Every driver tries to ensure maximum comfort while driving, as well as minimize the time and financial costs of car maintenance. Difficult weather conditions, especially in spring and autumn, and the operation of a car on “domestic” road surfaces are accompanied by rapid contamination of the windows and car body. Driving during rain or wet snow has a significant impact not only on comfort, but also on traffic safety, since driving in such conditions is accompanied by a decrease in visibility due to water droplets on the windows and their rapid contamination. In such conditions, it is necessary to protect car windows using an anti-rain system.
Standard glass cleaning equipment
To clean glass, cars already have windshield wipers, but during operation, their efficiency decreases due to the appearance of scratches and microcracks on the glass, which may not even be visible without special equipment. These defects make the glass rough, which prevents water droplets from flowing off it. In addition, car wipers have a short service life and their performance decreases over time.
Car windshield wipers
It is also worth noting that windshield wipers do not clean all glass, especially since they are intended only for the windshield. The side windows are not cleaned at all, and the rear window - even with a wiper - has a small cleaning area.
Dirty windows and traffic safety
Any car enthusiast strives to ensure maximum comfort when driving, as well as minimize the time spent on servicing the car, especially when it comes to appearance.
Different weather conditions, especially in the spring-autumn period, and driving a car on different surfaces lead to rapid contamination of the windows and car body.
Driving during rain on a busy road significantly affects not only comfort, but also traffic safety, since driving in such conditions is accompanied by a decrease in visibility due to the constant presence of water droplets and rapid contamination of the glass.
Of course, to minimize this, the design of the car implies the presence of a glass cleaning system.
But, over time, the cleaning effect of windshield wipers decreases, since during operation small scratches appear on the glass, which may not be visible, but they make the surface rough, which prevents water droplets from flowing down.
Also, the service life of wipers is not that long, and over time the quality of their work decreases significantly.
In addition, wipers cannot clean the entire surface of the windshield and there are always places that are not cleaned.
But the side windows are not cleaned at all, and the rear window is not always equipped with a windshield wiper, but if there is one, then its cleaning area is quite small.
As for the body, the presence of drops and dirt on it, of course, does not affect safety, but it does spoil the visual appearance of the car. But you don’t always have time to constantly wash your car yourself, and it’s expensive to go to a car wash.
Anti-rain for glasses
There are special means for protecting car windows; in addition, you can make an anti-rain protection system yourself. Such tools will make life much easier for any driver. Special compositions for glass processing have good water-repellent properties; they are popularly called “anti-rain for glass.” According to the manufacturers, after applying the product to the glass, it creates a thin transparent layer with hydrophobic properties. This layer prevents water droplets from being retained on the glass, and also helps the wipers and the oncoming air flow to more easily and quickly remove water from the surface of the glass. When applied to glass, anti-rain fills all scratches, creating the smoothest surface, and there is nothing for water drops to catch on, and the hydrophobic substances included in the composition repel water, reducing the area of interaction of water drops with the surface of the glass, which also contributes to the rapid drainage of water.
Comparison of the surface of glass treated with anti-rain and not treated with it
The modern market offers many water-repellent compounds from various manufacturers and price ranges. Almost all chemical compositions of anti-rain include silicone polymers and a solvent; the composition may also include a fixative, which ensures the wear resistance of the composition. The protective layer on the glass after applying the composition can last up to six months.
Advantages of applying anti-rain to car windows:
- Improved visibility during rain and sleet;
- When driving at a speed of more than 60 km/h, the wipers can be turned off - they will not be needed;
- Convenience of washing glass; stains from midges, frost, etc. can be easily removed from them;
- Extending the service life of wipers;
- Reduced anti-freeze consumption;
- Reducing the glare of headlights from oncoming cars.
If we talk about the disadvantages of anti-rain, we can note the following:
- Some inexpensive products have a strong, unpleasant odor
- Cheap products have a short-term effect: from several days to a couple of weeks (or until the first wash).
Varieties
Now they produce hydrophobic compositions for fabrics, on the basis of which clothes and shoes are sewn. It acquires water-repellent properties. A good thing. But they produce a separate type of auto chemicals for cars.
You can use protective nanocoatings for glass yourself. The main thing here is to buy something of high quality and from a trusted manufacturer. For example, Stay Clean and similar products.
There are several types of hydrophobes or simply anti-rain. The product is available in the form:
But the main question is what composition this substance has. Depending on this, hydrophobic mixtures are distinguished.
There are other types of moisture protection. Choose carefully before you buy. I would not trust companies that I know nothing about and have never heard of. You can read reviews and understand what kind of super drug it is and whether it will be of any use. Price should not be the main selection criterion.
