Wing mirrors keep you and other road users safe. Dirty glass, a stiff folding mechanism or a mirror that shakes in the wind can stop you spotting a car in the next lane in time.
Looking after them is simple but needs a gentle touch, as glass and plastic scratch easily. Below is how to wash, lubricate and protect your mirrors so they work in slush and frost alike.
What you will need
Important: After treating the housing and hinges, always clean the mirror glass with glass cleaner until dry: a film of lubricant on the glass distorts the image. Do not fold a power mirror by hand if the handbook forbids it, and do not operate the folding motor when the mechanism is frozen.
Step 1
Adjust the mirrors
Sit in your normal driving position and set the mirrors so the side of the car is just visible at the inner edge of the glass. This keeps blind spots to a minimum.
Still take a quick look over your shoulder before changing lanes.
Step 2
Wash the mirrors
Mirrors are often skipped when washing the car. Apply warm water and car shampoo with a sponge in circular movements, then rinse off the suds with a gentle stream of water.
Dry with a soft microfibre cloth or let them air dry. Remove all grit and dirt, as it scratches the glass and causes corrosion in the hinge.
Step 3
Remove insects and stubborn grime from the housing
Dried insects, tree sap and road film often survive shampoo. Apply WD-40 Smart Straw to the mirror housing and the gap between housing and glass, wait a few minutes and wipe off with microfibre. The precision straw reaches the narrow spots.
Then clean the glass with glass cleaner until it is perfectly clear.
Step 4
Lubricate the folding hinge
Fold the mirror and apply WD-40 Smart Straw through the straw into the hinge at its base. Open and fold the mirror several times so it spreads and the mechanism moves without squeaking or sticking.
This helps both manual and power-folding mirrors. Wipe off any excess with a clean cloth.
Step 5
Protect the metal parts
Even under a plastic cover there are metal parts: the pivot, spring and bracket. Where you can reach them, apply WD-40 Specialist White Lithium Grease: it stays on loaded metal-to-metal parts, resists rain and works in frost and heat.
Wipe the rubber seal between the mirror base and the door with a cloth sprayed with WD-40 Specialist Silicone so it does not crack or freeze.
Step 6
Check the electrics
If the power folding or heating works intermittently, a corroded connector in the door is often to blame. Switch off the ignition, unplug the connector and treat it with WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner.
Reconnect once fully dry and check every mirror function.
Tip: Before the first frosts lubricate the mirror hinges and treat the seals with silicone: after wet snow and a night below zero the mirror will not freeze in place and the folding motor will not break.
What next
Wash the mirrors with the car and lubricate the hinges twice a year, in autumn and spring. The same WD-40 Smart Straw is useful for door hinges, locks and check straps.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».