what those things cost! That will probably work just as well, and for a heck of a lot less money. 😉 The size that will fit on a 1-1/2" water pipe will probably be large enough, cut it in half and slip it over your wiper blade. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/25 "2013-05-03T01:14:17Z")
ETA _ **$24.95 + shipping!** _ You gotta be an idiot, to pay $25.00+ for a piece of foam rubber! I’m glad **kenobi 65** reported that post. It saved me from having to do it. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/26 "2013-05-03T01:43:50Z")
I’m going to recommend these to my neighbor. Then I’ll be able to get a pair for free. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/27 "2013-05-03T01:50:52Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > I’m going to recommend these to my neighbor. Then I’ll be able to get a pair for free. Your neighbor is an idiot? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![jstuef23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/59ef9b/32.png) [@jstuef23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jstuef23)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/28 "2014-03-04T19:44:26Z")
I am from Michigan and now live in Raleigh North Carolina. The two times we’ve ever had snow here, I See people putting up there wipers. I think it is the most ridiculous thing ever, And it has to be a southern thing. It makes me laugh every time I’ve seen it. 20 years in Michigan have never ever seen it. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/29 "2014-03-04T19:48:53Z")
> [@jstuef23](#): > > I am from Michigan and now live in Raleigh North Carolina. The two times we’ve ever had snow here, I See people putting up there wipers. I think it is the most ridiculous thing ever, And it has to be a southern thing. It makes me laugh every time I’ve seen it. 20 years in Michigan have never ever seen it. Well, if you’ve never seen it, it must be stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/30 "2014-03-04T19:51:30Z")
But zombies never stick to the windshield. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/31 "2014-03-04T20:04:34Z")
> [@jstuef23](#): > > I think it is the most ridiculous thing ever, And it has to be a southern thing. It makes me laugh every time I’ve seen it. Laugh all you want. Mrs. Geek didn’t lift the wipers and they froze to the windshield. When she turned on the wipers, it burned out the wiper motor (nice design there, Dodge…). Have you ever changed the wiper motor on an old Dodge Caravan? It’s not fun. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/32 "2014-03-04T20:12:15Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I find that lifting up the wipers make cleaning the windshield easier. This is it. It’s not hard to remove a frozen wiper from the windshield; that’s what ice scrapers are for. You just make sure to break up the ice with a scraper before going, and also the scrape all the ice off the blade. But it’s a lot easier to brush off the windshield if the blade is not in the way. You have to lift them up anyway to get all the snow off, so why not just do it in advance? It certainly cuts down on the time I need to brush off snow. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/33 "2014-03-04T21:32:21Z")
I have an '05 Subaru Outback and it has a heated area on the windshield right where the wipers go. 😃 I love that feature and I’d really hate to see the price for replacing that windshield. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/34 "2014-03-04T22:23:10Z")
I’ve replaced the windshield on my '04 twice - never saw the bill from the insurance company as glass is always covered here. The feature is nice, but I still lift the wipers when I know ice is coming. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2014, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/35 "2014-03-04T22:32:50Z")
Auto lift upon turn off would be cool as we sometimes get ice that is not forecast here in the AR, OK, MO, KN junction. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2014, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/36 "2014-03-05T02:25:20Z")
Somebody needs to make a tube with a small slit along the side - to slide over the blades and keep them ice-free. The tubes blades come in and a sharp knife come to mind. - he who moved 2000 miles to escape the weather (and many, many other things about the Midwest) ---
**Author:** ![Fred\_60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Fred\_60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fred_60)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/37 "2015-02-05T17:44:00Z")
The idea of lifting wipers off your windows to protect the wiper blade is not smart at all. You should never pull wipers up of the window for long periods of time (other than to clean under them or break ice off them). Here is why. There is a spring in the wiper arm (underneath) and when you put the wiper arm in a position off the window it is stretching the spring. That stretching will permanently damage the spring and prevent the wiper from having proper pressure on the windshield to clean the window properly. Try this to understand this concept. Take a pen spring and stretch it. It never goes back to the original shape. The same is true of the wiper arm spring. Auto supply stores sell devices such as wind deflectors and additional springs to put more pressure on your wiper arm to make sure the wiper stays on you window especially at high speeds(the faster you go the less pressure the wiper has on the glass). It has been a problem for ever (keeping wipers on the glass) and now we have a group of geniuses that think lifting the wiper arms of the window is a good idea. It is not and will cause accidents when people can’t see because the wipers don’t clear the window properly due to lack of pressure on the wiper and glass. Stop it. All you have to do is remember to turn your wipers off when you shut the car off. You have to scrape your window anyway so free the wiper by hand and clear it off. This lazy man idea saves you no time at all because you still have to scrape the window and likely have to break the freezing rain or ice of the wiper even when it is lifted off the window. Just stop doing this it is very bad and potentially dangerous to you and other drivers. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/38 "2015-02-05T17:48:46Z")
