I made the mistake of trying rain-x on my windshield so naturally, I'm trying desperately to get rid of it. As luck would have it, I can't get the stuff off. I've tried goo-gone, and some orange stuff, acetone, and every cleaner I can think of. I'm getting close to just getting some 0000 steel wool and "sanding" it off. I can't stand this stuff. It streaks horribly as soon as I use the wipers.
Can anyone suggest something other than steel wool?

 

Usually rain-x on the windshield isn't a mistake?

I've never heard of a case of the wipers streaking the glass, either. Maybe you sprayed too much?

 

^ what he said. Rain-x has only done good for me. How did you apply it? Did you buff out the windshield with a microfiber after rubbing it in?

As for removing it, it comes off naturally the more it rains/snows. I usually would do a re-application every couple months or so.

 

Never used Rain-X but I hear good things about it.

try regular old fashion dawn dishwashing soap and hot water to try and wash most of it off... (it'll def take a bunch of wax off your car... lol)

good luck

 

sounds like you used too much, next time use aquapel, it's so much better and lasts so much longer

 

There are two versions of rain-x, one leaves a film and is a PIA to come off, the other goes on very clear...I bet he has the bad version. That said, I've had the bad version and it came off pretty easily with water. If you put it on plastic, look out, it's really hard to get off.

 

Bro, I had this same problem and it left mad water marks and pissed me off, it even impaired my night time driving because the lights from on coming cars would illuminate the spots all over my windshield.. I don't know if you have to buy when I used the steel wool 0000 I kept the area wet just with water. Worked out fine for me, just remember you are sanding glass and to be careful Bro. Best of luck!

 

That's exactly my problem. Can't see at night. Looks like I'm stuck with the steel wool. Thanks

 

Try using Stoners Glass Cleaner with Rain Repellent. I've been using it and it hasn't given me any problems.

 

Before you take 0000 to it, wouldn't hurt to try some isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)... safer first step before steel wool.

Steel wool can be used safely but I've also seen people go crazy and scratch up their glass so use caution...

G/L

 

In the picture below, there are two types of rain-x, one is call "windshield wax" and the other is rain-x "original." Original is what you want, the wax stuff is crap...and will cause the kinds of problems noted by the OP Notice that both bottles say almost the exact same thing on them, yet they are very different. On the back, it says it contains denatured alcohol, my guess is you can use that to get it off. You can buy a small can of it at home depot/lowes.

I would not use steel wool on the windshield, it will cause fine scratches.

 

I use both Rain-X and Stoner Invisible Glass.
Both are great IMO.
But I agree to the post above. USE THE ORIGINAL. Lolz...I made the mistake before in buying the wax before..., I couldn't remove it haha. I just waited for it to slowly disappear

 

No it won't if you use #0000 and keep it lubricated. I use it all the time to remove water spots.

 

I have used RainX since it has been invented and love it. I use it on windows,head lights,helmet visors..... I perfer the windshield wax over the original though cause it's easier to remove. The original is hard to use ...but if you spay the area your trying to use it with water after applying the rainx its allot easier and will not leave streaks and rainbows. FYI that tip is on the bottle....that I never read till years of getting pissed I couldn't get rid of the streaks and rainbows.

 

That's interesting...The bottle says not to use it on plastic. I mistakenly used the wax on my sunroof visor and could not work it in and couldn't get it off...it was very streaky and the residue formed clumps that would not come off...finally wore off after a few months.

 

I tried it once w/lubrication to remove wiper tracks and I could see very fine scratches. It didn't work and I had to go with glass polish and my PC.

The only thing I will use 0000 for around a car is to clean my exhaust tips and for that it works great.

 

hey i was wondering how i can get scratches off my windshield... what did you use?

 

Then it wasn't lubricated enough.

 

depends on how deep the scratches are.

 

Used the original. It just sucks. Works great if I never use the wipers, but I can't not use them for long. Besides, it tells you to use them on the bottle.

What kind of lubricant do you use with the steel wool? Does one of them work better than others?

 

Nice lively discussion...

If you can feel the scratches with your fingernail, this won't work (don't think anything will)...this product took away very stubborn wiper marks.

http://www.autogeek.net/lc-pro-glass-kit.html

When I used steel wool, I tried penetrating oil and then compound and still was getting fine scratches. Maybe I used the wrong lubricant (or not enough as was pointed out)

 

I'm having a hard time with those that are critical of the original rain-x. I've been using that product for about 20 years now and have never had an issue with it and I find my wipers last a lot longer (likely because of the slickness of the windshield, but also because I rarely use them since water won't stay on the windshield.) Perhaps there is something in the way people are applying it that is causing the problem? I know that as soon as I tried the rain-x wax, I could tell it was going to be a problem given the film that it was producing and the difficult taking it off.

 

You need to apply similar to wax. Rub on in overlapping small circles. let it dry and buff off. I use old newspaper it turns out GREAT. Love Rainex.

 

i use 4 star upp on my windows and as you can expect, the rain doesnt stand a chance of staying on my windshield while on the highway...

 

Ok What is "4 star upp"?

 

http://www.westcoastdetailsupply.com...rotectant.html

 

You use that on your windows?

 

you can use any wax or sealant on your windows...so yes, you can use 4 star upp....i do and its great..

 

4 Star UPP on all my windows is a must, been using it for about 2yrs now beads up and runs off like nobodies business!!!

 

I use to use car wax on my windows and motorcycle shield. FYI RainX works allot better and worth the price and effort, Try some and find out. Car wax is ok if your cheap or don't know...What I found RainX beeds the water faster off the window. RainX last longer. RainX doesn't begin to loose effect as fast when wipers are used. Car wax looses it ability when in the sun. RainX makes getting bugs and such off the window allot easier.

 

i wouldnt call using $30 wax/sealant cheap, i have used the rain x before...that is a cheap product...4 star upp is not a cheap product...trust me, nothing beads water better then 4 star upp....nothing

 

Four Star UPP is a polymer sealant and not a regular carnauba based car wax. Once cured, Four Star Upp is super slick and very durable. Windshield wipers will degrade any protectant on the windshield since glass is tough to bond to in general.

 

That was part of the points I mentioned. Wax/sealant is not good enough to be used on windows cause the wipers only make it worse down the road or just plain do not work as good as RainX. If you use RainX on one have of your front window and your best wax/sealant on the other half you will notice the which one is better. Thats what I did.

 

Nice thread. I was about to do Rain X this last weekend and ran out of time. Will check this out again when I', ready.

 

As far as I'm concerned, for where I drive, Rain Away ranks up there with snow tires, especially for our aging population.

I've been using Repcon, Rain-X or Rain Away for over 35 years: if you lived in a place like Vancouver, or Barbados, it should be illegal to NOT be using something like this. I tend to use Rain Away, but if it's drying with streaks, or cloudy, rubbing a damp papertowel on a dry windshield can help.

Hitting blowing sand at speed (on the highway) wears it off, typically 4,000 miles for me. I've found that once it's obvious that it's "worn off" it's probably worse than if you had never used it. But the ability to go through a blinding rainstorm, at night, out in the country, without your glasses (I don't NEED them to drive, but I like to have them) - or your wipers - and wondering why everyone else is slowing down, is well worth the ten minutes to reapply.

And I'd go easy on that sandpaper, too. Glass isn't as hard as we think it is.