Hi all,

I have a hard time drying my car after washing. I've used both a synthetic chamois from Griot's and "the Absorber." Neither seems to work that great. Always leaves a film of water behind. Any hints? Thanks!

Mike

Air dry at 90mph+ :D

I use a real chamois and then just go for a quick drive (usually not that fast).

Follow up after your Absorber with a Microfiber Towel. It'll pick up the leftover water very quickly and without harm to your paint.

Fyi, I use a Water Bandit synthetic chamois for drying, and MF Towel for practically everything else.

/mel

I use the California Water Blade first then the "Absorber".

If you're using the Absorber and you have a water residue left then your just not doing it right. ou may get the occasional haze but it will always dry clear.

Tats.

I must not yet be using the "Absorber" right because I too have a very difficult time getting it properly dry. Comments and suggestions on how to dry the WRX after washing are very desired and helpful! GoodFinder :)

Fastwrx...

Well first of all i have the absorber also and well it works good but always leaves just the little after each wipe.

Now noone else knows what we are talking about cuz look at their profiles and look at the colors of car??;)

Our cars are black. It shows EVERYTHING:mad:

My friend has a silver one and i used my absorber on his car and with a couple wipes his is all fine and can't see any of the stuff i can with mine.

It's cuz the car is black thats it, blue would have a little hard time too but we are really bad. :mad:

But what I do to totally get rid of it is
1. Go over whole car with the absober
2. Go over whole car again with absorber
3. Get out the meguiars quik detail and do the whole car
4. Drive to whereever your going
5. get out and with the quik detail again get all the spots where the drips come down and leave more marks (rear bumper and behind the spoiler supports, the front doors from the drops off the mirror, front bumper from the grill)

6. All done Then by that time its already dirty again so start over:lol:

Danny

First... when you rinse the car off before drying, make sure you just let the water stream off the car. Don't spray the car, just let the water flow off... that way there will be less water for you to dry off. Then use the Absorber to get most of the water off (it will ALWAYS leave streaks). Follow up with a damp Microfiber towel to get rid of the streaks. This method is really quick and will keep scratches to an absoulte minnimum. If you are REALLY anal (like me)... just lay the absorber on the car one section at a time without wiping, then use the microfiber to finish up. That way the ONLY thing to ever be wiped against the car is microfiber.

-Chip

I'm with Tats

I have one of those California Water Blades. Use that to get most of the water off, then follow up with the Absorber to get the spots the bade couldn't reach.

Big issue with the blade: the car must be absolutely clean. The blade won't scratch, but it will drag anything that is already on the surface along.

Also the type of wax you use can help too. The wax I use like 70% of the water just beads off my car, the rest gets picked up with a shamy real easy. And my car will show what you missed.

I have my car waxed pretty well so most of the water just drip's right off. Other than that I bought a leaf blower to get in the door's, inside of the side mirrors and the rest off the car.

Do what Chip says, the water almost disappears by itself. I've been doing that for years.

I had thought the Absorber was functionally equivalent to the Water Bandit that I use...but maybe not? I really don't have any issues with using the Water Bandit exclusively to dry everything. I dry all the surfaces with it, and follow up with the MF towel for difficult to reach places, like mirrors, etc.

What is your technique for using the Absorber? With my Water Bandit, I lay it out on the surface and drag it across. It soaks up all the water right away.

If you want to try out the Water Bandit, I got mine at www.kleanride.com.

Hmm..

/mel

I don't know what you guys are talking about. I have a black 99 and I wash my car, dry it, take it for a quick ride to get out the hiding water, take out the absorber again and get anything I missed, never really left any streaks. One thing I do is when I squeeze the absorber I squeeze it till there is no water left. I don't know I'm going now :D

Terry cloth towels work best for me. I use
roughly 30, one foot square towels, folded in
quarters, and each side is used for a one foot
area. The towels are used for only two or
three washes. Thrown in the washer with only
detergent, then washed again without detergent.
I buy a bag of 12 at Pep Boys every other
week. Terry cloth can really pick up water,
and I believe that by rotating them often you
run less of risk of picking up any particles that
will scratch the surface.

What can I say, I love my WRX.:p

But whatever works for some doesn't for others.
To each their own.

Water blade will scratch your car, so be careful.

Its not that "it" scratches it, but whatever it drags across.

