Drying aids?

bob m

New member
What are you guys using for a drying aid? What is the real deal difference between a DA and a quick detailer?
 
I think most people just use a waffle weave mf and then follow with a quick detailer. Some people use a blower to dry their cars.
 
Please see the thread I started on this very subject:
https://www.autopia.org/forums/car-...ick-detailer-spray-drying-aids.html?highlight=

I will suggest that if you are still using old bath towels, a chamois, or cheap waffle-weave microfiber drying towels for drying your vehicle, it is time to make a change to a twisted-weave microfiber drying towel like The Rag Company`s Pluffle or Griot`s Garage PFM drying towels. They really are game-changers in the drying process compared to those previously mentioned. I also use a variable-speed leaf blower myself before using a GG PFM to remove as much excess water as possible, especially those that get caught in cracks and seams on a vehicle, or "hide" in side mirrors or egg-crate front grills or gas cap covers. Just make sure the leaf blower has not been used as a vacuum if it has that feature, or you`ll end up with a leaf-debris riddled vehicle (been there-done that; live and learn)!!

Yes, those of you who frequent this forum recognize that I, Captain Obvious, have linked a few (OK, a lot of) older threads to detailing-related subject matters that keep coming up over-and-over again. I am hoping it does not offend anyone, nor am I implying that the original poster (OP) has not done their due diligence by using the search feature in this forum. I am merely trying to provide information, albeit older, on the subject matter. Like the adage goes, "History (and detailing subjects) repeats itself."
 
I use a leaf blower to get most of the water off . Follow with aquawax or OCW and a regular MF towel to wax as I dry.
 
I guess there are a few products that are marketed explicitly as a "drying aid", like Eagle One Wax-As-U-Dry (EO WAUD), if they still make that. But mostly the use of a "drying aid" came about from the recognition that once you get your wash process down-pat, most marring comes from drying, so it`s an attempt to lubricate the interface and minimize any marring.

People used to use QD`s for this, but I really think QD`s are obsolete with the plethora of waterless washes and spray waxes available today. A popular choice is Meguiar`s D156 Synthetic X-press Spray Wax, sold also as a consumer product labeled Ultimate Quik Wax. Another is Duragloss AquaWax (DG AW), which as the name implies, is intended to be used while the car is still wet, although some of us don`t like to use it that way particularly.

You can always use your favorite waterless wash.
 
I use ECH2O and a SiO2 mix as both a QD and drying aid. It’s cheap and leaves a little bit of protection and gloss behind.
 
I`m still using either OCS (my wife`s A8) or near-QD strength IUDJ (everything else).

And yes, the IUDJ has basically replaced my QDs and I doubt I`ll bother restocking them if/when I finally use them up.
 
TheMeanGreen- Gee, you`re really liking the stuff from DPC, huh? I never even heard of `em! But the I don`t really follow this stuff....
 
I use ECH2O and a SiO2 mix as both a QD and drying aid. It’s cheap and leaves a little bit of protection and gloss behind.

Use Ech20 and shine supply Clutch. Just added hydro light 2 to the mix and saw no benefit. But original 2part combo beads well and gloss is awesome.


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I spray the towels and the car with Griot’s best of show detailer. Plenty of lube and doesn’t affect coatings. You can also use Griot’s rinseless wash and wax or best of show spray wax
 
Thanks all. I called Griots G and asked what was there recommended drying aid - and to my surprise they said their Spray on Wax. I never used a detail spray as a "drying aid" - spray when the car is wet. I would normally use a "regular" detail spray after my car was dry. The latest one being GG Best of Show Deatler as well as Spped shine and Kentotec`s. PFM` are my towel of choice as well as an Adam`s towel.
 
TheMeanGreen- Gee, you`re really liking the stuff from DPC, huh? I never even heard of `em! But the I don`t really follow this stuff....

Yeah, I am really liking the DPC stuff. I have other products that I still have to finish before I fully dive into using the DPC on a regular basis. The slickness created on the panel is greater than N-914, Uber Rinseless, N-914 mixed with D156, ONR, ONR mixed with D156, Mckee`s Rinse Free Wash and Wax, ECH2O, ECH2O mixed with Reload, ECH2O mixed with CMX, 3D Waterless Car Wash, PB Spray and Gloss, PB Spray and Gloss with Carnuba, and OptiClean mixed with ONR. On my slightly softer than medium hardness Lexus paint, the slickness left by a product is very important for me as it keeps my towel moving over the surface with minimal friction, thus helping to reduce towel marring.
 
