How do you dry interiors after a shampoo?

DLR Detailing

DLR Detailing

Wax on ~ Wax off
I currently use an extractor on a full interior shampoo. Sometimes, I follow up with my shop vac (filter removed) to help remove excess moisture from the "extra dirty" jobs. I realize the less water that is introduced into the interior the better, but sometimes it can't be helped. I do use an industrial floor fan aimed inside of an open door while I work on the exterior. This is something I always have to work around however. I also have used an electric leaf blower to speed things up, but I feel there has to be a better way.

I was wondering what the popular drying method on DC is?

I am considering buying a small portable air mover to place inside of customer vehicles to help expedite the drying process. I am also requesting input from members as to brand recommendations? What are your experiences... durability, maintenance?

Thanks in advance for your advice and help!
Dave
 
I use a mytee extractor so i get most of the water up with that. But normally i'll pull the car into the sun and open the doors. I also have a large floor fan that i'll use if i'm in a hurry. Check it out in the attatched pic.
 
I leave the floor mats out to dry and I will just leave the car out to dry with the doors open. I always do interiors first in full details so that there is the time to have it dry out.

Greg
 
PEI Detail said:
When it isn't warm, I run the car for 15-20mins with windows cracked.
Click to expand...

that's what i like to do. the carpets dry very quickly if you crank the heat and fan and put the mode selector on the floor.
 
I usually use the exhaust port of my shop vac to circulate the air in the vehicle while I do the outside. In the winter, I will use a couple of hair dryers along with the shop vac to circulate the warm air if needed. Sounds funny but works really well.
 
In the summer, I park the car in full sun and leave the windows about 1/3 of the way down. Having the car mostly shut up lets heat build up inside and the partially open windows lets the evaporating water escape.

On minivans, I have been known to put a household dehumidifier in the back and completely close up the car.
 
Great advice guys! :yourrock

vwgtivw, I did the :search That is more what I had in mind for price, Thanks!

Don, I understand that mini-vans always call for drastic measures. :bigups

:thanks everyone for your help!

Dave
 
I have also had success with a small ceramic heater placed inside the car. Doesn't take long for it to heat the whole inside.
 
Maybe the wierdest way but when i worked at ford my boss would pull the cars out of the bay windows up.... heat on and put to floor on full blast .... xxxx the door and walk away.... my god did it work... the inside of the car would be disgustingly hot whenyou open the door but holy crap did it work like no other and the worst part is we had air movers and blowers and all them things.
 
I find with the windows up the car is damp in the air afterwards, and the carpets are damp the next morn.
 
So I found a car where my method (windows cracked, heater on) didn't work. Guy had water coming in behind the firewall from the engine bay.
After 1/2 hour, it still was wet. I extracted again, still wait. I put it in a warm shop overnight, still damp. This is what we did: I bought a ceramic space heater with a heat shut off (so it doesn't overheat) and put it in the car. This is working, thanx for the idea.
I also bought some rocker guard and sealed some places on the top of the firewall that were open so the problem won't be as bad again.
 
PEI Detail said:
When it isn't warm, I run the car for 15-20mins with windows cracked.
Click to expand...

Winter time I use this method as well....shop vac the heck out of it then let the heater do the rest this seems to do the trick for me
 
I just mist the matts and cartpet with Oxi-Clean. It works so well that you just need a little and they will by dry in about 10-15 minutes. It may not be cold here but it is humid.
 
Beemerboy said:
Winter time I use this method as well....shop vac the heck out of it then let the heater do the rest this seems to do the trick for me
Click to expand...
When doing the heater thing i would hope that this is not in a enclosed Garage.
 
I usually do the interior first......carpets last.....when done, I turn on the heater and do the exterior. After drying, I open the doors and turn the car off....99% of the time, the carpet is dry before I get done.
 
Quote:
Originally posted by Inthedetails

I have also had success with a small ceramic heater placed inside the car. Doesn't take long for it to heat the whole inside.

I dug out my small heater, 8"x8" cube - 1500w - worked really well!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Beemerboy
Winter time I use this method as well....shop vac the heck out of it then let the heater do the rest this seems to do the trick for me

I got the chance to try this out on a "tough" interior recently. I left the windows down a little and the shop door up about 1ft. By the time I got to the LSP, the inside was dry.

Thanks to all that took the time to help me out! :yourrock

Dave
 
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