How to Replace Your Wiper Blades and Apply Rain Repellent
Worn-out wiper blades and a bare windshield are a bad combination in the rain. The good news is that replacing your wipers and applying a water-repellent coating takes about 20 minutes and makes a massive difference in visibility. Here’s exactly how I do it every year on my 2008 Jetta — and the products I trust to get it done right.
What You’ll Need
Before you start, grab these two things:
19″ & 24″ Wiper Blades — For the 2008 Jetta, it’s a 24-inch blade on the driver side and a 19-inch on the passenger side. Double-check the sizing for your specific vehicle before ordering. These come with adapter pieces for different wiper arm styles, which saves a lot of headache. Pick up RainX wiper blades here.
Rain-X Water Repellent — This is the coating that makes rainwater bead up and roll right off your windshield. One application lasts for 6+ months in my usage and the difference in visibility during a storm is night and day. I do this every Spring before the rains of spring + summer. Grab Rain-X water repellent here.
You’ll also want two or three clean microfiber cloths on hand.
Grab Rain-X water repellent here
Step 1: Put Your Wipers in Service Mode
On the 2008 Jetta (and many VW models), you need to put the wipers into an access position before you can work on them. Here’s the trick:
Turn the key to the “on” position so the dash lights up. Hit the wiper stalk down once. Then turn the key off. The wipers will stop in a raised position, giving you full access to both blades.
Step 2: Clean the Windshield
Before you do anything else, give the windshield a good cleaning. You want a completely clean surface for the rain repellent later, and it’s easier to do this now while the old blades are still on. Use glass cleaner and a clean cloth to get it spotless.
Click For Great Microfiber Cloths
Step 3: Remove the Old Wiper Blades
Removing the old blades is simple. Squeeze the release button on the back of the blade and pull up. The blade slides right off the wiper arm. Do this for both sides.
If your blades look anything like mine did — cracked, torn, and falling apart — you’re way overdue for a swap.
Step 4: Install the New BF Goodrich Blades
Here’s where people get tripped up. The new BF Goodrich blades come with a different connector than what’s on your car, but they include the right adapter piece in the box.
To swap the adapter, lift the existing connector piece off the top of the new blade. It feels like you might break it, but it pops right off. Then snap in the adapter that matches your wiper arm style. Keep the smooth side oriented the same way as the original piece.
Once the adapter is in place, line the blade up with the wiper arm and squeeze it in until it clicks. Remove the protective end caps and you’re set. Repeat on the other side.
Step 5: Apply Rain-X Water Repellent
This is the step that most people skip — and it’s the one that makes the biggest difference.
Spray a small amount of Rain-X onto a clean cloth (not directly onto the windshield). Work it across the glass in a circular motion, section by section. As it dries, you’ll notice a bluish haze forming on the glass. That’s exactly what you want to see.
Let it dry completely. The haze actually works in your favor here because it shows you exactly where you’ve applied the product and where you’ve missed spots. Go back and hit any bare areas.
Step 6: Buff to a Clear Finish
Once the Rain-X has fully dried, grab a fresh clean cloth and buff the windshield until the bluish haze disappears completely. Work in sections and use a second cloth if the first one gets saturated. You’re looking for a crystal-clear finish with no streaks.
Why I Do This Every Year
I’ve been doing this wiper-and-coating combo annually and the difference it makes in heavy rain is dramatic. Water beads up and flies off the windshield at highway speed, sometimes to the point where you barely need the wipers at all. Combined with fresh blades that make clean contact with the glass, your wet-weather visibility goes from sketchy to confident.
New wiper blades alone won’t cut it if your windshield is bare. And Rain-X alone doesn’t help much if your blades are shredded and streaking. It’s the combination of both that really works.
Ready to upgrade your setup? Grab the RainX wiper blades here and Rain-X water repellent here and knock this out in under 30 minutes. Your future self will thank you the next time a downpour hits.