Simple tips to keep a clear view on the outside world

You wouldn't watch a movie through broken glasses, so why drive with a cracked windshield?

“Maintaining visibility is crucial for driving safety,” said Ron Fausnight, technology specialist at RainX.

Fall’s rust-colored leaves are a picturesque part of the landscape and reminder to get your vehicle ready for winter. Soon enough, the seasonal shift will result in a frosted windshield, thick fog and heavy rains.

Stains and water spots unnoticed during the summer tend to appear when the sun sits lower in the sky. Wipers battered by summer heat tend to smear dust across the windshield during the first storms of the fall.

Fausnight suggests installing new wiper blades and adding a specialized windshield cleaner as one way to prepare your car for fall and winter.

“As a general rule, experts recommend changing blades about every six months or whenever the wiper begins to degrade,” Fausnight said.

Wiper blades aren’t the only way to improve your visibility.

Fausnight also had these suggestions for keeping your windows clear throughout the fall and winter:

• If your sprayers aren’t dispensing fluid properly, there’s a chance the liquid inside could be frozen, especially if it’s filled with a product designed to remove bug grime from your windshield. Summer fluids contain a lot of water that will freeze easily and prevent your washer fluid pump from operating.
• Fill your windshield cleaner reservoir with a solution designed to repel water and prevent the glass from fogging. These solutions make it easier to see and help reduce ice or snow build-up, which also makes your windshield easier to clean.
• Do you live in an area prone to winter ice? Solutions with anti-ice additives can keep your windshield clear but are considered environmentally sensitive and may not be approved for all areas.