Properties of hydrophobes
I cannot vouch for all anti-rain products that are up to
feet on the market. But a number of products have been tested. This made it possible to verify in practice whether the coating provides the glass or body with the properties that manufacturers claim.
A high-quality protective hydrophobic coating has a number of positive properties:
Everything is simple here. A special coating makes the surface water-repellent. Therefore, dirt, snow and rain are not smeared on the windshield, but collect in drops and are carried around by oncoming wind flows.
The body itself remains cleaner and acquires a pleasant glossy surface.
Anti-rain for the body
There is also anti-rain for the car body. Although the presence of drops of water and dirt on the body does not affect traffic safety, it does spoil its appearance. By its principle, anti-rain for the body performs the same functions as for glass, but has a different chemical composition.
Comparison of a car body before and after anti-rain treatment
This is due to the fact that the glass cleaner contains a solvent, which has a negative effect on the paintwork of the car. In addition to silicone polymers, anti-rain for the body contains wax and a solvent that does not harm the paintwork.
Other popular windshield wipers
In addition to the car glass cleaning products presented in the previous section, there are currently also a large number of their analogues on the market. Their effectiveness varies and depends on the composition, price, as well as the logistics component, that is, in some regions of the country a particular product may or may not be available for sale. Thus, the following glass cleaners are popular among domestic car enthusiasts:
- AREXONS Scheiben Schaum;
- ARMOR ALL Glass Cleaner;
- ARMOR ALL Auto Glass Cleaner;
- BBF glass cleaner;
- CARAMBA Glas-Reiniger;
- CARAMBA Glasreininger-Schaum;
- CRC Glass Clean;
- GUNK Green Concentrated Cleaner;
- GUNK Glass Cleaner with Ammonia;
- KANGAROO Fine Glass;
- KERRY KR-920, foam glass cleaner;
- KERRY KR-520, glass cleaner;
- LONG WAY Glass Cleaner;
- RAVENOL Glasklar;
- REX Scheiben-Klar;
- PINGO BIO-GLASREIN MIT BIO-ALKOHOL;
- RUNWAY GLASS CLEANER;
- SHELL Window Cleaner;
- SONAX Scheiben Schaum;
- SOFT99 Glaco Glass;
- SONAX Xtreme NanoPro Scheiben Klar;
- STEP UP Glass & Plastic Cleaner Film Remover;
- WILLSON cleaner-polish with diamond chips;
- WURTH active glass cleaner.
Naturally, this list can go on and on. But the assortment on store shelves depends, among other things, on the logistics component. Therefore, in some regions of the country, this or that product may not be available for sale precisely for this reason.
Silicone grease as an anti-rain
Buying a branded product will cost a pretty penny, and its effectiveness is unknown. After carefully studying the chemical composition of the product, you can make it yourself. The main element of the product is silicone polymer. In car dealerships you can find a product for eliminating squeaks in the car interior - liquid silicone in the form of a spray. When studying the composition of the substance, you can find that it contains the same silicone polymers. The spray is much cheaper than anti-rain. The product is suitable for application to car windows, the effect will be the same as after using anti-rain. The disadvantages of choosing a product are:
- short service life due to the absence of a fixative in the spray;
- The product is not recommended for use on car bodies.
Silicone spray lubricant is applied to the glass and thoroughly rubbed into it
The product does not have cleaning properties, so the glass must be thoroughly washed and dried before spraying the spray. After spraying, the composition is thoroughly rubbed into the surface of the glass with a sponge, napkins or cotton pads. Subsequently, the glass is polished until completely transparent using cloth, paper or napkins.
Anti-rain from paraffin and white spirit
For the most economical ones, you can use a composition that is suitable for processing both glass and car body. Making the composition with your own hands is not difficult and does not require large expenses. To prepare anti-rain you will need only 2 components - paraffin and White Spirit solvent. These ingredients are cheap and easy to find. The paraffin in the mixture is intended to create a hydrophobic layer. A paraffin candle or liquid paraffin - a liquid for igniting a barbecue - is suitable for the composition.
In the case of a paraffin candle, to prepare the solution it must be crushed to speed up the dissolution process. To do this, you can use a kitchen grater, meat grinder or knife. The prepared paraffin shavings must be filled with White Spirit. When dissolving, it is important to maintain the proportion - 1:20. To one part paraffin there are 20 parts solvent. After complete dissolution of the paraffin, the composition is ready for use.
Anti-rain from paraffin and white spirit
After preparation, homemade anti-rain must be applied to an absolutely clean surface of the glass and, if desired, the car body, which must first be washed with car shampoo and detergent with ammonia. Afterwards, the surface of the glass should be rubbed with napkins until it is perfectly transparent.
