rainex weather beater wiper blades

[Longhorn Man]

Something I have found, esp on old vehicles, a real good scrubbing on the glass. I like doing it with real strong dishsoap water... like to the point the water has turned a little bit the color of the soap. I use a scrub brush on it too. After that, I'll use a degreaser, Spray9 is my favorite, but formula 409 is another good one for this. Scrub real good with the scrub brush again. Then I'll follow up with windex. This all helps get deposits and crap off the glass and gets rid of the chatter. I normally give a good coat of wax too, found that on the freeway I don't even need wipers, even at night, and the wipers slide right across. I'm still torn on weather I like rain X or wax better as a top coat. The wax (or rain X) can disapear as soon as you spray the washer solvent on the glass, but mine doesn't work so it is a non issue with me.
It is just as important to have the blades clean too if they are not new. Also every time you wash the car, or even clean the windshiel, you should wipe the blade with a paper towel, you'll be surprised at how much black crap will come off.
The real good scrubbing is something I do whenever I ger a new old vehicle... not like every washing or every year. Just once. The waxing I've been known to do 3 or 4 times a year, but usually just twice, just before winter, and then again in the spring.
Following this has been able to make my wipers last for quite a long time. My longhorn is on it's second set of blades since it's been back on the road (in 05) and the burb still has its set I installed as soon as I got it home in 07.