Let it Rain, Let it Rain, Let it Rain!

About 20 years ago or so I was shopping around for a good used car. I stopped by at one dealer's lot and asked to take a sporty looking Mustang out for a test drive. The dealer handed me the keys then jumped into the passengers seat just as it started to rain. So, off we went to check out the car. The thing I recall most about the ride was that although it began to pour and rain, the rain bounced off of the windshield and the windshield was crystal clear.

"How comes this windshield is so clear?" I asked the salesman. "The prep guys put RainX on the windshield" he replied - and it was probably the only honest answer I ever got from a salesman. By the way, the other thing I recall about the car was that blue smoke was coming out of the muffler. I ended up buying a car somewhere else.

My initial reaction was that RainX was the coolest thing I have ever seen. I went out to an auto parts store to purchase a bottle. Back then, a 7 ounce bottle cost about $15. I remember the directions called for wiping the product into the windshield with a clean, lint free cloth and do not use paper towels. Buff the windshield after wiping off.

I washed the windshield good, then applied the RainX. I buffed the glass until it was crystal clear. Then I buffed it some more. Then I poured water onto it and watched it bead up and quickly roll off the glass. I couldn't wait for it to rain!

When it finally did rain, I was driving home from work. The rain beaded up into those cute little balls and rolled right off the windshield. Then I noticed something else: The faster I drove, the faster the water beaded up and rolled away! And, the water seemed to roll upwards! If I drove over 55 miles per hour, it appeared as if the rain was bouncing off the windshield and not even rolling at all. I was a customer for life!

Years later, I have remained a loyal customer of RainX products. Since then, they have come out with all sorts of automobile products including window wash, car wax, anti-fog repellant, wiper blades, rain repellant towels - and others. I have tried the windshield wash, which smelled like toothpaste, and it worked pretty good at cleaning off ground in dirt off of the windshield. However, I primarily stick with the rain repellant product.

The rain repellant comes in a little 7 ounce plastic bottle. The directions are pretty much the same as years ago: Wash the windshield, dry it, then apply RainX and let it dry to a haze. Then wipe off and buff. However, now you can use paper towels! One application will last for several weeks and it will resist washing your windows, sun, and rain. I believe I read somewhere that the product is silicon based and it works by filling in tiny gaps in the glass making it super smooth so rain can not stick to the glass.

I've used RainX and every car I bought since the first time I bought it. I have several bottles of it in my cleaning supplies. Whene relatives come over from a long visit and stay long enough, I sometimes go out and wash their windshields and apply some RainX - especially if the weather calls for rain.

One 7 ounce bottle will usually last me about 6 months or so, or about 12 applications. The stuff is very fluid and it tends to run quickly once squirted onto the windshield. You need to be ready to rub it into the glass. I never pour the stuff on a cloth first. I also use a rather small cloth to apply the liquid on, since big clothes tend to absorb the liquid too much.

On the down side, I never really cared for the spout they put on the bottle. I always found it clumsy to use. Since you need to move quick once you pour the stuff on the windshield, I often knock over the bottle and the liquid pours out. I would prefer a spray bottle. Also, I have notice a bit of a hazy residue left behind, despite a thorough buffing. Also, the stuff does have a rather potent odor. These downsides don't bother me that much - the product is great!

You can buy RainX at most stores that sell automotive accessories. There are now several competitors to RainX, but I tend to stick to this product. The price has also come down quite a bit over the years. I can now buy a 7 ounce bottle for under $5.

I highly recommend this product to anyone who drives. You can apply it any time after you wash your windshield. It does take a few minutes to do a proper job, but it is well worth it. When it rains buckets of water while you are driving, you will be able to continue on without any troubles seeing out of your windshield. Thanks for reading my review and best wishes for a nice day!

Mike