Halfords rain repellent smearing

[3t3p]

So recently cleaned and waxed the roc (MUCH needed)

Gave windows a good clean with glass cleaner and microfibre before applying two coats of Halfords rain repellent (supposedly equal to or better than rainx) and buffed to a pleasant shine with microfibre cloth again.

Poured some water on it and it seemed to flow off nicely like it does on the bodywork after waxing.

Then next day went for a drive and some droplets started moving off which looked really cool, as I got some airspeed that is.

Then went to use the wipers to do a screen wash and I get the dreaded smearing for 30cm following each blade!
Water then dries and leaves faint white residue behind.

I had cleaned the blades too:(

Is this a 'break in' period with these products that then goes away?

Application was easy enough and I had high hopes for smear free wiper action.
Anyone else found this?

[keith]

I used Rain-x on my mk5 golf without issue, sometimes if its left on to long its a pain. what do you have in the screen wash just the Vw stuff?

[3t3p]

screen wash is generic blue stuff you dilute, never been into putting fancy things in there, if they do exist?!

[trix]

I find that you have to buff quite hard (I use Mer or Diamondbrite's versions) give it another hard buff & try again?

S

[skyblues11]

i don;t know if i had used it correctly, but for years i just apply the liquid on and thats it. especially the side and rear glasses, i never bother to buff it. as for the front, i would only buff it if i cannot see thru it.

for some reason, rain always comes son after and the water would wash away the residue whilst getting beaded away from the glass surface.

i do see the smear as well, but eventually it disappears and also, the advantage outweights the smearing.
i try to avoid using the wipers above 40-50mph, so i guess the smearing is not so much of a problem.

i have a habit of topping it up everytime i clean the glasses and after a big general carwash.

I don't know what the shelf life of these repellants is and i have a large Mer bottle , so i am keen to use it liberally and to finish it off.

[3t3p]

I mean the smearing disappears after a pretty brief moment, but it's not like the stock OEM situation anymore.

I'll wait a while longer to bed in but atm its causing on average more of a disruption than the plain glass ever did

[skyblues11]

my problem is the initial low speed.

most of my commutes are no more than 60mph at best, so as soon as the Mer finishes, i will look for one that works at 30mph.

but for the side windows, i would not live without rain repellents.