Hardy wiper blades?

[John Plum]

Does Rain-X help keep the screen clear of smudging as the wiper sweeps?


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[Hell Razor5543]

Rain-X is a wax coating for the windscreen. It stops the capillary action of the water. What then happens is that the droplets remain round (rather than flowing together) so you don't get weird refractions, and, as the droplets are not sticking to the windscreen, the pressure of the wind blows the droplets off the top of the windscreen. I have been using it for years, and highly recommend it. It also means that when you do use the wipers all the water with wiper range gets moved (assuming your wipers are in reasonable condition).

The main advantage is the clarity of vision in rain. At motorways speeds I do not need to use the wipers, and I believe that I have better vision than if I did not use it. I also feel that ice does not stick to the windscreen when I have to scrape it. However, there are two disadvantages (that I can think of, at least). Because you have such clear vision you may not pick up on how wet the road is until you need to stop in a hurry (clenched buttocks time!), and the other is that, if it is drizzling and after dark, you may not know that the windscreen is wet until you pass under a street light, when all the droplets momentarily fluoresce and cause a brief lose of vision.

You can get Rain-X as either a neat solution or as a screen cleaner combined. I prefer the neat version. I do have to get the windscreen clean first, but I feel that I get a better result. You can get the screen cleaner variant from Asda for £4 (and no, I don't have shares in either Asda or Rain-X). I have got the neat stuff from Tesco, Halfords, and B&Q!

[John Plum]

Thanks HellRazor. Only recently I was wondering how I could deal with refractions and lack of clarity, even with good wipers and screenwash - for safety when driving long distance at good pace with children, driving in and out of rain over 6 hours, with bright sunlight or headlights.

Quite important.


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[Hell Razor5543]

The most important thing is to get the windscreen clean first. When my shoulders are feeling up to it I can take an hour (or longer) to get it clean enough (no smears, streaks, etc.), and I will then apply the Rain-X. I will use a normal glass cleaner and a jumbo roll of kitchen towel (from Poundland), and then, once it is clean, polish it with a clean cloth. Then I get on with the Rain-X.

I always have glass cleaner and paper towel in the boot of my car. I remember hearing somewhere (probably on the radio) that if I were to have an accident, and the police had cause to believe it was down to visibility issues (dirty windscreen) I could be fined up to £1,000. £2 for cleaning materials or £1,000 fine! Even I am not that brain dead!

A bottle of neat Rain-X should last a couple of years (for one car). I don't know how long the screen cleaner variant lasts.

[waynedance]

Going to look in to getting some of this rain x myself.

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[John Plum]

I'm going to ask a neighbour who's a chauffeur with his own Mercedes if he uses it, and if not, why not?


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[Northern_Mike]

I have lots of it. Do you want some? I prefer not to use it.

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[John Plum]

I'd like to try it, yes. Where are you located? Send me a pm and I could send you postage.


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[isisalar]

Used Rain X once on the old VSX, the wipers started juddering and squeaking immediately and even after changing blades the problem persisted. Shame, because the beading effect was very impressive.
If it's of any interest to anyone, when I was running a windscreen repairing business, I discovered that the special glass repairing resin would not stick to a Rain X treated screen at all.
Cheers
Paul

[harryp]

Update - . Popped into Tesco for some of their replacement aero blades yesterday only to find they have stopped stocking them. Pity as they were much better than others I have tried.
Regards

[Stickyfinger]

I use RainX, but not on the windscreen....it is not designed for that.

Most of the race guys use it (do you know how crap a Healeys wipers are at 120mph..LOL) as they clean and replace it after each run. I used it as a Biker on my visor.
On the house windows...works great, self cleaning

On the car however I use it only on side and back windows as I dislike its juddering at a drizzel level of rain.

[Hell Razor5543]

I use it on Gracies' windscreen with no ill effects . I have also used it on previous cars, no problems except when it is starting to 'fade', and then I would clean the screen, re-apply the Rain X, and jobs a good 'un.

A side effect that Rain X has is that ice does not stick to it well, so scraping the windows clear is quite easy, even on really cold mornings.