School me on using a windshield treatment like aquapel, and longevity of wiper blades

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prr

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I have been reading about different blades here, and occasionally come across someone saying that they still have the original blades the car came with (or they haven't replaced their blades in several years), because they treat the windshield with aquapel or something like that.

I’m not sure I’m understanding these folks correctly. Do they just never have to use the windshield wipers, so there is no need to replace them, if they treat the windshield? Or just that they hardly ever have to use the blades, so they last a lot longer? Or what?

I live in a desert, and I’d think that the sun would harden & crack the rubber blade, regardless of how often it was being used.

Thoughts?
 
I tend to agree with you. The UV rays from the sun in your climate will still do harm to the blades. Where I live it rains or snows often, so wipers get a lot of use, and get changed at least annually, sometimes after 7-8 mths. Not so sure in the desert, where rain is not frequent that Aquapel will serve much purpose for you. I use it, and like it. At highway speeds if it is a lighter rain, it just beads off and I barely need to even use the wipers. I will get a few months out of it in our climate.
 
Not the desert but living here in Texas heat and UV is always a factor. I treated the wiper blades on both of our '08 cars with Aerospace 303 monthly. Due to that I have only replaced the wiper blades one time in almost 12 years for what it's worth. I don't care for any of the windshield treatments. Once they do degrade the wipers just don't work as well and it's a real bugger to get that film off of the glass.
 
I agree with Rick in Texas...Aerospace 303 on your blades would be wise. I use it on plastic parts and decals on our RV, great product!
 
Rick, I have heard quite a few folks here at Autogeek and elsewhere use 303 on their blades. Do you just wipe it down and walk away, or do you soak it in a bag full of the stuff? Sounds like a lot of time & expense if the latter.

RTexasF said:
Not the desert but living here in Texas heat and UV is always a factor. I treated the wiper blades on both of our '08 cars with Aerospace 303 monthly. Due to that I have only replaced the wiper blades one time in almost 12 years for what it's worth. I don't care for any of the windshield treatments. Once they do degrade the wipers just don't work as well and it's a real bugger to get that film off of the glass.
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wipe it down and walk away, well you probably want to give the blade a good cleaning first. But the 303 is simply wiped on, no soaking involved.
 
A garage kept vehicle sees a lot less wear and tear on things like wiper blades.

As others have suggested, cleaning and then treating the Blades with a good protectant will surely help them.

With Replacement Blades, I think most will agree, that you do get what you pay for. Buy the cheapest Blades money can buy, you will not get much life compared to better Blades.

Sure, the cleaner the Glass, and being treated with a Rain Repellant will cause less wear, and drag.

Seems many here have their favorite brand of Repellants, some people like Aquapel, others not so much.

I'm not that big a fan of it, noting that it didn't last as long as claimed, and no matter what prep I did beforehand, I wasn't getting months of use out of it. Of course when I tested it, I was living in brutal desert conditions in Southwest NM, heat, sun and dusts no doubt take their toll.

You also don't get much use out of a single Applicator of Aquapel, working with lightning speed, I was lucky to just get the Windshield coated on a daily driver Kia Spectra Hatchback. Of course one can use a more expensive and durable Repellant of personal choice on the Windshield such as many uber priced ones sold here, then use a less expensive product like Rain-X on all the rest perhaps.
 
Varies a lot if your car sits outside or in a garage. Mine is garaged and I avoid days of bad weather if I can. My glass is also coated. I rarely use the wipers, only if it's such a fine mist it can't just slide off with some speed. My wipers still work great (had to use them the past couple of days) and they're 32 months old now. I also clean my car often so the rubber isn't always pushing dirt around.

My wife's car has the same coating on the glass but is always outside. I have to change her blades every year after the winter.
 
My cars are garaged outside, 24/7.

I've typically had very good luck with Rainx conventional, but this last one only lasted 6 months, and so now I'm thinking I should add to my repertoire. 303 is looking very good now. Rainx says to wash the blade when you wash your car; I can easily do that. Every time I wax (2-3 months or so) I can also use 303.
 
With the cost of blades now 303 is a bargain, I Houston I normally have to replace the blades twice a year, using 303 I now change them annually.
The heat and pollution tear up exposed rubber. I use it on all exposed seals with good results.


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I have used RainX, Aquapel and Griots Glass Sealant and they all work well, however Aquapel has worked the best for me. It has outlasted the other coatings and it especially works well at night. RainX can leave a smear or a ghosting effect at nighttime. The traditional Rainx was difficult to remove but the 2 in 1 cleaner is very easy to use. Griots is easy to apply and remove but it only lasts about 3-4 months. I can get 30 days out of RainX and about 6 months out of Aquapel. The Aquapel directions tell you to buff off the product with a paper towel. I just cannot get myself to do that. I will not allow an abrasive paper towel to touch my windshield.
I live in Southern New England when the only intense sun we get is in July and August. I can get a year out of a set of wiper blades. Wiping down the blades with 303 is sound advice.
 
Just like you, I hate the idea of using paper towel to buff off the Aquapel. I tried mf towels but they seemed to lint too much when using them with Aquapel, yet when used on their own, they don't seem to lint. So what do you use to buff it off?
 
luvmyrv said:
Just like you, I hate the idea of using paper towel to buff off the Aquapel. I tried mf towels but they seemed to lint too much when using them with Aquapel, yet when used on their own, they don't seem to lint. So what do you use to buff it off?
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A cheaper microfiber towel will leave a lot of lint behind. I like the Cobra Edgeless Sky Blue polishing cloths.

Sky Blue Edgeless Polishing Cloth
 
I bought the best Bosch blades (based off reviews) The hot So Cal sun has basically killed them. It barely rains so I hardly even got to use them, maybe 3 times yet they're already almost worthless. I WISH I had been smart and treated them with 303 or something.
 
I have also bought Bosch blades a couple times over the years, and they have been among the worst blades I have bought. Not only does your hot CA sun kill them but so does our frigid northern climate. In no time at all they started to act like worn out blades and the rubber would tear, and leave streaks while wiping rain. Haven't bought any more of the Bosch since.
 
luvmyrv said:
I have also bought Bosch blades a couple times over the years, and they have been among the worst blades I have bought. Not only does your hot CA sun kill them but so does our frigid northern climate. In no time at all they started to act like worn out blades and the rubber would tear, and leave streaks while wiping rain. Haven't bought any more of the Bosch since.
Click to expand...
What I did to avoid that was to use Bosch icon for 3 seasons and use some other cheaper wiper during the winter. Once spring came I installed the Icon again. Those wipers are so nice.
This on my wife’s car that is always outside. Mine is in the garage and i avoid driving in bad weather so it’s still on OEM wipers, almost 3 years later. Glass is coated with McKee’s so when it rains I rarely need wipers.
 
For what it's worth I just used Aquapel for about the 8th time in 5 years years and I don't know if I got a fake batch from Amazon but after applying (30 seconds) I immediately used paper towel as suggested and dang it would not come off. Left swirls and haze on the windshield. It's a major pain to rub them off. I have read that Bon Ami works to remove the Aquapel - I will drive with the car the way it is now and see how bad it is.
 
Did you try with a towel? Paper towel is ok for the first pass but I always need a MF towel and elbow grease to remove the rest.
 
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