I like to leave them up, turn them on and watch the crazy dance they do in the air. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/39 "2015-02-05T19:35:20Z")
> [@Fred\_60](#): > > The idea of lifting wipers off your windows to protect the wiper blade is not smart at all. You should never pull wipers up of the window for long periods of time (other than to clean under them or break ice off them). > > Here is why. There is a spring in the wiper arm (underneath) and when you put the wiper arm in a position off the window it is stretching the spring. That stretching will permanently damage the spring and prevent the wiper from having proper pressure on the windshield to clean the window properly. > > Try this to understand this concept. Take a pen spring and stretch it. It never goes back to the original shape. The same is true of the wiper arm spring. > > Auto supply stores sell devices such as wind deflectors and additional springs to put more pressure on your wiper arm to make sure the wiper stays on you window especially at high speeds(the faster you go the less pressure the wiper has on the glass). It has been a problem for ever (keeping wipers on the glass) and now we have a group of geniuses that think lifting the wiper arms of the window is a good idea. It is not and will cause accidents when people can’t see because the wipers don’t clear the window properly due to lack of pressure on the wiper and glass. > Stop it. > > All you have to do is remember to turn your wipers off when you shut the car off. You have to scrape your window anyway so free the wiper by hand and clear it off. > > This lazy man idea saves you no time at all because you still have to scrape the window and likely have to break the freezing rain or ice of the wiper even when it is lifted off the window. > > Just stop doing this it is very bad and potentially dangerous to you and other drivers. > > :smack: Not sure the physics are correct here. Under a certain amount of ‘stretch’ steal will not be permanently deformed or even fatigue at all. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/40 "2015-02-05T21:03:08Z")
> [@Fred\_60](#): > > The idea of lifting wipers off your windows to protect the wiper blade is not smart at all. You should never pull wipers up of the window for long periods of time (other than to clean under them or break ice off them). > > Here is why. There is a spring in the wiper arm (underneath) and when you put the wiper arm in a position off the window it is stretching the spring. That stretching will permanently damage the spring and prevent the wiper from having proper pressure on the windshield to clean the window properly. > > Try this to understand this concept. Take a pen spring and stretch it. It never goes back to the original shape. The same is true of the wiper arm spring. Length of time doesn’t matter for steel; either you’ve stretched the spring too far, or you haven’t. In the case of the pen spring, you can stretch it a certain distance without permanently distorting it; if you stretch it beyond a certain point, then yes, you will have permanently deformed the spring. For windshield wipers, they are _designed_ to tolerate being raised off of the windshield. This is a deliberate and useful feature for changing the blade inserts, and also for replacing the windshield. > [@](#): > > It has been a problem for ever (keeping wipers on the glass) and now we have a group of geniuses that think lifting the wiper arms of the window is a good idea. It is not and will cause accidents when people can’t see because the wipers don’t clear the window properly due to lack of pressure on the wiper and glass. > Stop it. Been doing it for years on multiple cars, my wipers are just fine, thanks. If your wipers are lame, it’s because your manufacturer designed crappy wipers for your car, or you bought cheap replacement inserts, or your springs have simply rusted/corroded over the years and are now providing a reduced spring constant. > [@](#): > > This lazy man idea saves you no time at all because you still have to scrape the window and likely have to break the freezing rain or ice of the wiper even when it is lifted off the window. What freezing rain? See **leahcim’s** post way up at the top of the thread: it snows, the first part of the snow melts on your warm windshield, and by the end of your work day (or overnight), your windshield cools, freezing your wipers to the glass. This happens even without freezing rain. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067/41 "2015-02-05T21:42:48Z")
Resident of the Great White North here. No comment about whether lifting wipers is smart, stupid, or whatever, but I will say that I have never seen anyone here do it. Maybe it’s more common in the south where you get more frequent freeze/thaw cycles. Typically the wipers don’t freeze up much, or are easily freed. They will only really freeze hard if there is freezing rain, or a thaw/freeze event after rain or snow. I couldn’t really lift mine anyway because they’re a new design that don’t have any spring backings. Instead, the blade itself is tensioned, so that when lifted away from the windshield the blades curl into a sort of semi-circle. I love the low-profile design, but if they froze up in that shape due to freezing rain it would be a worse problem than freezing to the windshield! On those very rare occasions when the blades seem quite firmly stuck, to avoid damaging them I just pour a few ounces of windshield de-icer above them. It’s basically a type of windshield washer fluid but with an even lower freezing point, more like the stuff they use to de-ice airplane wings. Frees them up in a few seconds. I think I’ve only had to do this once this winter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-lift-windshield-wipers-off-glass/609067.md?page=3)