I use rainX and the rainX washer fluid. Hardly use my wipers in the rain unless it’s just a mist

My experience with Rain-X was that it was great in light to moderate rain. Heavy rain required wipers to keep up. Use of wipers would require another application of Rain-X and there would be a build up of Rain-X at the edge of the wiper arc. In my case traveling through a snow storm with oncoming Semi trucks and slush, Rain-X couldn't clear a splashed windshield fast enough. Even trucks traveling in my direction splashed slush on our truck enough that wipers were required to see. I just wish I knew about buffing windshield glass before we left. Would have been a much more comfortable 6 hours through the storm.

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Originally posted by darthfuster:


LOL okay, I used a product by Chemtec called Invisible Glass Glass Stripper. There are other products by Meguire's etc., but the fact is, you could probably do the same with tooth paste or baking soda. It seems my windshield had a super thin film of mineral deposits like hard water deposits on it. Couldn't see it while the glass was dry but it made clearing wet glass impossible. The compound I used felt like gritty toothpaste when rubbed between my fingers. I bought some 5" buffing pads and stuck one to my hook and loop orbital sander. Followed the instructions from there. Took about ten minutes.

Aaaaa, a specialized glass compound specially made for compounding glass. Veeeery clever... Thank you.

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Originally posted by ranger312:
I tried Rain X 20 years ago and hated it. Rain X seemed to put a film on the windshield. I cleaned it off and have never tried it again. Something wrong with me or has the product changed in 20 yrs?

Same thing happened to me about 20 years ago, only I was never able to get it off. Ended up replacing the windshield and won't use it again.

I occasionally use Bartender’s Friend with a >>white<< Scotch pad on the windshield. It removes all the residue and leaves the window clean . It sheds the water great due to a very clean window. I scrub it prior to washing the entire vehicle. Better than Rain-X in my opinion.

I've tried a number of Rain-X products a couple times over the years. Not a fan of any Rain-X products.

Aquapel>Rain X

4-6 months v. 2 weeks

Polymer bonded to windshield v. silcone solution

No chatter on windshield v. chatter as wears.

Takes longer to put on v. you have to do it often

I've used a lot of Rain X and it's cheap and readily available. But I'd never use it again if Aquapel was available.

About $9 for Aquapel for a single application but so worth the cost relative to performance.

Using Aquapel and Bosch Icon wipers with a car that's outside all the time, I can get two years out of the wipers.

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Originally posted by RogueJSK:
With applications of Rain-X, combined with Rain-X washer fluid, you rarely have to turn your wipers on in the first place. All the water just beads up and runs right off.

I do this and Bosch blades, and I’ve driven through damn floods where people were pulling off the road and I was G2G. Rain X, solid blades, AWD, and proper tires for the inclement weather and I can hammer through it safely and quickly.

A. Hand wash your vehicle with car soap. Use wool mitt and wash windshield

B. Dry car

C. Ensure car is at 72 degrees F or warmer and apply Rain_X per directions.

D. Install new blades, like Bosch.

I first tried Rain-X on a cycle windshield and helmet faceshield in the 80's, with "poor" results at first.

It shed bugs and rain better, but left greasy smears.

While cleaning the smearing I realized I hadn't properly finished the application and had left an excessive amount of invisible product on the surfaces.

After thoroughly cleaning and polishing with a damp cotton cloth, the results were amazing! Rain droplets were repelled, moth dust didn't stick, and the guts would slip off at speed leaving no residue.

Secret is in prep, removing the invisible "excess", and giving it a spitshine type polish at the end. Let it dry like kiwi, then polish.

quote:

Invisible Glass Glass Stripper

Just ordered a kit on Bezosworld, under $10 delivered to the front door, going to try it on my 03 F150 windows, they get some overspray from the sprinklers and leave hard water spots.

https://www.amazon.com/Invisib...s/dp/B07YP6Q437?th=1

Ditto Aquapel. I first learned of it on this forum a decade ago.

Yes it is more work to apply than Rain-X but it is orders of magnitude better.

Thousands of vids on Youtube WRT cleaning windows by those that detail autos. This was informative...not sure if it applies to windshields.

I got karma'd some AquaPel from one of our members years ago. That stuff was %1000 times easier to apply & lasted x10 times longer than RainX.

Thinking off it I should go grab some for the car. It's been years since I've used anything. But I tell you... Aquapel.. I could drive in a full on monsoon with no wipers even on. Stuff was like a magic forcefield.

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Originally posted by ranger312:
I tried Rain X 20 years ago and hated it. Rain X seemed to put a film on the windshield. I cleaned it off and have never tried it again. Something wrong with me or has the product changed in 20 yrs?

The application is all about how well you remove the product once it hazes over. You really have to work at it and I go through several microfiber towels in the process I don't get smears and I get about 3-6 months depending on how often it rains.

Use STEEL WOOL if you want to properly clean your neglected glass:

Clean your windshield the best you think you can. Then, take 0000 steel wool (that's four-ought or four ott, not sure what is correct to say) and soapy water and polish the glass. Don't touch the paint or trim (tape it off if you need to). Rinse it off well and do a final clean with good glass cleaner (like Sprayway, Stoner, or Windex).

Not a fan of Rain-x. Seemed to have side effects after heavy use (used to use it in the 90's driving back and forth cross-country).

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DonDraper,

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Originally posted by Lineman101:
I occasionally use Bartender’s Friend ...

That would be Bar Keeper's Friend.

You want to rinse thoroughly after use and try to keep it off the paint, as it contains oxalic acid.

Raining today. It’s like a brand new windshield.

I don't care for the RainX additive or their washer fluid - bugs seem to smear much more with that. Rainx compound works well for me. I usually wash the windows inside/out with straight isopropyl alcohol, then windex and then treat with a 'ceramic' spray detail wax (meguirs or groits garage which I use on my fiberglass hulled boat).

I did buy some 'bug' windshield washer fluid when down in Oklahoma a couple years ago at... uhhh... Love gas station (it was a monster one just south of Oklahoma city)? Anyway it was their own brand. We need that up here in MN. Bug guts came right off!

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Originally posted by ArtieS:

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Originally posted by darthfuster:
...

Turns out there’s a remedy. You can buff your windshield with a compound. It cuts right through whatever is on the glass. ...

What's the compound that you used?

IMAR makes a really good one I use on big money yacht windshields.

This:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/27429...1738f8c263d166b12635