You’d never dream of reading, working or walking around with smudges, scratches or greasy fingerprints on your eyeglasses. Then why drive with wipers that leave streaks and smears on your windshield, especially when your safety depends on seeing clearly? Industry surveys show that one out of every seven cars has worn-out wipers. That’s shocking, considering that the federal government reports 450,000 injury-related crashes every year in inclement weather. Here’s how to banish streaks on your windshield for good:

• Wipe your wipers. Every time you squeegee your windows at a gas station while waiting for a fill-up, wipe the rubber blades with a paper towel dipped in windshield washer fluid. It not only removes grime and oxidized rubber that lead to streaks but also helps the blades last longer.

• Replace the rubber. When even regular cleaning fails to eliminate streaks, you need to replace the rubber. Blades usually last between 12 and 18 months before they dry out, crack or develop pits on the edge. On most wiper designs, you can remove the bracket from the wiper arm and simply slide out the rubber insert by squeezing the metal ribs together and pulling. (Tip: to reach the bracket easily, turn on the wipers and then shut off the car when the wiper arm swings to the most accessible position. Using the wiper control alone will return the arms to their lowest position.)

• Buy new blades. Sometimes, replacing the rubber insert alone won’t completely eliminate streaks. The thin metal ribs that hold the rubber in place get bent or lose their springiness, preventing uniform contact along the length of the blade. Then you have to buy a new blade assembly.

• Consider “bracketless” blades. More and more new vehicles now come with so-called bracketless blades as original equipment. Two long leaf springs hold the rubber-wiping element in the place; an aerodynamic spoiler covers the springs, and a welded connector attaches the assembly directly to the wiper arm. Without a bracket and joints, the low-profile design resists ice and snow buildup better than conventional blades and looks sleeker besides. Such premium blades are pricey ($20 or more apiece), but they last longer. On most cars, you can replace your old bracket blades with bracketless ones by consulting an auto parts dealer or checking online at www.boschautoparts.com/Resources/VehiclePartFinder.