Drying after washing car

[Red Sky II]

Just wondering what others do to dry their cars after washing them?

I used a chamois on mine and all it did was create water streaks everywhere that dried that way (ie it didn't dry it at all) - looked terrible. I then had to dry again with a clean towel and then a polishing cloth.

Following this was then a case of applying wax to the car and buffing that up - got most of it done before my arms gave up. I also washed my wife's car as well.

Anyway, back on topic - what is the best way to dry the car after washing it?

Also, in relation to waxing and polishing how good are the electric polishers - do they give better results than good ole elbow grease?

[Jay95R33]

I always dry the car off after a wash.

I hate those little water marks you get over your car and windows

Plus iff you leave it wet, once the wind get's up with a bit of dirt in it your back to where you started.....

I use a chamios as well. After drying a panel, wring the chamios out so it's dry, then do the next panel - wring it out.. blah blah blah...

It should come up sweet then

Not sure about those electric buffers. They look tempting though !!

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Red Sky II,

I have always dried my car with a chamois and never get any streaking. Make sure you buy a decent quality one, the cheap ones are shit, and keep wringing it out.

See'ya:burnout:

[Pva_Glue]

Wet the car

Wash car with soap

Wash again

Dry with towel

Clean tires and wheels

Clean windows

Clean interior

Check spare tires, fluids...etc.

it's my Firday night ritual

cheers

Joe

[elbee111]

Gday all

After using Maguires Gold car wash we (she) always uses a chamois and wrings out etc etc.

We now use a cheap synthetic chamois and found it as good, if not better, than the dear one we had before.

You must clean the chamois after every use to get the grime out. Otherwise you are wiping it back on. We use Sunlight soap and rinse then keep chamois damp in it's container.

Showroom finish

Enjoy

Laurie & Genelle

[R31 POWER]

Yeah what elbee111 said.Drying in the shade helps too,so the water does'nt dry before you wipe it and leave those gay assed droplet stains everywhere.:uh-huh:

[predator]

I've started using Maguires Gold car wash shampoo going on other people's recommendations here..that seems to work pretty well.

Hmmm..well red sky II i think you're doing it funny. After washing it all down well, go over it with another sponge of water. Then get the chamois wet, wring it mostly out and start rubbing. If you see streaks then just wipe them out.

I think it could go on the quality of the chamois - mine is like a real soft suade...but it was $20. Bit worried how long it will last though. It does a great job (and no chance of scratching) but i don't want to be paying $20 every 3 months for a new one.

[Red Sky II]

The chamois I have been using I have had for quite a while - it is one of those synthetic ones. I tried the one I have been using for years then tried a relatively new one with the same result.

Predator666, when you say go over it again with another sponge of water, do you mean a clean sponge to soak up the majority of the water first then dry with a chamois.

What I did was after washing it, I rinsed the soap off then tried drying with the chamois, hence it got wet real quick. Getting the excess off with another sponge might help.

Agreed to wash and dry it in the shade, always done that.

Would the type of wash, etc have any bearing on it - I used Turtle Wax this time around as there wasn't much left and wanted to get rid of it before using the Meguiars stuff.

[Guest Boxhead]

i dont think you can classify the chammis by there price, i give you an example, i had a sh*t cheapy synthetic one.. and it left streaks. which i rubbed out during waxing process, where as dAVE's is a cheapie that works en times as good as mine..

my brother got me a cheap leather chammis from a clints crasy warehouse for like $10.. so on new car we will see how it goes...

[Hicks]

Originally posted by predator666

but i don't want to be paying $20 every 3 months for a new one.

This is what ya do, grab the most expensive chamios, take it out of the case and swap it with a 4 dollar one.

p.s Gold Class wax is the best!!

[SLY33]

Yeah, its your chamois. If old or crappy quality it will streak.

i use meguiars synthetic chamois, cheap and lasts long.

I just bought another one today, they need a couple of uses before they give best results.