You have to be careful mixing products, you can get a chemical reaction sometimes. I mixed a couple rinseless washes together and ended up with a nasty looking tannish colored soap.
 
You have to be careful mixing products, you can get a chemical reaction sometimes. I mixed a couple rinseless washes together and ended up with a nasty looking tannish colored soap.

Of course caution is taken when mixing products from different manufactures together... However all products mixed are within similar families or made by same manufacture or have a history of playing well. D156 and ONR are notorious for playing well, OptiClean and ONR come from the same manufacture and all of OPT`s products a designed to work together, same with CarPro products.
 
TheMeanGreen- Ah, OK, thanks for the explanation, you`ve sure tried a lot of things to compare it to!

And yeah, there are some such products that are surprisingly (well, to me at least) compatible. ONR/OCE/IUDJ/UQW..D156/etc. all do fine for me, though I never actually mixed them together.

I never get much in the way of slickness out of ONR at all, and anything I clean with that stuff is harder to clean the next time (so the ONR just gets used for household stuff now).
 
TheMeanGreen- Ah, OK, thanks for the explanation, you`ve sure tried a lot of things to compare it to!

And yeah, there are some such products that are surprisingly (well, to me at least) compatible. ONR/OCE/IUDJ/UQW..D156/etc. all do fine for me, though I never actually mixed them together.

I never get much in the way of slickness out of ONR at all, and anything I clean with that stuff is harder to clean the next time (so the ONR just gets used for household stuff now).

Yeah, I really like to mix products and see what happens, so far nothing has exploded. Ha.

I feel like ONR is way over hyped, I have 20oz left and have no idea how I can get rid it. ONR does work well for QID.
 
I feel like ONR is way over hyped, I have 20oz left and have no idea how I can get rid it. ONR does work well for QID.

Try using it as a household dusting spray. I ended up with a *gallon* of ONR with no idea what I`d do with it, and luckily I tried using it in place of Endust/Pledge/etc. in the house- works great! I`ve always been good about the housekeeping, but dusting with ONR took it to a whole `nother level, really surprised me what a diff it makes.
 
Ok, now I have to jump in here.

So if your using it as a "Endust/Pledge/etc."...

I am always looking at different ways to clean these giant *read long* faux wood blinds. They are about 2 inches wide and they are a son of a gun to not only get clean but also keep clean. I also have some "blinds" I would call them that are infront of my sliding glass door that heads out to the deck. I would love to use some auto supplies to clean these.

I have used an ONR mixture when hand mopping the LVT in the kitchen and dining room and was awesome.

Anyways, what ratio are you mixing for the "endust/pledge" situation?

Thanks.
 
Ok, now I have to jump in here.

So if your using it as a "Endust/Pledge/etc."..... what ratio are you mixing for the "endust/pledge" situation?

Not quite QD-strength these days now that it`s built up a little [whatever it leaves behind]. I used it at regular QD-strength ( ~3/4oz. + 16oz. water) for the first year or so.

Just mixed up some the other day, used about half an ounce + about 16oz. water. I`m not being even remotely precise about it.

I bet it`d be perfect for those blinds. I have some wooden venetian blinds that are a big PIA to dust, and the finish on those is almost certainly very similar to your faux wood. Things *stay* cleaner with the ONR...I sure won`t say "anti-static", but after a while (just give it time..) I`m confident you`ll notice the same thing.

I was a real Furniture Care Snob for ages, but switching to ONR was a real eye-opener and now I`m an utter fanboy for the approach. It`s no exaggeration to say it made a significant difference in my life. And/but I`m still not a fan of it for Detailing (though in all fairness, I haven`t tried the current version of it), so for me to rave about it for any purpose is really something!

I do find that IUDJ works a lot better on some surfaces, especially glazed porcelains on stuff like toilets/sinks/etc., but then I think IUDJ is better all-around anyhow.
 
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