Drying Techniques

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PearlWhiteGT

New member
I used a Micro Waffle Weeve towel to dry my car a while back & I don't know if I did it wrong but it left lots of streaks all over the car. I didn't noticed since the sun went down but the next day it looked horrible. Does the brand of towel make a difference?
 
PearlWhiteGT said:
I used a Micro Waffle Weeve towel to dry my car a while back & I don't know if I did it wrong but it left lots of streaks all over the car. I didn't noticed since the sun went down but the next day it looked horrible. Does the brand of towel make a difference?
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It sure can...what brand did you use?

Also was the car hot at the time?..in the sun?

I use PB WW towels and have had no issues with streaking
 
Don't remember the brand. I bought it from a local auto supply store. The car was in the shade. I'll look into the PB WW towels.
 
Had you washed the towel at all before? Washing MF and using fabric softener can cause them to do this.

I use QD as I dry, and follow up with a plush MF towel (not waffle weave) and I never have a problem. For the longest time I was not a fan of waffle weave towels because they left streaking just like you mentioned. Typically, a plush MF with a QD will take care of this.
 
Here's a quick rundown of what I do. YMMV.

Flood rinse.
Dry windows with small waffle weaves.
Blot paint with waffle weave.
Spray QD on panel, complete drying with plush drying MF.

When spraying the QD, the panels will still be "moist" with rinse water.
 
I would wash the towel. DO NOT wash it with cotton it will pick up the lint.
DO NOT use a fabric softener or drier sheet.
I have a cheap WW towel and while it is not the quality of the better towels that I have it will not streak. Washing it will probably cure the problem
 
i chamois dry with one in each hand then switch to my MF towel and mothers showtime to mist and get rid of all the streaks and enhance the shine if all im doing is a wash.
i just use reugular vrooom orange detailing microfibers from target
 
The following is a copy & paste from a post I made in a different thread. It works for me and pretty well covers my feelings on the subject.
CharlesW said:
I have good luck with micro fiber towels. Doesn't really make much difference to me if they are waffle weave or regular terry.
I do tend to use the regular ones more often, but I think that's just because I have a lot more of them.

I have tried the leaf blower and it wasn't worth the hassle for me. Still had to finish with a MF towel.

I have also used the Absorber with no problems. but all the warnings about possibly damaging the paint with trapped particles scared me away from it.
FWIW, I never had any marring that I could attribute to the Absorber.

Many, many years ago, I used a natural chamois, but they were very expensive and needed to be well cared for.
I used good cotton terry towels until MF became popular. Never had any problem with them, either.
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Does a small leaf-blower work as a dryer? If that works, it would be the best thing rather than wiping out the water. With wiping, there is always a chance of scratching or marring the surface.

- Vikas
 
sontakke said:
Does a small leaf-blower work as a dryer? If that works, it would be the best thing rather than wiping out the water. With wiping, there is always a chance of scratching or marring the surface.

- Vikas
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The leaf blower will work. One member uses a very small blower and seems to be happy with it.
Others use an air compressor for the nooks and crannies.

For me, the leaf blower and the air compressor were more trouble than they were worth. I like easy. :D
 
PearlWhiteGT said:
What chamois are best to use?
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A synthetic "chamois" like the Absorber (made of PVA) is durable and highly effective at removing copious amounts of water. You'll see detractors, but we all have our opinions. I've used them for many years (read decades) and they are hard to beat.

MFs are fine too (I have literally hundreds), but they aren't perfect either.

CharlesW said:
...For me, the leaf blower and the air compressor were more trouble than they were worth...
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I agree.
 
CharlesW said:
For me, the leaf blower and the air compressor were more trouble than they were worth. I like easy. :D
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Charles, I almost agree with you on this. I really like to used compressed air behind the mirrors. Other than that it's not really worth the hassle.
 
I have used the Absorber for years with no problem, and still use it works great.
I just bought a new one love em.
 
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