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Old 06-10-2011, 09:16 PM   #1
justmike4
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Default Drying Car after Washing

Hey guys, I recently bought a WRX and am slowly learning how to wash/dry/detail/wax. After washing my car, I currently use a squigee to remove most of the big water spots, and then I go over the car with a clean microfiber towel. However, I have noticed that there are many streaks and water spots still left on the car.
What do you guys do and use to dry the car quickly before there are streaks and water spots?
Thanks so much!
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Old 06-10-2011, 09:30 PM   #2
02redwagone
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Wash one panel at a time and use a leaf blower or vac exhaust blower to dry fast. Is my latest ONR technique.
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Old 06-10-2011, 09:48 PM   #3
A5un
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Get some quality microfiber waffle pattern towel. Those are great for drying. I typically use two large ones for one car. Just make sure you remove all dirt particles during your wash before you dry. Work the towel in one direction without going back and forth to prevent scratches...
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Old 06-10-2011, 09:48 PM   #4
Drifter2be
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I have always used a chamois to dry my car. Go over it once quickly to remove the bulk of the water, and once more taking my time to remove the rest of it. Leaves zero streaks on the car, I'd bet the fair majority of the streaking and spots on your car are a combination of using a squeegee on it and washing it with hard water. Ditch the squeegee and get invest in a good chamois or synthetic drying towel, then microfiber after.

My typical method is: Wash, chamois dry followed by microfiber, polish or scratchX any spots that need it, clay bar treatment, wax...if I'm taking the time to fully detail the car which is probably once every six weeks.

BTW, Meguiar's Scratch X is the best thing for removing swirling, light scratches,etc. After using it the paint on my 7 year old car, that doesn't look like it was detailed very often by the previous owner, shines like new.
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Old 06-10-2011, 09:59 PM   #5
stockscooby
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do what you are doing and then use spray detail wax .
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Old 06-10-2011, 10:21 PM   #6
hybrid gti 2
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Drying No drying

DI water
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Old 06-10-2011, 10:58 PM   #7
builthatch
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mothers drying towel to dry the car. i've found them to be the best
http://www.autogeek.net/mothers-drying-towel.html

then cobra yellow guzzler w/ optimum instant detailer @ 4:1 dilution ratio OR optimum spray wax, depending whether or not it needs a wax boost or not.

if the car is relatively clean and just has powder or pollen on it, i'll spray the thing down, sheet the water, then hit it with an electric blower from the top and work my way down.

i never suggest using a gas blower as the two-stroke exhaust is routed through the blower and onto whatever you are blowing.
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Old 06-11-2011, 02:27 AM   #8
kateviliams
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i am drying my car after washing with microfiber towels. but for the spots make it sure that your washing mitts and car washing shampoo is good.
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Old 06-11-2011, 04:13 AM   #9
vision.dynamix
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Quote:
Originally Posted by builthatch View Post
i never suggest using a gas blower as the two-stroke exhaust is routed through the blower and onto whatever you are blowing.
Umm..wat?
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Old 06-11-2011, 06:31 AM   #10
DerickRyoung
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^this
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Old 06-11-2011, 11:15 AM   #11
builthatch
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vision.dynamix View Post
Umm..wat?
wat you mean wat!

srs. gas blowers route the exhaust through the forced air, so you can end up with residue, depending on the mixture, condition of the blower and probably other things, but this was part of a mystery that was solved on a detailing forum a few years ago where someone ended up with stuff on their finish and couldn't figure out where it was coming from.

that's why i use an electric blower. plus the electric blower you can turn any which way, upside down, etc. and it won't act funny.
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Old 06-11-2011, 11:19 AM   #12
Amazing Asian
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I use an electric shop vac to blow dry cars only. I try to park the car at an upwards angle on my driveway so water falls off quicker when I go over the car with no hose attachment
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Old 06-11-2011, 11:30 AM   #13
vision.dynamix
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Quote:
Originally Posted by builthatch View Post
wat you mean wat!

srs. gas blowers route the exhaust through the forced air, so you can end up with residue, depending on the mixture, condition of the blower and probably other things, but this was part of a mystery that was solved on a detailing forum a few years ago where someone ended up with stuff on their finish and couldn't figure out where it was coming from.

that's why i use an electric blower. plus the electric blower you can turn any which way, upside down, etc. and it won't act funny.
Do you want me to tell you how wrong you are, or do you want me to show you with the 7 leaf blowers I have in the garage?

Think of the leaf blower as a turbo. It's 2 seperate pumps joined by a common shaft. Turbo has the compressor housing and the turbine housing. Leaf blower has the engine and a fan housing.

The engine has it's own exhaust system that exhausts to the atmosphere, not into the fan housing.
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Old 06-11-2011, 11:36 AM   #14
MilesFox
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think of your leaf blower as a super charger, actually.

