Wasn't going to comment here cause the thread was so old but since all you guys are....
I just run the Winter Anco Blades. They are cheap, think I pay $4 for the 18", and replace them every year.
But I don't drive much, we don't get the rains that some of you do, etc.
They do what I need them to do.
The thing that always amused me is that I pay more for the 13" rear one. Thinking $5.50.
Only replace that every other year.
I only Rain-X twice a year. Been using that stuff forever but I think it does not work as well as it did 30 years ago.
But it still does work.
Close to 30 years ago I had this junk Chevy Malibu. The wiper motor started acting up. Instead of fixing it I used the Rain-X.
I was so impressed how well it worked that I never did fix the wiper motor in that car. LOL.

 

Hehee!!
I fully agree on anco.
I also agree all the new formats like pads and the squeeze lever sprayer not standing up to time.
I have found nothing but the regular ole bottle with the folding nozzle is worth a hoot.
Applied as directed it still seems to be the product it has always been.

 

I want to say that I have been using the Anco's for 40 years now.
Was in the parking at Killington, done skiing for the day and loading up the car, and there was this guy next to me doing the same.
He had really weird looking wipers on his car. So not being shy I asked about them. LOL.
Winter Anco's he said. The snow doesn't build up on them quite so bad cause of the rubber around the arm.
So that being a problem from time to time decided to give them a try. Sure enough.
All I have used since. MLOL.

Like you I only use the one Rain-X product.
But I did try their window polishing kit.
I saw this segment on a car show and they were talking about polishing glass.
Think it was promoting a Mother's product.
It is amazing how much crap is on the windshield. You can't feel it with your hand but put your hand
in the Glad sandwich bag type bag and run your hand over the windshield. Wow.
The Mother's kit was like $60 I think. The Rain-X one I think was like $17.

So tried it.
It worked well. I did a before and after with the sandwich bag. Turned out I missed a spot.
It was smooth as silk until I hit the spot I missed. I came to a compete stop. EMLOL.
But it did not stay that way long. And I don't do a lot of highway driving which I am thinking makes it worse.
So I never bothered with it again.

 

Now that is a new one on me. I have always used a razor to scrape the glass before I bother deep cleaning it with rain-x. ^^
Learned that one from a window tint guy in the 1980's.

 

I used to work in printing and that is how we cleaned the light tables.
Saturate it in glass cleaner and go over it with a blade.
One of the dealerships I used to deliver to for the Napa I used to see the detailer working on cars.
Looked like he knew what he was doing. They looked really good on the outside.
Anyway he told me used steel wool. The really fine 000 or 0000 stuff.
Can't remember which though.

 

When it positively has to be clean.
I've detailed my own stuff forever but when I joined IASCA in 1986 the Pro level really got serious.
have never used steel wool on glass since I can 'feel it' with a razor and I am used to that.

 

I gotta admit all those years I used blades to clean the glass on light tables never really occurred to me to do the same with car glass.
Think I will give it a try next time.
I used to be pretty good with a single edge blade from when I worked in printing.
Lot of delicate work doing prep work so jobs could be printed.
Some places I used as many as a 100 a day.
See if I can still handle one as delicately as I could way back when. LOL.

 

I used to buy the closeouts as a mass order...until last time my wife totaled her car and was left with 15 set of wiper. Was able to sell/use on size but the other one was a old ball size and pretty much impossible to sell on eBay.