Absorbers suck too. I just use a damn towel and get it over with..my cars got swirls anyway.dunno what im gonna do when i get my REX, but i'm buyin' silver..cuz i have white now and my girls car is black...i hate 'em both wash-wise


where do you buy these MF towels? <- hehe...sounds funny, damn MF'n towels :lol:

:lol: :eek: :D :lol: :eek: :D

Hahah.. I like that. :lol: You can get your MF'n Towels at www.yosteve.com. The towels he sells are the same as the Microfiber Magic Towels sold at a certain well known online retailer, but for half the cost. Top notch quality, least likely to scratch your paint. I use them for cleaning windows, drying the car, dusting the dash, etc etc. They're the ultimate do-it-all towel.

If you want to get bath towel sized MF, www.neatitems.com has those.

/mel :D

1) California Water Blade first to get rid of most of the water
2) "absorber", chamois leather or micro fiber towel for what's left
( I prefer the micro fiber)
Whole drying process takes 10-15 minutes

rakman- I have heard that the California Water Blade can cause debris to scratch the paint. Have u noticed anything yet?

I've used the california water blade and it does promote scratches if your surface and the blade is not completly clean. I don't like to drag anything on the car if possible. Pat dry with a cotton towel works great.

I used the big blue Mf towel from CMA today when I washed my car and I must say, it absorbs ALOT of water.

The towel pretty much dried my WHOLE car, because it was the only MF towel I had, i had to use it and only it to dry my scoobie. I suggest reading up at www.autopia-forums.com they have TONS of great ideas, I plan on buys a few more MF towels, probably 3 for drying, and 3 small ones for buffing.

Thats just what I plan on.


Bryan

Anyone ever use the cotton diapers for waxing and such?

MY friend uses that on his ca and he says it works great.

But damn for a diaper they must be able to get fullwith lotsa liquids right? Maybe thats a good idea to try.

That or just go buy some MF'N towels!!!:lol:

Danny

The water blade works great, you just have to run your finger along the edge after each stroke. I haven't picked up a single noticable scratch from it after doing that.. (The cats are another matter, dammit!)

Actually Danny, it depends (no pun intended).
Most diapers will actually leave
scratches in the paint due to their
fiber construction, stitching and the
fact that they will not "pickup"
particles like terry cloth towels. I have
not personally used MF towels,
however I believe that both have a
"pickup" capability due to their makeup. I still use terry cloth for
waxing and drying.

Disclaimer: Whatever works for you,
works for you.



Originally posted by DubbleURX
Anyone ever use the cotton diapers for waxing and such?

MY friend uses that on his ca and he says it works great.

But damn for a diaper they must be able to get fullwith lotsa liquids right? Maybe thats a good idea to try.

That or just go buy some MF'N towels!!!:lol:

Danny

128d:
I've had no scratches from the water blade. I clean and rinse it after each car wash and store it somewhere it won't attract dirt.

However, I do have virtually undetectable circular "swirl" marks - I think from using an orbital polisher

I use two absorbers and micor fiber towels. After a quick dry with those, I get out the shop vac/blower, 5.2 hp craftsman. I use the pointed end with masking tape in case I bump the car. I blow out all the cracks, mirrors, engine, lights, gas cap etc. With the heated air it really works great. I then follow up with micro fiber towels. I then pull in the garage and wax. I am telling you, the blower is the best thing I have used to assist in drying. You can pick up a cheap shop vac/blower combo, or buy a good one on clearance like I did. Hope this helps

Is the "heated air" really "OK" for the paint when the car is temperature cold in the Winter months? I'm no expert on the car and feeding of paint on cars, so this is a real question, if anybody has more information to share. GoodFinder :)

Goodfinder, it's really not heated much more than the ambient temp. Nothing like a blow dryer/heat gun. I have been usuing this for years on motorcycles and cars with no problems.

Got it.

The question came to mind because the paint & body shop that is doing the custom work on my Supra cautioned me away from using the "self service" wash places due to their combination of intense pressure and heated water.

GoodFinder :)

What helps me with drying the car in summer:
Use your choice of waxes to build up a good paint surface that water sheets off of.
Wash it in the shade, lets water flow off rather than form water spots.
Use a good car wash soap, and when rinsing, use a stream of water (no nozzle) to encourage the water to sheet off, leaving you less to dry off.
Wash in sections from top to bottom.
I use 100% cotton towels to dry off any leftover water. Less scratches!
Quick Detailer stuff seems to reduce dust attraction somewhat, in my experience (I use Meguiars #34)

In winter:
If I use a pressure washer in winter, I am mostly trying to get any corrosive stuff off the car, not really trying to detail it. I am not really certain how well this works, as road salt mixed with water forms acids that may be worse than leaving the salts dry on the car. I guess really flushing the underneath off with water is good, but if you are driving home from a car wash, will the wet undersides pick up salts and deicers from the roadway more than a dry surface would?