When i wash cars, i make sure to clean the door jambs. I will do this witht he pressure wand at the car wash, and shove the nozzle between the front doors and fenders to blast out any dirt and leaves that sit behind the fender causing it to rust out.

It is also a good idea to seasonally remove the inner plastif fender shields and whatever fender lip trim or rubber and clean that well, as all this trim holds back dirt and moisture causing rust.

this really matters for anyone in the rust belt or anyone that does not trade in a car every year.
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Old 06-11-2011, 12:00 PM   #15
Kean
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hybrid gti 2 View Post
Drying No drying

DI water
....exactly. ....although I still use forced air to dry and coax standing water from crevices.

Quote:
Originally Posted by justmike4 View Post
Hey guys, I recently bought a WRX and am slowly learning how to wash/dry/detail/wax. After washing my car, I currently use a squigee to remove most of the big water spots, and then I go over the car with a clean microfiber towel. However, I have noticed that there are many streaks and water spots still left on the car.
What do you guys do and use to dry the car quickly before there are streaks and water spots?
Thanks so much!
....personally, if I do dry traditionally, flooding the panels with a slow, steady stream of water as your final rinse can help move quite a bit of the water from the surface in itself.

When I do dry traditionally, I like to use quality WW MF's. I use a dabbing action with the towel folded and any wiping I do is in short, interrupted motions. If there is any debris on the finish I missed while washing and/or that has landed on the surface of the paint after the fact, this helps ensure I don't drag it along the panel any significant length (and hopefully, it will be taken up into the material of the weave). I also prefer to use a quick wax or quick detailer as I'm drying. One of my favorite products for this is Duragloss Aquawax. This helps add lubricity while drying and provides some extra "pop" to the finish (it can also help with some spotting/streaks). It can be applied to everything including trim, glass, paint, etc. I address the jambs/seals on the doors, under the hood and the trunk with smaller MF towels (dedicated to the task) and a QD/QW after the rest of the car is dried. The WW's I use for exterior painted surfaces are only used for that purpose and are washed after ever use.
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Old 06-11-2011, 12:03 PM   #16
builthatch
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vision.dynamix View Post
Do you want me to tell you how wrong you are, or do you want me to show you with the 7 leaf blowers I have in the garage?

Think of the leaf blower as a turbo. It's 2 seperate pumps joined by a common shaft. Turbo has the compressor housing and the turbine housing. Leaf blower has the engine and a fan housing.

The engine has it's own exhaust system that exhausts to the atmosphere, not into the fan housing.
your SEVEN leaf blowers don't, but many handheld gas blowers do.

ask todd at properautocare. he'll tell you the same thing.
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Old 06-11-2011, 12:10 PM   #17
vision.dynamix
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Quote:
Originally Posted by builthatch View Post
your SEVEN leaf blowers don't, but many handheld gas blowers do.

ask todd at properautocare. he'll tell you the same thing.
I have handheld blowers too...

Just because he's good at auto detailing doesnt mean he knows jack **** about small engine mechanics.
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Old 06-11-2011, 12:13 PM   #18
builthatch
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vision.dynamix View Post
I have handheld blowers too...

Just because he's good at auto detailing doesnt mean he knows jack **** about small engine mechanics.
i'll ask him - http://belladetailing.com/
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Old 06-11-2011, 12:16 PM   #19
vision.dynamix
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Again, just because he's good at auto detailing doesnt mean he knows jack **** about small engine mechanics.

Email the engineers at Stihl, Echo, RedMax, Husqvarna, Shindaiwa and see what they tell you.
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Old 06-11-2011, 12:55 PM   #20
DeadlyRaceReplica
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Getting away from leaf blowers and back to the dying of a car, I use an S.M. Arnold Sure Dri shami, I love them! They hold tremndous amounts of water and dont leave any streaks.
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Old 06-11-2011, 01:53 PM   #21
theSilverScooby
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I uses ww mf towels and the standard cobra or chemical guys mf towels. As far as technique, I lay the ww towel on a panel or dab it if it's on the doors and let the towel absorb most of the water. Then I go over it with a regular mf towel. I try to limit any type of wiping on the surface, I hate swirls and I hate removing them even more
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Old 06-12-2011, 01:39 AM   #22
Uverjump
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I run the water from the hose without a hose gun or whatever you use.. It runs a lot of the water off of itself and leaves you to dry what little is left. Very minimal touching
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Old 06-12-2011, 02:01 AM   #23
itstony
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agreed with what everyone else said about rinsing off the car with free flowing water without the nozzle on the hose. i believe that the squeegee could sometimes collect dirt and scratch the car when it is glided across the body. i usually just spray down the car with quick detailer and dry with a chamois then MF towel to completely dry off the car. i would use quick wax sometimes for the express washes.
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