Does Rain X kill wiper blades?

[Ray Singh]

A little behind the times perhaps, but i have just started to use Rain X on my windscreen. It seems a novel idea and works well at speeds of over 60mph.
However, within a few days of applying this to my screen, my wiper blades started screaming in pain on crossing the screen.
They now refuse to clean any moisture of the screen. Is this normal for Rain X?

[SidJames]

no.
hth

[E30M3SE]

Never had an issue.

[RobM77]

No, me neither. We use it on two of our cars and no issues.

[DKS]

I'm the same. Some people love Rain-X, others hate it. My mate loves it, I hate it. I also find it makes the wipers judder and screech.
Personally, I think decent quality blades (GM, Bosch or Champion), correctly adjusted arms (I think they twist after a while, so checking they're 90 degs to the screen occasionally is good) and a screen free of any kind contaminants is the best idea.

[John D.]

Its only silicone isn't it? How could it harm a wiper blade?

Great stuff imo.

[Frances The Mute]

A lot of issues with Rain X tend to be from poor surface preparation prior to it's application.

[Jonnas]

It never seems to last very long on my windscreen. On the sides and rear it is brilliant and lasts months. I only get a week or so on the windscreen in wet weather.

[Lumpyuk]

Bit off topic but I would recommend this instead, supposedly lasts for 30000 miles.

http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars/exterior-coat...

Also the g4 pre clean/polish

[R6VED]

Frances The Mute said:

A lot of issues with Rain X tend to be from poor surface preparation prior to it's application.

This ^^^^ you need to read the instructions and follow them.

[ianrb]

Lumpyuk said:

Bit off topic but I would recommend this instead, supposedly lasts for 30000 miles.

http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars/exterior-coat...

Also the g4 pre clean/polish

Is this the stuff Volvo apply to the side windows? If it is it's chuffing brilliant! You pretty well never need to clean the treated windows, and rain just runs straight off.

[Reeso]

If put on correctly it works from 40mph upwards (also depending on the rake of your screen).

The best way to prep your screen is to clay bar it like you would your body work.

Then apply the rainx as per the instructions. Make sure it is dry/cloudy before trying to buff it off the screen.

It lasts for ages on my screens, but then I hardly use my wipers as this is why we use rainx!!! You only need your wipers below speeds where it won't clear, or if its a monsoon!

[Ray Singh]

Thanks. It sounds like I will need to remove all traces of RainX and start again with a clean screen.
New wipers are also probably in order too.

Any ideas how to remove all traces of RainX? Fairy liquid?

[Sonic]

Lumpyuk said:

Bit off topic but I would recommend this instead, supposedly lasts for 30000 miles.

http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars/exterior-coat...

Also the g4 pre clean/polish

It's good but it certainly doesn't last for 30k on the windscreen.

Mine barely lasted 5k in 6 months (and yes i did do a full G4/IPA wipe-down prior to application on a car with 24 miles on the clock).

[Reeso]

You could use a little fairy liquid....or Auto Glym Car glass polish, or just the clay bar method.
All should work, but you will still need to clay bar it before applying the rainx!

Personally I only use rainx on the front windscreen. All other windows get a polish. I tried it on the rear screen and it didn't work too well, plus after a few days the paint under the window was stained by the rainx!

[Sonic]

Ray Singh said:

Thanks. It sounds like I will need to remove all traces of RainX and start again with a clean screen.
New wipers are also probably in order too.

Any ideas how to remove all traces of RainX? Fairy liquid?

Something like Gtechniq G4 or if you're near a Halfords... http://tinyurl.com/q2qrswn

[JB!]

Reeso said:

If put on correctly it works from 40mph upwards (also depending on the rake of your screen).

The best way to prep your screen is to clay bar it like you would your body work.

Then apply the rainx as per the instructions. Make sure it is dry/cloudy before trying to buff it off the screen.

It lasts for ages on my screens, but then I hardly use my wipers as this is why we use rainx!!! You only need your wipers below speeds where it won't clear, or if its a monsoon!

I've never let rain-x dry?

[Willy Nilly]

Ray Singh said:

Thanks. It sounds like I will need to remove all traces of RainX and start again with a clean screen.

Good luck with that. I never did get the fking stuff of the windscreen of my Golf, no matter what I cleaned it with. Worthless st.

[budgie smuggler]

JB! said:

Reeso said:

If put on correctly it works from 40mph upwards (also depending on the rake of your screen).

The best way to prep your screen is to clay bar it like you would your body work.

Then apply the rainx as per the instructions. Make sure it is dry/cloudy before trying to buff it off the screen.

It lasts for ages on my screens, but then I hardly use my wipers as this is why we use rainx!!! You only need your wipers below speeds where it won't clear, or if its a monsoon!

I've never let rain-x dry?

Same here, I got distracted left it for quite a while last time and when I came back out later on it was still oily not dry. Works well enough anyway.

My only annoyance with it is that as it starts to wear off, it leaves a slightly dappled effect on the screen. This might be because I haven't ever bothered to clay bar it before hand. Just normal household window washer spray, then rain-x.

Edited by budgie smuggler on Tuesday 22 October 13:59

[Reeso]

If you use your wipers like normal, it will wear off!

Let it dry.....then buff off. Much better results. It takes some elbow grease to buff off and you might want to use some meguiars glass cleaner to help at the very end.

Never had any issues with it....love the stuff.