Removing Rain X?
Author
Discussion

Luke.

Original Poster:

12,033 posts

280 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
quotequote all
Bought a Mini Cooper S last night, and the previous owner has applied Rain-X. This seems to smeer everywhere and make the screen a bit tricky to see out of. Googled it, but getting loads of suggestion from T-Cut to Soda Crystals.

Anyone know anything that's worked?

PAULJ5555

3,554 posts

206 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
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Thinners?

5lab

1,934 posts

226 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
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i've heard you should use old newspaper to clean a screen. don't know why though

hairykrishna

14,518 posts

233 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
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I've used isopropyl alcohol before, worked well.

Blue62

10,587 posts

182 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
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It will naturally come off with time, but I'd be surprised if it's causing the problem you describe are you sure it's rain x? You could try using a clay bar on the windscreen to get off all contaminents.

Luke.

Original Poster:

12,033 posts

280 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
quotequote all
Thanks for the ideas so far. Got some unleaded for lawn mower. Would that work soaked on a cloth?

JonnyFive

29,904 posts

219 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
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I've never had a problem with smearing on my windscreen and have been using Rain-X for atleast 2 years.

dave_s13

14,031 posts

299 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
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Vinegar should cut through it.

Or some glass cleaner.

RJB_666

1,677 posts

225 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
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Blue62 said:
It will naturally come off with time, but I'd be surprised if it's causing the problem you describe are you sure it's rain x? You could try using a clay bar on the windscreen to get off all contaminents.
I had the same smear problem with rain-x. It was terrible it it was just drizzle as it created very fine beads. Found it shocking vision wise at night. Tried a clay bar on mine but yet that failed. It might be worth putting a new layer on. It smears worse when it has part worn off. Other than that maybe a trip to halfrauds for something more abrasive.

Luke.

Original Poster:

12,033 posts

280 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
quotequote all
Ordered some ISOPROPANOL off Amaazon. Will see if that does the trick.

Composite Guru

2,513 posts

233 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
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Use Coca Cola!!

When i worked on aircraft we had to remove rain repellant from the screen. If we didn't have the pads with the special chemical in it then Coca Cola was used as the acid stripped the stuff right off without causing damage to the metalwork.


CoolC

4,506 posts

244 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
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Acetone (nail varnish remover) should do it.

Luke.

Original Poster:

12,033 posts

280 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
quotequote all
Composite Guru said:
Use Coca Cola!!

When i worked on aircraft we had to remove rain repellant from the screen. If we didn't have the pads with the special chemical in it then Coca Cola was used as the acid stripped the stuff right off without causing damage to the metalwork.
Hmm..interesting.

Flat6time

1,767 posts

240 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
quotequote all
I would be tempted to clean with glass polish, and re-apply rain-x.

As above, Rainx doesn;t smear, it just causes water to bead into smaller drops and stream off the screen. as it wears off the water beads increase in size, and teh water streams off less easily.

I would suggest that teh wipers are fubar or there is something else on the screen.

ShampooEfficient

4,278 posts

241 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
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None of the above - get some glass cutter from Halfords (or similar) - usually in the same aisle as the Rain-X, it's like T-cut for glass and it does work with no damage.

JonnyFive

29,904 posts

219 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
quotequote all
RJB_666 said:
I had the same smear problem with rain-x. It was terrible it it was just drizzle as it created very fine beads.
I have had that though.. If it's a certain type of rain and in the dark you do get the tiny beads.

J4CKO

46,933 posts

230 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
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Could it be the wipers need replacing ?

bqf

2,290 posts

201 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
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+2 for Coca-Cola - as an aside leave a 2p piece in coa-cola overnight and see what happens!

Tom H

543 posts

217 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
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bqf said:
+2 for Coca-Cola - as an aside leave a 2p piece in coa-cola overnight and see what happens!
full fat, diet or caffeine fee?

porka944s

378 posts

207 months

Thursday 3rd November 2011
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Sounds like Wash'n'wax not rain x.