Removing Rain-X
#1
Safety Car
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Member Since: Aug 2005
Location: Eastern NC; Retired x 2 (US Army: 70-90 AD) (US Army: 91-16 DAC); yea, I'm old.
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Removing Rain-X
I bought a 2013 coupe in mid-July and either the previous owner or the dealer put Rain-X on the windshield (all of the other glass also has it) and I can't get the damn stuff off.
I have used everything I can think of (Original Dawn, Adam's All Purpose Cleaner, bleach, etc) to remove it but it doesn't work.
An suggestions other than to have the windshield replaced because it has a rock put a non-repairable chip in it?
I have used everything I can think of (Original Dawn, Adam's All Purpose Cleaner, bleach, etc) to remove it but it doesn't work.
An suggestions other than to have the windshield replaced because it has a rock put a non-repairable chip in it?
Last edited by LJD51; 09-18-2017 at 03:55 PM.
#2
Race Director
It may not be RainX? About the only way that I know to completely remove any glass coating is to polish it off with a glass cleaner/polish using a DA. You can try Alcohol, lacquer thinner or acetone but be extremely careful not to get it on the paint, plastic or rubber.
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LJD51 (09-18-2017)
#3
Pro
try rubbing alcohol.i've used it to get sap of my car.doesn't hurt the paint but will remove wax so if you get some on your paint you'll have to wax that area again.
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LJD51 (09-18-2017)
#4
Burning Brakes
Although some people say not to do it, I've had excellent results on windshields and all outside glass using 0000# steel wool with glass cleaner(I use Stoner's) as a lubricant. I've also had success with a clay bar.
Last edited by SouthBaySurfer; 09-19-2017 at 08:45 AM.
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LJD51 (09-20-2017)
#5
Drifting
Iv'e not tried it but there is a you tube video where a guy uses a magic eraser to clean the inside of the windshield. Says it removes the film that accumulates on the glass from smoking in the car or the oily film that builds up over time from the gases that are released when the sun beats down on the materials used on the dash. Might be worth a try.
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LJD51 (09-20-2017)
#6
Safety Car
I'm fairly certain that Rain-X is alcohol soluble. I've had good success cleaning Rain-X treated windshields with Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol, 70% solution is fine for this job). It usually won't hurt paint, but it will strip wax off anything else you get it on.
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LJD51 (09-20-2017)
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LJD51 (09-20-2017)
#8
I use the Magic Eraser (ME) sponge on windows and on chrome as well;really gets rid of most surface impurities. The ME is also good when used lightly to get finger/hand dirt from steering wheels and shift *****.
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LJD51 (09-27-2017)
#10
Safety Car
It also depends on the vehicle and features. It's not real good with automatic windshield wipers. The wipers will turn on way before you need them, and Rain-X + wipers + light rain is not a good combination.
Automatic headlights are also a problematic configuration, where the headlights come on automagically with the wipers. If you've always had Rain-X on a vehicle like that, it's not bad, but if you have had the vehicle a long time and you put Rain-X on it, it forces you to change up your whole habit for driving in the rain.
Following up with the original poster, I confirmed on the SDS that "Original Rain-X" is primarily ethanol based, and any alcohol will dissolve/remove it. It also has a fair amount of acetone in it, and that can be used (very carefully) to remove the Rain-X if alcohol doesn't completely remove it.
Other Rain-X products can be removed with other solvents. All the Rain-X product Safety Data Sheets are available online at https://www.rainx.com/safety-data-sheets/
Last edited by C6_Racer_X; 09-28-2017 at 11:14 AM.
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LJD51 (09-30-2017)