I just wanted to see what everyone used to dry their car off after they wash it? What is the most safe material besides the normal towel?

jelly blade

http://www.autogeek.net/jelly-blade.html

http://www.calcarcover.com/productImages/1629.jpg

clean microfiber rags with silk wrapped edges.

ORIGINAL: A4 the Quattro

jelly blade

http://www.autogeek.net/jelly-blade.html

http://www.calcarcover.com/productImages/1629.jpg





how fast does that work? i got some micro fibers from auto geek and i love them. if im in too much of a hurry the micros tell me 'cause they pick up all the leftover dirt. need only one to get my car dry, two would be better so i could hit all the door jams as well instead of wasting paper towels. so, again, how awe struck would i be if i used the jelly blade? it makes me giggle like a school girl to say it but how smooth, how fast, etc.?

he, he, he, jelly...

I'm going to pick up some micro fiber towels.

if ur car is a dark color i wouldn't recomend the blade.... it dries quick but it would leave some swirl marks on ....i see it everyday.. on white, silver gray or any light color i go with the blade..others i use a chamois... i manage a detailling shop..

forgive me, i'm computer retarded. i tried photo bucket, i don't understand what i'm supposed to do. i have a sprint blue 06 s4. i love the micro fiber, you said the jelly leaves marks. so, what if i use the jelly thing to get rid of the water, and use the micro as a backup? it does take out water stains and dirt i can't see, even after a quick scrub.

Chamois always worked for me. With a black car, towels or any other material would easily show streaks.

Do chamois really work that great? Do you need a couple of them to wash your whole car or will one do the trick?

one will do!

sprint blue 06 $4?? STAY AWAY FROM THOSE BLADES...shamois only for u..

i use a synthetic chamois with spray on polish while u dry product. i them follow that up with a microfiber towell. it shines like brand new.

maybe i shouldnt be using the blade then? chamois always seem to leave fibers and residue.. so i hated them.. whats the best chamois out for my black car?

Well, I picked up a chamois today and used it tonight for the first time. All I can say is WOW! How have I owned a car for 11 years now and not used one! It is incredible!!!

ORIGINAL: Suite3.0A4

Chamois always worked for me. With a black car, towels or any other material would easily show streaks.


Suite, i'll get with you about the micro fiber cloth. i told Steve at the hobby shop about them. one cleans the car, if you have two, you get the door jams, engine and trunk as well.

i like the results of the micro fiber, it just gets like a chamois by the time i'm half way done. i'm wondering, if i used the jelly (heh, heh, jelly) to get the bulk of the water off of the car and use the micro fiber afterwards; would it leave the swirls like a4bzr described? because i can say, just like the cali brush, if you just want to move dust or rain spots, take the micro to your ride, and the cloth sucks up all of it.

what brands you guys use?

I started to used the Meguiar's Water Magnet with good success. About two of them is all that is required for a 911 or an A3.

Is you use a water stream instead of a spray for the final rinse, you will be surpised how little water must be dryed off. The water magnets do not leave any scratches or swirl marks.

6th gear at 4500 RPM should do it.

I work at a Lotus and Porsche dealership, and when I asked the detail guy about the whole streaks, water marks etc, I got some decent feedback.


He praises the Mr. Clean filtered water system, because that gets you one step further to avoiding evil water spots.

He uses the water blade only to get the bulk of the big water drops off, about 70% of the water removed with the blade.
Then he uses a damp chamois cloth and gets the rest. The leftover water I guess must help wipe away some streaks?

Then after that he uses a final detail spray in which the cars literally become "showroom" ready.

Any one know where I can buy chamois cloth?
online website?
Store?

I just use my leaf blower lol. i think it works really good no water marks!!

That idea blows. I think I'll try it. :)

hey edwork ur the only one on so i can tell u
you can go to a near by auto zone and they sell those for about ranging around 10 to 50 dollars

ORIGINAL: A4 the Quattro

jelly blade

http://www.autogeek.net/jelly-blade.html

http://www.calcarcover.com/productImages/1629.jpg


these r probably the best for drying, all the dealerships use them to detail their cars

I blow my cars down with a leaf blower...seems to be pretty effective! haha

>alex

Agreed - I use microfiber for a lot of things on the car- washing, drying, waxing, wiping down interior...they're great.

