Rain-X

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon 26 Apr, 2004 17:45

Has anyone ever used Rain-X? It is sold by Halfords, and is an excellent rain dispersal treatment for windows.
Rub it on, polish it off, and the rain will simply swirl around as you drive away, leaving clear windows, mirrors etc - just like magic! As the water does not linger on the glass, your windows will also stay cleaner.
The only catch is that the instructions describe it as being 'The invisible windscreen wiper.' I - and other users - have found that if used on windscreens it produces very bad smearing as the wipers 'float' over the silicone coating. If you have this problem the only answer - short of a new screen - is to coat the screen in strong rust-removing acid overnight for a few nights, and wipe/wash/polish it off in the morning, taking care not to damage the paintwork.
It is a great product on side windows - but do not at any cost use it on the screen.
Incidentally, a good rain-dispersal treatment for the rear window is to simply use your favourite body polish (I prefer Autoglym).

Zmeagol · Post by **Zmeagol** » Mon 26 Apr, 2004 18:19

I know what you are referring to Mike, but as I've never had smearing I still prefer to use it on the windscreen--it's especially good at helping the wipers remove bugs. All I can say is that whenever my car is cleaned by the local dealer they manage to remove the coating. Must find out what they use.

Tim

JohnM · Post by **JohnM** » Mon 26 Apr, 2004 18:57

Used Rain-X this weekend (bought in USA but I don't think that it differs).

Previously, in the UK I had used a similiar product called 'Rain Wizard'.

I found Rain-X to be easy to apply but it didn't polish off as easily as Rain Wizard.

I've never had smearing with either product - get a good glass cleaner and make sure that the glass is clean before you apply.

John.

Bryn · Post by **Bryn** » Mon 26 Apr, 2004 19:19

If you are looking for a different product for the same task, I have been using "Rain Kleer" by turtle wax for a few years. It aids with clearing bugs, is excellent in heavy rain and has never smeared under the wipers.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed 28 Apr, 2004 08:58

I must be doing something wrong, as I have always experienced smearing after using Rain-X on windscreens, even on a new screen which has previously been cleaned with Autoglym glass cleaner, and used with new wiper blades.
Am I the only one to have problems?

tetchmeister · Post by **tetchmeister** » Wed 28 Apr, 2004 10:47

Never had any smearing problems with Rain-X, but I do notice the screen 'misting' in the winter, taking longer to clear, than before.

(also I did notice in Halfords the other week a glass cleaning product that claimed to remove all Rain-X type products)

'MC' MarkC · Post by **'MC' MarkC** » Wed 28 Apr, 2004 10:58

Like you tetchmeister, I had the same problem with interior misting during the winter.

However, you can prevent this by Rain-X-ing (sounds like a porn film) the inside of the screen.

Zmeagol · Post by **Zmeagol** » Wed 28 Apr, 2004 11:47

There's another product for that, called Rain-X auto fog.

Tim

Desperado · Post by **Desperado** » Thu 29 Apr, 2004 13:20

I can sympathis, I used to use Rain-X on my Audi..... not again, not going to go near the Z3 with the stuff. The smearing on the windscreen was awfull, one coat of Rain-X was a guarentee for winder misery.

I've started using Autoglim, window clearer, does what it says on the lable and works like a treat.

Ed

tetchmeister · Post by **tetchmeister** » Thu 29 Apr, 2004 14:18

Zmurf wrote:There's another product for that, called Rain-X auto fog.

Tim

Trouble was the Fog was on the outside!! and didn't clear until the screen became warm!!

JohnM · Post by **JohnM** » Fri 30 Apr, 2004 14:25

I used Rain-X yesterday again.

It was late and I put a good coating on the windows - and had a go at getting the damn stuff off fifteen minutes later. This resulted in a very smeary finish on the windows.

This morning, I finished the job and wiped off the smeared finish. It came off much better this morning which leads me to the conclusion that Rain-X needs longer to dry fully.

I might pick up some of the Rain Wizard stuff as it is far easier to apply and then wipe off.

John.

PhilT · Post by **PhilT** » Fri 30 Apr, 2004 14:43

jumping in to this conversation late but never mind

I've used RainX for year and never had a problem. You definately need to let it dry before trying to polish it off - and I always use a cloth to put it on but use kitchen roll to take it off. Spraying with a little water helps it polish up better.

just my two penneth

M11 POW · Post by **M11 POW** » Sat 01 May, 2004 05:54

PhilT wrote:jumping in to this conversation late but never mind

I've used RainX for year and never had a problem. You definately need to let it dry before trying to polish it off - and I always use a cloth to put it on but use kitchen roll to take it off. Spraying with a little water helps it polish up better.

just my two penneth

I can verify what PhilT says. I had smearing the first time I used it by not letting it dry properly.

