Getting the car dry!

[Davislove]

what are people’s techniques for getting their car dry after washing? Now that chamois leathers have been condemned

I’ve tried using the microfibre towels but you seem to need a whole load them because unlike chamois they don’t hold that much water until they get saturated, on a big car it’s even more difficult.

Has anyone tried blow drying or maybe rinse aids?

I used to use a chamois and keep wringing it out and going back on the car which was fine, but the risk of swirls puts me off doing that now.

Cheers

[rustfalia]

Spray the wet car with quick detailer and spray your microfiber drying towel.

[JonChalk]

I've found the very bright yellow Kent microfibre towels to be excellent - they suck up water instantly from dry.

http://www.kentcarcare.co.uk/products/microfibre-c...

[tumble dryer]

JonChalk said:

I've found the very bright yellow Kent microfibre towels to be excellent - they suck up water instantly from dry.

http://www.kentcarcare.co.uk/products/microfibre-c...

+1

[finlo]

I just go for a spirited spin around the block!

[XFRFred]

I bought one of these a while back

https://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/auto-finesse-aqua-d...

Pop it on the panel, like the bonnet, pinch one corner of the towel and slowly pull it towards you.
The weight of the towel is more than enough to capture the water sitting on the car.

Normally one pass is enough to dry the panel being worked on.

I guess it's similar to the yellow one above.

[Cerdo Espada]

I'd searched for the Holy Grail of drying towels for a long time and I think I may have just found it.
First impressions are that it will easily absorb all of the water sitting on a regular car - and then some !
The biggest issue is how to wring it out once 'full'.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06XYB7HCT/ref...
Don't waste your time with waffle weaves as they can go hard over time and marr the waxed surface.

Of course if you have a sealed and waxed, glass-like surface, most of the water should simply sheet off, especially using an open hose to rinse.

[Summit_Detailing]

The following 2 options are the best I've found, having tried many, many drying towels, easily drying even a large car without needing to wring out or find another towel to complete the drying stage -
https://www.exceldetailingsupplies.co.uk/product-p...
&
https://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/pb-luxury-drying-t...

cheers

Chris

[mrtim]

Summit_Detailing said:

The following 2 options are the best I've found, having tried many, many drying towels, easily drying even a large car without needing to wring out or find another towel to complete the drying stage -
https://www.exceldetailingsupplies.co.uk/product-p...

I use the Klin Duo after trying out a few others - very impressed. A medium will dry a whole car without wringing. Simply lay flat on the surface and pull towards you and the water is gone.

[skinny]

I just use a microfiber drying towel. It's quite big, and it's got pockets in the corners for your hands so easy to use.

It'll just about do my 996 without getting too wet but i do try a little sheeting first to minimise the amount of water left (tho I'm not good at it)

[48Valves]

Nice big microfiber then a leaf blower

https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread....

If the car has a decent coat of wax the water should run off pretty easily.

[coldel]

I have tried literally dozens of different towels - agree as above the Kent large yellows are good but I have settled with two of these
https://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/pb-luxury-drying-t... to do the hard work and these https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01K64EGG8 to finish up. The real key though is a drying aid to avoid water spots and marking, Sonax BSD is a fantastic product, you just spray a small amount across the panel into the water sitting on it and wipe, it removes water spots etc. and leaves less water on the car surface as you dry. Means less passes with the towel, which reduces swirling.

You could also look at protection, obviously a well polished, clayed and waxed car will resist water better than one without. I use a hydrophobic shampoo (Gyeon Bathe+) which is highly effective at making the water run off without leaving marks.

[Cerdo Espada]

skinny said:

I just use a microfiber drying towel. It's quite big, and it's got pockets in the corners for your hands so easy to use.

It'll just about do my 996 without getting too wet but i do try a little sheeting first to minimise the amount of water left (tho I'm not good at it)

Sheeting schmeeting.....

Go to Aldi and buy a couple of 2 litre bottles of still spring water at 17p each.
Pour this over each panel in turn, adopting the pose of a mediocre sommelier serving a good Sancerre (one hand, palm outwards placed in the small of your back !) in semi-shade and at a temperature not exceeding 22 degrees and allow to dwell for 6 minutes.
You can of course use San Pelligrino depending on budgetary constraints for a far, far superior finish.
Then, using a ST350 Infrared Surface Thermometer (with laser) to determine the optimum removal temperature carefully hold a small breed of lap dog by all four paws and invert. Using slow but determined front to back movement remove every trace of water.
My personal choice is the all time classic - yes, a well-groomed Shih-Tzu but any small breed if not too grubby will suffice. Remember, as always, to hold him at arms length while wearing your chainmail gauntlets.....
Stand back and admire your work (remembering to strategically position the canine away from the paintwork as he vigorously shakes out his fur)....

[Composite Guru]

I use a Meg's microfibre towel and then go round with my compressed air to blow the water out of all the seals etc.

I did look at buying a blow dryer but £350 was a bit steep. I ended up buying a Compressor from SGS for a fraction of the price and it doubles up nicely to do other stuff in the garage too.

[_Hoppers]

I've currently got 2 Kent towels. I usually only have to wring it out once or twice to get car dry. I then finish off with a second dry towel. About to order a Klin Korean, heard
lots of good things about those.

[Gio G]

Especially during winter months, I use a pet dryer... I got mine for roughly £40 from eBay, of course you could spend between £200-£400 for a metro blaster.. it essentially does the same thing for a quarter of the price.. Using air does cut down on time and does a great job of getting water out from everywhere.. Also you are not touching the bodywork as much..

I will use a rinse aid after the final clean, power wash it off and then dry down with the pet dryer.. There is a bit of an art to it, in order to avoid using too much heat and creating lots of dry watermarks, but that is another story..


https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/2800w-Heavy-Duty-Dog-Cat-...

https://www.killerbrands.co.uk/metro-dryers/Blaste...

G

[aaron_2000]

Gio G said:

Especially during winter months, I use a pet dryer... I got mine for roughly £40 from eBay, of course you could spend between £200-£400 for a metro blaster.. it essentially does the same thing for a quarter of the price.. Using air does cut down on time and does a great job of getting water out from everywhere.. Also you are not touching the bodywork as much..

I will use a rinse aid after the final clean, power wash it off and then dry down with the pet dryer.. Their is a bit of an art to it, in order to avoid using too much heat and creating lots of dry watermarks, but that is another story..


https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/2800w-Heavy-Duty-Dog-Cat-...

https://www.killerbrands.co.uk/metro-dryers/Blaste...

G

Glad I'm not the only one. I only started using it to disperse the pooling water on the roof. In the warmer weather, I'll still use it for that and the tyres.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

I use a silicone blade and a regular microfiber to finish.
I know what you're thinking, and it hasn't for the last 5 or so years I've been using it.

[rubes78]

I use one of these:
https://www.autobritedirect.co.uk/products/hellshi...
Drys the car completely without needing to wring it. Only problem was the Mrs washed it with some of my microfibre towels which it turned pink!

[_Hoppers]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

I use a silicone blade and a regular microfiber to finish.
I know what you're thinking, and it hasn't for the last 5 or so years I've been using it.