Yes. A blade's natural rubber has the potential to deteriorate after about six months.

Yes. Windshield wiper blades withstand most types of weather. They are most affected by exposure to sunlight and ozone. There is little that can be done to reduce ozone exposure, but limiting the amount of time your blades are exposed to direct sunlight can help prolong the life of the wiper blade.

No. Windshield wiper blades will not melt in the sun, but overexposure to the sun can harden the rubber, causing the blade to lose its ability to conform to the shape of the windshield, which can degrade performance.

Yes. It's recommended that windshield wiper blades be cleaned periodically to remove road grime, bugs, and other debris. If your windshield wiper blades smear water, try cleaning the windshield and then your wiper blades with hot, soapy water or another non-abrasive liquid.

Yes. It's important to change windshield wiper blades immediately when the wiper element becomes torn so the wiper blade's frame does not come in contact with your windshield. Only the rubber element of the windshield wiper blade should come in contact with your windshield.