Why It’s Not a Good Idea to Leave Your Wipers Up Overnight

I see a lot of cars with the wiper blades popped up in parking lots everywhere in the Quad Cities.

I used think, 'Hmm, genius. That's a great way to keep the blades from being stuck to the windshield when it's this cold and snowy.'

Turns out, that might not be such a great idea. According to the Farmer's Almanac, here are two schools of thought.

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Propping Wipers Up:

• Prevents damage to the wiper motor, should you turn on the ignition and have accidentally left the wipers on (and they’re frozen to the windshield).
• Prevents damaging the rubber, when you have to chisel them away from the windshield.
• Makes clearing away snow and ice from the windshield easier.

Leaving Wipers Down:

I just bought new wiper blades for my car and the wiper manufacturers recommend lifting the wiper blades up before it get icy, to protect the rubber blade, and the American Automobile Association (AAA) claims that leaving wipers up could weaken the springs, but keep in mind if you choose to leave them down, it’s important to give your car enough time to warm up; a powerful defroster should let those frozen blades loosen from the windshield.

Which way do you choose to leave your wipers when it's cold, snowy or freezing in the Quad Cities?