I'm in search of the perfect way to dry my car. I have not washed it in probably half a year (no joke) and it's about time I did something about it. One of my biggest problems though is the drying process. If I drive and let it air dry, I get water spots on windows and on the rear bumper. I'm not getting the results that I need.

Sometimes I just let it sit there and dry, but that takes too long and usually resorts to method number one.

I used a chamois(sp?) once and won't ever do it again.

I've used cotton towels before and just got streak marks that "shine" in the right light at the right angle.

I've used a rubber squeege type deal that I'm afraid could damage the paint, and also doesn't dry like I want it to.

Bottom line, I'm unhappy with all my previous methods at attempting to dry the car. How the crap do I do it the right way?


This is what I want my car to look like after I'm done cleaning!

 

I've heard using a leaf blower(electric) works well.

 

This "rubber squegee" method that you use, is it the california water blade? Just curious because this is the method that I dry my car with and I found it to be the best and fastest. Of course it doesn't get every single drop of water, but it gets most of it out where when you finally use a towel/chamois, there is very little water left to cause streaking.

Another good thing to have is an air compressor to blow out water out of hard areas like between bumpers. I especially found it useful when having wheels with polished lips. Instead of using a towel to drying the nice shiny finish (and quite possibly scratching it), just use the air to dry the wheel.

 

Why such hard feelings against a chamios? I find that is the best way to dry my car without leaving streaks or any fear of damaging the paint.

 

The blade I've used is a little hand held deal. I felt uncomfortable that I was drying my car with rubber.

The chamios, I can't remember why exactly I didn't like it. Maybe it was the process that I detested. If I remember right, I had to drag it across the car, couldn't dry it in circular motions, then squeeze it out repeatedly...kind of cloudy on that but anyways...

 

You let the water stay on it? Umm... waterspots big guy. They're probably all over your car. After all the soaps off my car, I take off the nozzle of the hose and just let the water stream onto the car because it really helps a lot with getting a lot of water off. After that, I use a Waffle Weave microfiber towel. Some people use an electric leaf blower. Not bad also. I sometimes use that for cracks and crevices when I'm too lazy to drive it around after drying it to get the water out. Anyways, a big microfiber or terry cloth towel should be fine. The absorber works well also. Don't dry your towels with a fabric sheet and don't wash with fabric softener. Just liquid, and air dry is good too.

 

http://www.absorber.com/home.html

 

I've been using the California Water Blade for years and without any problems. Blade isn't rubber. I don't know what they call it, but supposedly it's not rubber and is always soft everytime I use it. I just make sure that the blade is clean before I dry the car.

 

Absorber towel :bowdown:

 

I don't recall saying that I let the water stay on it. I do also "sheet" the water on in an effort to reduce the amount of water that I have to dry. It's at that point that I'm needing advice on.