Some tips, some mentioned already :-

never wash/dry car in sunlight. Parts of it dry real quick giving you bad water spots. Im sure there are other reasons as well

The meguiars soft wash gel is wicked. (pink stuff)

Fold your chamois in quarters so you got a reasonably sized square, and drag it across the panel your drying once to get the bulk of the water off, then WRING OUT THOROUGHLY, then again, and then usually again to get a perfect streak free finish.

Dont put your hand aver the chamois and move it round and round as if your buffing. Drag the square over the panel.

If the chamois is wrung out properly and you do your windows as above, you get no streaks whatsoever. (provided you washed it properly and got all the dirt off.)

Never use a cotton or old article of clothing to dry your car. these scratch, as they drag too much on your paint. (unless your car is super waxed up).

[SLY33]

Originally posted by SLY33

Fold your chamois in quarters so you got a reasonably sized square, and drag it across the panel your drying once to get the bulk of the water off, then WRING OUT THOROUGHLY, then again, and then usually again to get a perfect streak free finish.

in the above, "then again" means drag chamois over panel again, not wring out again but obviously you wring out after each drag

[benm]

What wax/polish does everyone use? My car hasn't been polished in atleast 5 months and i'd like to give it a good whack.

[DAMQIK GTS-T]

I have found that the water streeking is caused by not enough polish on the car before washing (the polish seems to prevent water from streeking on the car) try washing the car drying it polishing out the streeks and then apply another coat of polish again, so the next time you wash the car the water will just roll off the car. and will only require a quick streek free dry with a chamos from there after.

keep the polsih up to the car from then on. i.e every second wash.

Regards

DAMQIK

[NismoGirl]

I use one of the Kanubo chamois or something... It's a synthetic one. I just got mine from Super Cheap. It was about $10 i think. It takes all the water away.

I just use the meguires soft wash (cause we wash it every weekend) and I use the Meguires Wet Look polish..

[hippy]

i've had my car for a couple of months ... but i've not polished it .. why should i polish it?? how do i polish it?? and what and where can i get the good stuff from??

[BOOSTMEISTER]

Yeh it all sounds about right.....My addition is to DRAG the chamois i.e. lay it out flat on the body and pul it from one end, this works the best and removes the most water. The type of wash is also important. Only use good quality wash like Maguires Gold car wash as mentioned earlier as this stuff is the best. Also once you have finished washing the car and you are rinsing off the foam don't use a spray instead, remove the fitting from the end of the hose and use the trickle from the hose to wash the suds away, if the surface is good and you have been washing with Maquires for a while most of the water will "Sheet" off and there will not be much left to chamois off.

[inark]

how i dry my car...

140 down around the factory areas near my car wash until it is damn near dry.... this is good because when u dry with a chammy u dont get the water out that generally sticks under the rubber around the windows and stuff....

then i head home and dry it off with a chammy which doesnt take much cause its already dry

[Red Sky II]

So is it better to have water that beads or "sheets off" as I thought that when there was polish and/or wax on the car, water usually beads and sits there whereas when there was no polish then it just runs off.

Me thinks the paint just needs more polishing to get a good layer of polish there making it easier to keep clean (hey that sounds like a Ford ad for leather seats, haha).

Okay, one more question - WAX or POLISH or COMBINATION?

[2fardown]

Originally posted by Red Sky II

So is it better to have water that beads or "sheets off" as I thought that when there was polish and/or wax on the car, water usually beads and sits there whereas when there was no polish then it just runs off.

Me thinks the paint just needs more polishing to get a good layer of polish there making it easier to keep clean (hey that sounds like a Ford ad for leather seats, haha).

Okay, one more question - WAX or POLISH or COMBINATION?

I got myself a Maguires pack that contained a Deep crystal wet look polish that you apply first, then a nice Wax to go over the top. The pack also contained 2 soft pad applicators and a nice little towel to wipe the car clean. All that for $35. Cant go wrong, and the finish result is amazing.

If you wax the car regularly you will find washing and drying the car will be a lot easier.