Drying the car!
Discussion
Just a quick one - I'm not a detailer but just like to look after my car. I'm wandering what to use to dry the car. ATM I use a Chamois but it just seems to leave smears rather than actually dry the car. Any suggestions?
ETA: My car is about 6 years old and hasn't always been mine so hasn't been as well looked after as I would like. I've been reading a few guides to washing the car well but how do I get the car back up to a good standard before I can worry about using a proper maintenance method? It's got the odd swirl mark and has lost it's shine a little. I've read how to avoid swirl marks but what about how to get rid of them?
ETA: My car is about 6 years old and hasn't always been mine so hasn't been as well looked after as I would like. I've been reading a few guides to washing the car well but how do I get the car back up to a good standard before I can worry about using a proper maintenance method? It's got the odd swirl mark and has lost it's shine a little. I've read how to avoid swirl marks but what about how to get rid of them?
Edited by phr33k on Sunday 2nd November 15:58
Rinse the car with an open hose to let the water sheet off the car. Then spray the car with something like Meguiars Last Touch!
The best drying towels are either Sonus Der Wonder Drying Towels or Chemical Guys Ultra Plush. Throw away the chamois and welcome to the 21st century of towels.
After use these can be washed and put in the tumble dryer.
The best drying towels are either Sonus Der Wonder Drying Towels or Chemical Guys Ultra Plush. Throw away the chamois and welcome to the 21st century of towels.
After use these can be washed and put in the tumble dryer.
As above - microfibre towels are where it's at rather than chamois.
As for lost shine - might be a symptom of the swirls/scratches the paint has, but equally, something as relatively straight forward as a clay bar to remove embedded contaminants will be enough to restore a lot of the shine.
Throw on a good wax/sealant, and you can address the swirls in due course once the winter has passed.
As for lost shine - might be a symptom of the swirls/scratches the paint has, but equally, something as relatively straight forward as a clay bar to remove embedded contaminants will be enough to restore a lot of the shine.
Throw on a good wax/sealant, and you can address the swirls in due course once the winter has passed.
Costco do a pack of surprisingly good yet affordable waffle-weave microfibre towels (and dirt cheap and excellent polishing microfibres too!).
We tend to dry with a properly-maintained silicone hydra-flexiblade then waffle-weave then fluffy microfibre.
Alternatively, if you really want to avoid swirling the paint and don't mind spending a few pennies, you can buy filters that reduce the mineral salt content of your rinsing water to a negligible level, meaning you can let the car air-dry without feeling guilty - and no chance at all of swirling the paint with any drying aid. Several of the reputable valeting/detailing supply websites carry them...
Tol
We tend to dry with a properly-maintained silicone hydra-flexiblade then waffle-weave then fluffy microfibre.
Alternatively, if you really want to avoid swirling the paint and don't mind spending a few pennies, you can buy filters that reduce the mineral salt content of your rinsing water to a negligible level, meaning you can let the car air-dry without feeling guilty - and no chance at all of swirling the paint with any drying aid. Several of the reputable valeting/detailing supply websites carry them...
Tol
belleair302 said:
Rinse the car with an open hose to let the water sheet off the car. Then spray the car with something like Meguiars Last Touch!
The best drying towels are either Sonus Der Wonder Drying Towels or Chemical Guys Ultra Plush. Throw away the chamois and welcome to the 21st century of towels.
After use these can be washed and put in the tumble dryer.
as another poster has said - the Costco microfibre towels are great and cheapThe best drying towels are either Sonus Der Wonder Drying Towels or Chemical Guys Ultra Plush. Throw away the chamois and welcome to the 21st century of towels.
After use these can be washed and put in the tumble dryer.
i've used all the above 'names' - and they are no better than Costco
sadly in detailing 'names' dictate price
the Costco cloths could be rebadged as a major 'name' and all detailers would rave about them!
also consider this 99% of microfibre cloths are from China - you think the 'names' have special plants with their own production lines?
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