Drying the car. What is your preferred method?

Well up until now I've always used cotton towels to dry my car after I wash it. I have been experiencing tons of scratches caused by the towels since my new paint job. What could i use that will be better?

Respond fast; i want to wash my car later today!!

Mike

[ensteele]

I use a California Blade followed up with an Absorber (Wal Mart) like a shammy or a shammy.

[wawazat??]

for the Water Blade. Just remember to carefully clean the edge before touching the paint!

Todd

Do you think the water blade will have less of a propensity to scratch my paint than a towel?

Mike

[svx_commuter]

I use old bath towels that have been washed and dired with fabric softener. There must be something in your towel or it's too soon to be washing your car. I think it takes like 3 months (?) for the clear coat to harden or at least that's what I was told when I had parts of cars repainted after body damage.

It's been 4 months now. Apperently the roads are a lot cleaner where you are, but in order to keep my car clean i have to wash it between 4 and 6 times a week.

Mike

[svx_commuter]

This winter has been awful for car washing. I usually wash it every other day or so. Hose it off, wet car brush it and towel dry it. Last winter it was warm enough to do this at least once a week. This winter I used a car wash once a week to keep the salt off the car. The windows and and doors froze on a few occasions.

I am real sorry to hear about the scratches on your car.

[GreenMarine]

I've had the California Water Blade for about 2 years now.. I love it. To get what it misses just carry along a small towel or something. I always use it though cause it is so quick and never will scratch your car as long as you take care of it.

I use the Absorber to dry off all of my freshly painted cars at my shop. I've never once had a problem with it leaving any scratches. Many people are confused on washing and waxing their car after it's painted...you can wash it immediatly when it's done. Waxing you are supposed to wait at least a full month after it was painted.

Megan

[lee]

The water blade is good, but have you tried a leaf blower?

If the last thing you do is run a gentle sheet of water across the surface less actual water will remain than standing off with a hose and a direct spray. Then an electric leaf blower will get rid of the rest - including in the little cracks that always seem to seep when tried by towel.

[Chicane]

Agrees with Lee. If you take off the sprayer/nozzle from the hose, and just run a gentle stream of watero ver the car, most of the water will just 'sheet' off and it'll be REALLY easy to try. Also invest in one of those super absorbant artificial chamois things. They're great, and they dry it streak free.

- Rob

[nubs]

Using an Absorber,the one in the plastic tube, is the best thing.They work great and even better the older they get. I have been using the same one for at least 15 years. I have never tried a water blade, but would like to sometime.I also remove the nozzle for the final rinse,leaves way less water that you need to remove. If you are using a car wash to wash your car then obviosly you will be unable to do that.

[Beav]

Hopefully when you say 'wash' you mean actually using a mitt or rag to wash the car and not just a high pressure hose at the car wash. High pressure blasting not only pushes grit into and across the paint, it also does a poor job of removing dirt. If you use anything on it after just blasting it you will get all kinds of scratches.

I'm too cheap to use a water blade, I just keep a wash mitt, an old wiper blade and a couple terry towels in the trunk.

[Chicane]

Yeah, pressure washing doesn't work real well. A nice soft mitt is best.

[Landshark]

i also endorse the Water Blade and Absorber (i use 2 - one for the body and one for the wheels).
the silicone on the Water Blade is supposedly several times less likely to scratch than a cotton diaper. i've been using it for years without any scratches whatsoever.