Get your car winter ready with rain repellent
Whoever sang ‘I can see clearly now, the rain has gone’ clearly hasn’t driven in Britain after the roads have been gritted for winter. When you’re out and about and following more traffic on a damp road when there’s no precipitation, the spray can make your windscreen smeary and unclear.
There are plenty of appealing candidates on offer among the rain repellents found both online and on physical shelves, offering you clearer, smear-free glass, as you drive home for Christmas.
Clear windscreens don’t just improve driving visibility and safety, they can also improve the appearance of your car, especially if looking to sell in the new year, or buy one of the many cars for sale UK-wide.
With this in mind, we wanted to look further into windscreens – why it’s important to keep them dirt-free, maintain wiper conditions and so much more, especially in the winter.
How can I keep the windscreen clear?
The obvious one is already on your car – windscreen wipers have been around almost as long as windscreens, and haven’t changed a lot in that time. They’ve changed enough though, and unless your car is a modern classic where bulkier blades would not fit, an upgrade to aero-style wipers such as Bosch Aerotwin will improve the contact area, cleaning power and effectiveness of your car’s own cleaning systems.
As a bonus, when they wear out aero wipers don’t have metal brackets that can scratch and gouge the windscreen. Even if your car wasn’t fitted with them from the factory, retrofitting kits are available for most cars.
A winter screenwash is vital. It’s got antifreeze compounds and detergents and is designed not to damage paint or rubber seals. If your car doesn’t have heated washer jets, it’s also worth warming them before driving; a hot water bottle or one of those microwave heat packs will do just fine and avoid pouring water in places where it will freeze again or worse, shock the glass.
Never pour hot water on your windscreen – the thermal shock can crack it. If it’s warm enough not to be frozen, it’s warm enough to melt ice, so room temperature water will do, but it’s better to use a de-icer. You can also get covers to keep frost off the screen, but they can freeze to bodywork or wipers.
How do rain repellents work?
Although they can’t do much to prevent frost and ice on parked cars, when driving a rain repellent functions a little like the non-stick coating on a pan, providing a surface so smooth the water just rolls off. It’s a similar effect to the beading on your car after waxing but is designed to stay effective under the constant onslaught of rain, wipers and muck.
Some types are ceramic based, some are resin compounds. Most are designed to be applied to the outside of the class – we recommend windscreen, front side windows and rear window, but windscreen and front side windows near the mirrors are a good start. Some will also allow application on the inside of the glass, which will minimise misting from condensation (though sometimes with more drips on the footwells).
With spray cleaner and repellent products, such as those aimed at motorcycle helmet visors, it’s worth cleaning and spraying the headlights and rearview mirrors, even the tail lights. Anywhere you’ve sprayed with a hydrophobic covering will stay clearer longer, and has the advantage of being easier to clean with a jet wash or quick wipe.
What else is worth protecting on the car for winter?
In much the same way as the glass benefits from water-repelling coatings, the rubber seals and gaskets on the car can be protected. Gummi pflege coats soften and shield the door seals (and roof seals on convertibles), minimising the risk of ice sticking the door shut. For cabriolets with drop-down windows, it’s particularly worthwhile to treat the rubbers and the lowest part of the window, as attempting to open the door when it’s frozen puts strain on the motors and also risks realigning the window and introduces wind noise and rattles.
Locks can be protected with graphite spray, not WD40 – it eventually washes the original lubricant away. Double-check your tyre pressures as they will drop slightly in cold weather, and make sure the car’s coolant has the correct concentration of antifreeze. If you are unsure which antifreeze the car uses, Prestone Universal is compatible with both for topping up (the two main types are traditional green/blue ethylene glycol, which is toxic to animals If spilt, or the vibrant orange OAT. If mixed these form a jelly-like substance which can block the cooling system).
Is it worth using rain repellent all year round?
In short, yes, but some can leave a slightly greasy effect on the windscreen over time; it’s worth cleaning thoroughly with a glass polish before reapplying. Many modern cars already have a hydrophobic or oleophobic coating to prevent water from clinging to side windows or fingerprints from building up.
As with anything on your car, any proactive maintenance is better than neglect – and there’s nothing better than a clear view outside for stress-free, safe driving no matter what the weather.