Anti-rain can be applied only after the surface has completely dried. For application, it is better to use a soft sponge, cloth, cotton pads or napkins. After applying the mixture, you need to give time for the solvent to evaporate. Then the surface is polished with paper napkins.
Applying anti-rain from paraffin and white spirit to a car
The composition is quite simple to prepare and does its job well. The disadvantage can be considered the relative fragility of applying the composition - about 2 months, and possibly less, depending on the intensity of rain and the number of car washes.
You should not use other solvents instead of White Spirit , as they have a negative effect on the paintwork elements of the car body.
You can watch the video for more details about the process of making and applying such anti-rain:
Application procedure
Now let's talk about how to make this super coating with your own hands. To begin with, you buy a good product. You can do it yourself, but more on that later.
Let's assume that you bought some kind of anti-rain in the form of a spray, gel or paste. Now it needs to be applied to the surface of the body and glass. Remember that different hydrophobic chemistry is used for glass and car body parts. There may be universal remedies, but I would not recommend using them.
The process of coating with anti-rain looks extremely simple.
This gives the body perfect smoothness and better streamlining.
Depending on the hydrophobic coating chosen, the effect can last from several weeks to several months. That is, you will have to repeat the procedure periodically.
Homemade anti-rain
If you don’t want to spend money on expensive auto chemicals, you can make a hydrophobic composition yourself. This is done like this:
This homemade anti-rain lasts up to 2 months.
Everything is quite simple and clear. Whether you need such coverage is a completely different question.
Source
Anti-corrosion water-repellent grease WD - 40
A number of useful properties of WD-40 lubricant have been known for a long time, the main of which are:
- displacement of moisture;
- protection from moisture and prevention of corrosion;
- cleaning the surface from glue, grease and bitumen stains;
- lubrication of metal parts.
The main elements included in the chemical composition of WD - 40:
- White spirit solvent;
- ferromones;
- carbon dioxide required for atomization.
WD-40 can also be used as an anti-rain for glass and bodywork
This chemical composition and the objectives of WD-40 predetermined its use as an anti-rain. The aerosol can be used both for glass and for the car body. The process of applying it is similar to the case with paraffin anti-rain. Surfaces must be washed, degreased and dried before application. After application to the surface, the aerosol is thoroughly rubbed in and the treated surfaces are polished. The disadvantage of using the product is its relative fragility.
Brief description of the product
Anti-rain is made from silicone and organic solvent. After application to glass and car body, this composition forms a thin hydrophobic film that reliably protects surfaces from moisture and dirt. Water does not linger on the treated surface and immediately rolls down, improving the visibility of the windshield and the appearance of the car.
Advantages of anti-rain:
- prevents vehicle pollution;
- makes it easier to clean windows and bodywork from water and dirt;
- does not leave streaks or cloudy film;
- reduces the adhesion of snow and ice to the car surface;
- reduces washer fluid consumption;
- When driving at a speed of 40 km/h, it reduces the intensity of wiper use.
We recommend: Do-it-yourself replacement of the pump on a VAZ 2107
The cost of branded anti-rain starts from 500 rubles. You can also find cheaper analogues in car shops, but their effect will be questionable and not durable enough (the car will have to be treated after every rain).
Supercon as anti-rain
Superconcentrate can be purchased at any hardware store. Craftsmen suggest diluting a measuring cap of this product with 2 - 3 liters of water and simply pouring it into the windshield washer reservoir. The effect will be “obvious” - water will roll off the surface of the glass even without turning on the windshield wipers. The advantage of the method is the ease of preparing the mixture.
Do-it-yourself anti-rain based on Lenora
Which liquid wax is best for a car?
how to polish car windows from scratches with your own hands here
Before you figure out how to use liquid wax, you need to find out what types of wax exist and how they differ. Today on the market you can find 3 types of wax from different manufacturers: Cold. The most affordable and easiest to use option. Before treating the body, you just need to dilute liquid car wax in water in accordance with the instructions and you can get to work. However, the effect of this procedure is not very durable and will need to be repeated 1-2 times a month; Hot. This type is distinguished by more expensive components that prevent the formation of corrosion. Dilute the protective liquid in hot water, strictly following the instructions. The price of hot liquid wax for cars is higher, but the effect is longer - from 6 months to a year; Foamy. This is the most expensive option. Only professionals can treat a car with foamy liquid wax, since special equipment is needed to convert the wax composition into foam. The effect of such a procedure is the most noticeable and long-term. Regardless of the type of protective liquid, the quality of the product itself is of great importance. Liquid wax "Grass" combines the highest quality and a very attractive price.
