Everyone Puts Their Windshield Wipers Up in the Snow—Here’s Why You Shouldn’t

You see snow in the forecast. You park outside. You pop your windshield wipers up like it’s a universal winter hack. Everyone else is doing it. It feels smart, like you’re buying yourself an easy scrape in the morning.

You’re also turning your wipers into little wind-catching levers. Once heavy snow loads the blade and a gust hits the arm from the side, parts can bend, chatter, or wear out fast. AAA Northeast notes that putting wipers up can stress the spring that holds the arms against the glass, depending on the car and conditions, in its explainer on leaving windshield wipers up in the snow.

Why the “Wipers Up” Habit Backfires

Wiper arms are built to press a blade evenly against glass while the car moves forward. When you prop them up, you change the forces and expose delicate bits to winter abuse. AAA Central Penn warns that lifting the arms before a storm can harm the wipers because you expose the plastic gearing and other parts to wind and freezing weather, which can lead to brittle plastic, breakage, and wipers that chatter when you need them most. That warning sits in its guide on how to winterize your car.

The better play starts with prevention. Keep the wipers down and cover the windshield when snow is expected. A dedicated cover works, but a blanket can save you in a pinch. You’re trying to stop snow and ice from bonding to the glass and the blades in the first place.

Next, de-ice like you want to keep your glass intact. Don’t yank a frozen blade off the windshield. Let the defroster warm the base of the glass, then lift the wipers and gently break the bond at the rubber edge. Use winter-grade washer fluid or a commercial de-icer if the blades still feel glued down. Skip the “hot water” shortcut: AAA warns that hot water on a frozen windshield can crack the glass from the sudden temperature change in its winter windshield wiper guidance.

Finally, treat wipers like brake pads. They wear out. If your blades streak, skip, or chatter after a freeze, replace them. Old rubber turns stiff, and winter turns stiff rubber into a visibility problem.

My Verdict

If you park outdoors at work, in an apartment lot, or on the street, the “wipers up” trick feels like a small win against winter. It’s not. It’s a habit that can leave you with worse wiping and worse visibility when the storm ends and you still have to drive.

Keep the wipers down. Cover the glass when you can. Warm the windshield, free the blades gently, and use the right fluid.