ORIGINAL: StarsBaseball_6

I just use my leaf blower lol. i think it works really good no water marks!!


Occasionally, So do I.

I also use the Cali water blade, similar to the Jelly blade already pictured, which gets the majority of the water off. I wipe the remaining water off with a micro towel.

I don't have any swirl/streaks on my OrientBlue Metalic BMW (very dark/Navy blue) and it's an'01.

We don't use the California or Jelly blades at the Lotus/Porsche dealership on any dark colored cars, although we probably could. We typically use them only on white and silver. They really do work amazing though.

The only reason they might swirl the paint is any fine dust or dirt stuck on the blade to act as an abrasive. If you use them, especially on dark cars, inspect the blade surface regularly and clean it if you can. Other than that they work real well.

Microfiber is the best quality finish I believe. It's mostly preference.

ORIGINAL: ErikCzajkowski

We don't use the California or Jelly blades at the Lotus/Porsche dealership on any dark colored cars, although we probably could. We typically use them only on white and silver. They really do work amazing though.

The only reason they might swirl the paint is any fine dust or dirt stuck on the blade to act as an abrasive. If you use them, especially on dark cars, inspect the blade surface regularly and clean it if you can. Other than that they work real well.

Microfiber is the best quality finish I believe. It's mostly preference.


Some washers when using the cali or jelly blade, after every wipe on the car body, they wipe the blade with a clean cloth. Those blades are best on lighter coloured cars, but red, black, blue, when its hot and dusty and your using it in the sun...ouch


I agree microfibre is probably the best

yea you are very right about the sun part... its best to dry the car when it's nice and cool and free of dust if you are using the blade on those colors.


anyone else agree that 90+ on the freeway is one of the most Pure/Fun ways to dry your Audi....???

I use an "Absorber". You can pick them up at wally world or any auto parts tore and they work really well. I use two, one for the body panels and one for the creases and niches that tend to retain a bit of funk even after a good washing.

ORIGINAL: Legendary1

I use an "Absorber". You can pick them up at wally world or any auto parts tore and they work really well. I use two, one for the body panels and one for the creases and niches that tend to retain a bit of funk even after a good washing.


I gladly gave up my real chamois for the Absorber. By the time you get a chamois where it's really working nicely, it's about worn out. Buy an Absorber, give it a couple of washes in the washing machine, (no softener) to get the manufacturing stuff out of it, and go to town with it. Actually I start with a water blade, then the Absorber, and follow with an air hose to blow all the nooks and crannies dry. That way you don't end up with the dirty streaks later.

I go onto highway, that best way. the faster I go, the better it will dry. but then I need to just wash my rear bumper again.

ORIGINAL: ErikCzajkowski

yea you are very right about the sun part... its best to dry the car when it's nice and cool and free of dust if you are using the blade on those colors.


anyone else agree that 90+ on the freeway is one of the most Pure/Fun ways to dry your Audi....???


haha no doubt this is the best way ;)

After a wash I take the car for a spin around the block to throw off some of the water andmost out of the side mirrors and cracks.

Then out comes the MF (Microfibre) and WWMF (Waffle Weave Microfibre).

I used genuine Chamois for the past 30+ years (showing my age [:o]) and have not looked back since being recommending and using MF & WWMF. The first benefit is you don't have to keep stopping to wring the water out. Theother benefitsare, MF is sensitive to the paint, picks up and holds any contaminants alway from the surface and buffs the wax along the way.

Earlier comments about leaving behind fibres, yes they will do that on glass but a good quality MF is the way to go.

Ugh, i hade those chamois, theyre do really nice job, but old school and i hate having to wring the water out every time

2 microfiber towels

i use a waterblade and a microfiber towel

i use two of the softest most absorbent bath towels i can findand use one for the bulk of the water and then the other for a complete drying. no spots. even when the car is clean and it rains i do the same .