Yep also use kitchen towel to take it off, as I do with normal window cleaner, then great results.

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Tue 18 May, 2004 09:48

tetchmeister wrote:
Zmurf wrote:There's another product for that, called Rain-X auto fog.

Tim
Trouble was the Fog was on the outside!! and didn't clear until the screen became warm!!

If the fog was on the outside would the wipers not have cleared it in one swipe ?

dixie · Post by **dixie** » Wed 25 Aug, 2004 20:19

In a word C****

I tried this RainX stuff. First impression was yeah great the rain just bounced off, but when the wipers were switched on I could not see a thing it just was impossible to see anythng!!!!!!!! It was like having oil on the screen.

Good old Fairy liquid for me RainX is dangerous avoid at all costs.

Dixie

JohnM · Post by **JohnM** » Wed 25 Aug, 2004 20:37

I have to say that I'm not that impressed with Rain-X here in the USA.

If you're in Halfords, pick up a bottle of 'Rain Wizard' - bright pink container/applicator... you can't miss it.

I'll be getting some in the UK and using it instead of Rain-X.

John.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed 02 Mar, 2005 10:16

I have been cursing Rain-X for ages, but have recently discovered the real problem - UK traffic conditions, or at least those around the south-west!

I found that by cleaning the screen with 'Squeegee Off,' a window cleaning gel from B&Q, the persistant smearing disappeared, leaving the Rain-X to do its normal job.

Since moving to France I have never had any problems, in spite of 60% of cars being diesels with high oil consumption (I suspect they use old chip oil in the sump!) which makes one wonder what is going on in the UK.

'MC' MarkC · Post by **'MC' MarkC** » Wed 02 Mar, 2005 11:21

I think a lot of it is to do with the salty shite they use during the winter. I believe most european countries now use something entirely different which doesn't rot your car. Now there's a novel idea

ZZZEMMCO · Post by **ZZZEMMCO** » Wed 02 Mar, 2005 16:55

THAT---will never catch on, NON rotting grit solution.Bet the Ass of bodyworkers and spray em everything in sight will be on the blower protesting any Sec now!!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed 02 Mar, 2005 17:00

Good point about salt - of course! Like the poor, it is always with us, as although they stop throwing it around by Easter, there is so much used over the winter than it just lies around, dissolves in the usual rain, and gets thrown onto the verges, where it kills vegetation (blamed on exhaust emissions, naturally!) and drains back onto the road again, to be trown around as salt dust when the sun comes out.

Here in the Dordogne the night-time temperature can drop very low (last night it was minus 8C by 7 pm) but ice is not common, and the local council spread salt at a rate of about 3 grains per metre - sometimes.

Strange though, how the salt seems to stick to Rain-X - it certainly makes sense though.

Sebastian · Post by **Sebastian** » Thu 03 Mar, 2005 16:14

I've used Rain-X for over 15 years. I put it on about once every two weeks and don't need my wipers at all, even in tremendous downpours at night.

Bugs bounce off it without leaving any guts.

I put it on, let it dry, polish it and then do it again.

Th only time I use wipers is if stuck behind a tractor-trailor and I've never had it smear.

martlet · Post by **martlet** » Thu 03 Mar, 2005 17:24

and I am sure there is never any salt on the roads down south in sunny Florida (just hurricanes!)

Sebastian · Post by **Sebastian** » Thu 03 Mar, 2005 17:38

I've only lived here the past five years.

I used to be in the snow and freezing rain. I love the stuff.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat 12 Mar, 2005 17:28

I have recently discovered that many UK counties are using a salt mixture which is claimed to reduce corrosion damage to cars.

The catch is that this new 'salt' tends to stick to things, and to itself, so causing smears on screens and loss of adhesion on road surfaces. Several motorcycle accidents have been blamed on this problem.

It also tends to stick to wheels, mixed with brake pad dust. Since moving to the sunny Dordogne area of France I find that our car wheels are a lot easier to clean.

Naturally, it also tends to adhere to glass, hence, perhaps, the problems whihc I and a few others have found after use.

zroadster.net

Rain-X

Rain-X

It must be me!

Rain X

Unfair to Rain-X!

Bad idea !!!

Salt?

It's salt, but not as we know it . . .