There are two distinct groups of drivers on the road: the competent and the reckless. And you certainly don’t want to be in the latter category — even if you wouldn’t admit to being in it.

However, reckless drivers don’t buy or fit wiper refills to their cars. This means you’re already one step ahead of them by making this decision today — and you’re the competent driver that reckless drivers want to emulate.

You drive skilfully and swiftly respond to hazards on the road, proven by your vigilance in refilling your wipers today.

If you’re driving in the rain, and your wipers are streaking and screeching while in use, you can’t see the road ahead. The screeching wipers are also very noisy, which is distracting and can damage your windscreen.

With poor visibility, you’re going to drive more slowly, which might back up traffic and cause you to reach your destination slower.

You also don’t want to be that driver who’s more prone to accidents and incidents on the road.

Changing out your old, noisy, worn-out wipers with wiper refills will help you to drive more competently and keep you as the driver reckless drivers want to be.

Wiper refills (or blade refills as they are sometimes referred to) are a practical solution since they only replace the rubber strip that gets damaged instead of the entire wiper blade.

Let’s get started by replacing your cracked and brittle strips with new refills by guiding you on:

• Buying the right refills vs wiper blades for your vehicle

• Fitting the new blade refills into your windscreen wipers

• The best choice between wiper blades and blade refills

For this first step, you need a tape measure.

1. Measure the length and width of your car's wiper blade. The length is the distance from one end of the wiper blade to the other and the width is the distance between the blade claws and that strip holding down the rubber.
   
   It’s important to measure accurately to get the right fit for your wiper.
   
   
2. Buy the wiper refills or blades that match the length and width of your blades at an auto parts store
   

Tip: If you cannot find refills that match the length of your blades, buy the closest to your size and cut them using a knife to match your length. Ensure the width of the wiper refill matches your blade width.

If you purchase a refill that’s wider than your blade, you'll struggle with fitting it into your wiper. A narrower refill, meanwhile, leaves your metal frame exposed, which will damage your windscreen and also cause the metal to corrode.

For the following steps, you’ll need these tools:

• Combined pliers

• A pair of scissors or a knife

• A flat-head screwdriver

Although you can change your wiper blade refill without disengaging the wiper from the wiper arm, removing it will give you more freedom to work and prevent damage to your windscreen if you accidentally drop one of your tools.

Follow these steps to disconnect the wiper blade from the wiper arm.

1. Pull the wiper arm away from the windscreen until it stands upright.

2. Gently turn the wiper blade until it's 90 degrees to the wiper arm.

3. Press the tab on the connector and slide the wiper blade down until it disconnects.

4. Lay the wiper arm back on your windscreen.

Get rid of the worn-out rubber blades that were screeching, squeaking, or streaking by following these steps.

1. Locate the metal reinforcing clip at the end of the rubber blade and push it in, using the pliers to release the rubber strip.

2. Once the rubber has snapped out of the blade claws, slide it out using the pliers. The rubber should come off with two metal rails on each side.

3. Take out the two metal rails on the sides of the rubber and save them for when you need them to insert the new refill.

To insert the new refill, you’ll need to place back the metal clips you set aside in step 3.

1. Insert the metal rails into the profile of your new refill. The metal rails have hooks that bite into your refill and prevent them from sliding out.
   
   Note that the metal rails have a curve that matches the shape of the wiper. Ensure you fit the blade while following that curve for a proper fit of the refill.
   

2. Slide the refill on the wiper blade and push it back under the blade claws until it gets to the last retaining clip. Ensure the blade refill goes under the blade claws and is held tightly to avoid scratching your windscreen
   

3. If the refill is longer than the frame, cut the excess parts using a knife or scissors.
   

4. Push back the metal reinforcing with the pliers to ensure the blade is properly locked into the wiper blade.

With your rubber insert successfully changed, it’s now time to reinstall the wiper blade. Raise your wiper arm to an upright position as you did in step 2 and then:

1. Open the tab connector by pressing it down on the wiper blade.
   
   If your wiper blade had a clip inside the connection, use the flathead screwdriver to push it back.
   

2. Slide your wiper blade onto the wiper arm until it locks in place
   

3. Check your connection by squeezing it to make sure it’s sturdy. If everything feels firm, then your connection is good.
   
   

4. Gently lay the wiper back on the windscreen
   

5. Turn on the wipers and ensure they’re working smoothly and silently.

If your wipers are making a screeching noise while in use, you’ll need to repeat step 3.

For an easy and convenient fit for your wipers, consider replacing the entire wiper blade with Wipertech wiper blades.

Wipertech wiper blades are easy to buy and even easier to install—in less than five minutes. Best of all, our blades are embedded with Teflon and graphite for a smooth and silent wipe. The dual-cut blades also reduce friction and work flawlessly in all weather conditions.

Although wiper blade refills seem like an ideal solution to poor wiper performance, the buying and fitting process is time-consuming and rather complicated. If you’re not hopping from one auto parts store to another looking for the exact fit of your refill, you’re fiddling around with pliers trying to pry off the blade from the wiper.

The table below compares the buying and installation process of Wipertech wiper blades and that of blade refills.

Order your new wiper blades today, and we’ll ship them directly to you in 3–5 days anywhere in Australia.

Learn more about us from our frequently asked questions or visit our Wipertech blog for more guides and buying tips on wiper blades.

Do you sell wiper blade refills?

No, we don’t. Our Wipertech wiper blades are the solution to the difficult buying and fitting process of refills. Our simplified buying process will ensure you find the right wipers for your car once you enter the car’s details on our website.

How do I install my new wiper blades?

Fitting your new wiper blades is really quick and easy. You only need to disengage your old wiper blades and insert the new ones. Follow the basic stages in step 2 and step 5 in this guide or refer to this step-by-step instruction guide.

Once you place an order with us, we’ll also send you an instruction video on how to fit your particular vehicle.

What if my wiper blades aren’t a perfect fit?

At Wipertech, we have a Perfect Fit Guarantee for our wipers. If the wipers aren’t an easy fit, we’ll organise for a(n):

• Easy return of the wipers

• Quick delivery on your exchange

• Fast, full refund