I'll chime in and give my thoughts, feedback and product reviews of the drying process.

I don't think I saw anyone mention this, but this tip will help cut everyones drying time down signficantly regardless of what product you use. After you have rinsed off your vehicle for the final time, remove your spray nozzel. Flood the surface of the vehicle from the top down. The flooding creates a sheeting effect that will self dry the vehicle. What I do is start from the top of the vehicle and move left to right with the hose. On the way back, right to left, lower the hose to the point where the water is falling and proceed to "catch" the falling water from your initial pass. Continue this method until you reach the bottom of the car. Like I said, you'll notice a vast majority of the water off the paint before you even begin to use your drying towel / blade.

My product of choice for drying towels is Microfiber Waffle Weave Towels (http://www.detailedimage.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=106). This combination of sheeting the water and the microfiber waffle weave drying towels is the safest combination I have found for quickly and effectively drying your vehicle, while minimizing adding additional imperfections into the paint. Seventy percent or more of imperfections typically occure by using improper washing and drying products and techniques.

Chamois tend to have a fairly flat surface, which if there is still contamination on the surface, you risk adding swirls to the paint. Similar reason why a sponge is one of the worst things you wash your vehicle with. You want something with texture and a thicker pile so that contamination is not just being pushed around the surface, but can be absorbed into and pulled away from the surface. This is why professionals will recommend a sheepskin wash mitt or an Edge ShMITT. If I didn't have a waffle weave microfiber towel available, this would be my second choice of drying towel.

As far as the blades go, I'm always against dragging anything over my paint. You have a much higher risk of adding imperfections such as swirls and scratches to the surface. I personally wouldn't use one on my vehicle because I try keeping a perfect finish year round. As long as you are aware of the higher potential risk, use carefully.

Hope this helps.

George @ Detailed Image

a chamois for me been using it for many years it has to be cleanthough

The Absorber rocks. I've been using them for years on both light and dark colored cars.

+1 for George @ Detailed Image

I break out the dedicated leaf blower then follow up with WW.

Al

I've been using a Big Blue Towel, which is sortof a supersized waffle-weave microfiber towel. It's amazing, one towel dries the entire car without wringing, and it only gets easier to use when wet.You could probably dry three cars in a row with one towel.

The trick I learned was to blot the water, not wipe it. Huge difference in the finish - wiping leaves streaks of leftover dust & grime, plus whatever was on your towel, and can drag abrasives over the finish. Blotting is actually faster and leaves a mirror finish.

I detailed at a high dollar body shop for about three years If you wax your car every couple of months like I do here are some steps for a nice wash.

1. Wash with a microfiber small cloth. Couple of bucks.
2. Rinse with the Mr. Clean auto-dry, costs about 15 bucks.
3. California water blade will get the water off your windows, I dont use on paint. Also about 15 bucks.
4. Absorber brand chamois to pick up most the water off the paint. About 20 bucks.
5. I then go over with a very expensive very soft absorbent bath towel. Generally 15 bucks at Bed bath and beyond.

If you keep your car waxed you run a very low risk of scratching or swirling your paint with these steps.

ORIGINAL: ErikCzajkowski

He praises the Mr. Clean filtered water system, because that gets you one step further to avoiding evil water spots.



I haven't dried my car for maybe a year using the Mr. Clean system. Works wonders on windows and I can't recall ever seeing a waterspot on my car after letting it air dry. While I wait for it to dry I'll clean and bling the wheels and tires and when I'm finished it'll be dry. Don't think I've ever seen a car shine as much after using Mr. Clean.

I recommend it for everyone, it is definitely worth the price and saving your microfibers for waxing.

ORIGINAL: A4 the Quattro

maybe i shouldnt be using the blade then? chamois always seem to leave fibers and residue.. so i hated them.. whats the best chamois out for my black car?



A chamois is someanimal in some far off country which is where the leather towel comes from so make sure you get a REAL leather chamois. It might cost you more but it's worth it!!!

P.S. You will knowit's real because it isn't cut perfectly square and will look lie a leather hide after a few uses.