Stop Lifting Your Wiper Blades Before a Storm — Orillia Dodge Explains Why

Lifting your wipers before a storm feels smart. This Ontario dealer says it stretches the springs, streaks the glass — and wind can crack your windshield.

Orillia Dodge is a Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealer in Orillia, Ontario — in business for over 45 years, right in the middle of real Canadian winters. Their TikTok is small (892 followers) but their winter advice is solid, and this wiper-blade video busts a habit half of Canada has: lifting the wiper blades up off the windshield before a snowstorm so they do not freeze to the glass. It feels like the smart move. The dealer says it does more harm than good — and explains exactly why.

Watch: Many people lift their wiper blades before a storm to stop them from freezing, but it does more harm than good.

What to take from it

• Lifted blades stretch the springs. Wiper arms left standing lose tension — which means less pressure on the glass and streaks the next time you use them.
• Wind can slam them back. A strong gust can throw a raised arm onto the windshield hard enough to crack the glass, snap the arm, or tear the rubber off.
• Use a cover instead. A windshield cover — or even a plastic bag over the blades — stops them freezing without any of the damage.
• Let the defrost do the work. Clear the snow and ice properly and let the defroster warm the glass before you switch the wipers on.

Follow Orillia Dodge (@orilliadodge) on TikTok for more.

← Back to all articles