A rain repellent makes rain bead up and blow off the windscreen, so you see more and need the wipers less. Our first pick is SOFT99 Glaco DX, which bonds in 5 minutes and lasts up to 4 months, with Glaco Roll On Large as the quick, easy option. Every pick here is in our glass sealants range.
What is the best rain repellent in the UK?
For most drivers we recommend SOFT99 Glaco DX: it bonds quickly, lasts up to 4 months and its felt applicator follows the curve of the screen. Glaco Roll On is the simplest to apply, Mosschem Repel suits windscreens and side glass, and SOFT99 Rain Drop Tornado treats the whole car, glass included, straight after a wash.
What does a rain repellent do?
It leaves a very thin, slippery hydrophobic film on the outside of the glass. Instead of spreading into a sheet that you have to look through, rain pulls into round beads that the airflow pushes off the screen. At speed the screen can clear itself between wipes, and at night there is less of the glare a wet film throws from oncoming headlights.
A slick, treated screen is also easier to keep clean, as insects, salt spray and road film have less to grip, and in frosty weather a screen coated with Glaco Roll On is slower to freeze over.
Which rain repellent should you choose?
Choose by how long you want it to last and how you like to apply it.
Longest-lasting windscreen coating
The latest Glaco coating, which bonds to the glass in 5 minutes and lasts up to 4 months. The built-in felt applicator has a movable head that follows the shape of the windscreen and a larger rectangular felt for the corners. One 110ml bottle treats about 10 windscreens.
Quick and easy roll-on
SOFT99 Glaco Roll On Large 120ml
A water-repellent coating for car windows and glass wing mirrors with a large applicator head that speeds up bigger screens. Water starts to clear at around 45 km/h, which suits town driving, and in frosty weather it makes the glass slower to freeze over.
SOFT99 Glaco Roll On Max 300ml
The 300ml Max version of the roll-on in a new bottle shape, with the same hydrophobic film that lets water blow off the windscreen from as low as 45 km/h and reduces the build-up of frost and ice.
A glass sealant for every window
A 250ml hydrophobic glass sealant that bonds to the glass and leaves a clear, streak-free finish. It suits the windscreen, side and rear glass: apply it, let it haze briefly, then buff it off.
£22.95In stock
Whole-car spray coating
SOFT99 Rain Drop Tornado Vortex
A spray coating for paint, glass and more that goes on the wet car straight after washing, panel by panel. It lasts up to 3 months on glass and up to 5 months on paint, and one 300ml can covers about 5 average-sized cars.
Top-ups and winter mornings
A streak-free glass cleaner that adds a water-repellent layer every time you use it, on wet or dry glass, coated or uncoated. It boosts an existing coating and reduces wiper chatter.
Thaws ice and snow on the glass and leaves a hydrophobic coating that makes it harder to freeze again. It is safe over existing Glaco coatings, so it suits a treated screen in winter.
Rain repellents compared
| Product | Type | Lasts up to | Size | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOFT99 Glaco DX | Glass coating | 4 months | 110ml | Windscreens |
| Glaco Roll On Large 120ml | Roll-on coating | - | 120ml | Quick application |
| Glaco Roll On Max 300ml | Roll-on coating | - | 300ml | Several cars |
| Mosschem Repel | Glass sealant | - | 250ml | All exterior glass |
| Rain Drop Tornado | Spray coating | 3 months on glass | 300ml | Whole car after a wash |
| CarPro Clarify PHOBIC | Hydrophobic cleaner | - | 500ml | Topping up |
How do you apply a rain repellent?
Start with glass that is completely clean and dry, because a repellent seals in whatever is left on the surface. Work in the shade on cool glass, one area at a time.
- Clean the glass: wash the car, then clean the screen with a glass cleaner and a fresh microfibre until the towel glides without any grab.
- Dry it fully: make sure there is no water left in the edges or under the wiper blades.
- Apply evenly: work the repellent over the glass in overlapping passes, first one way and then across, so no area is missed.
- Let it bond: leave it for the time on the bottle, which is 5 minutes for Glaco DX.
- Buff it clear: polish off any haze with a clean, dry microfibre, then check the screen from the driving seat for streaks.
- Keep it dry: give it time before rain or washing where you can, and keep the wipers off until the haze is gone.
Does rain repellent work at low speed?
It works best with airflow. Water beads up on a treated screen at any speed, but it needs moving air to blow it away, and Glaco Roll On starts to clear from around 45 km/h. In slow traffic you will still use the wipers, just less often and with less smearing.
Can you put rain repellent on the inside of the windscreen?
No. Rain repellents are made for exterior glass. The inside of the screen needs a plain, streak-free glass cleaner, and a coating there can leave a film that glares at night. For the inside of the glass, see our guide to cleaning car windows without streaks.
Common questions
How long does rain repellent last?
It depends on the product, the wipers and how often the car is washed. Glaco DX lasts up to 4 months and Rain Drop Tornado up to 3 months on glass. A hydrophobic glass cleaner such as Clarify PHOBIC tops the layer up between applications.
Why does my windscreen smear after applying rain repellent?
Usually because the glass was not perfectly clean, the haze was not fully buffed off, or the wiper blades are worn. Our guide to why a windscreen smears explains each cause and the fix.
Can you use rain repellent on side windows and mirrors?
Yes. Glaco Roll On suits windows and glass wing mirrors, and Mosschem Repel suits side and rear glass as well as the windscreen.
Should you use a ceramic screen wash with a rain repellent?
We recommend it. A ceramic screen wash leaves its own water-repellent layer every time you use the washers, which helps a treated screen keep beading. Our screen wash range has the options.
For everyday glass cleaning, inside and out, see our pick of the best car glass cleaners.
Need help choosing?
Tell our team what you drive and how you like to apply products, and we will suggest the right repellent. You can also browse the full SOFT99 and glass cleaner ranges.
