I finally was able to handwash my car this weekend. I just have the worst time with all these different drying solutions that are out there.

Could someone tell me what system, cloths that they use? I have all those hand drying, microfiber towels but it just seems like drying is a real pain and results in dust spots and water marks.

Maybe if you could post links also to where you got them from that would be really helpful. As well as what you guys use to clean the wheels as well.

Perhaps this would be better in the detailing forum but this would get a lot more views here.

Thanks guys.

 

try waashing your towels before you use them for the first time. I used to detail cas on the side and I would prewash all of my cloths before I used them, I could sit here for an hour and type out instructions for you, but I found a tutorial a while ago so as soon as I find it Ill post it here for you.

 

I use the absorber. Works wonderfully and quick. I also washed my car on the weekend and it was a warm, 65 wonderfully sunny day in San Diego

I did live in Indiana for awhile and I used the absorber back then too. Its like a super chamois and waaaaay quicker than most towels.

 

I live in New Jersey, and the weather has been pretty cold the last two weeks....
I was able to wash my car once after the big snow we had on 1/22. I was able to put a coat of wax on as well.

When you wash your car, after you have completely rinsed off the car soap, take off the nozzle and let the water "sheet" on your car.
Start with the roof and work your way down the hood, trunk and then the sides and rear....

You will be surprised how much water will run off, leaving some residual water beads here and there....

I don't know how well this will work if your car's finish isn't waxed. It probably won't work that well I'm sure.....

I use a 100% cotton towel, and drag it across the the car to soak up the excess water left....

I clean my wheels with Eagle 1 A to Z wheel/rim cleaner, and follow up with my car wash to remove any remaining brake dust..

 

Yea, there's a lot of information out there, and everyone is going to have a different opinion. I'll tell you what I do, though.

1st I wash the car using Megiuar's NXT Generation car wash soap.
2nd I dry using the Absorber Drying towel.
3rd I clay bar the whole car.
4th I wax using Megiuar's NXT Generation Tech Wax
5th I use this industrial degreaser on my wheels I get from my uncle. This stuff is extremely strong, but totally safe on your wheels. I don't even need to wipe. I just spray on, and wash off in 2 minutes. It totally eats all the dirt, grease, and brake dust. I wish I knew the name of the stuff, but he gives it to me in an unmarked spray bottle.
6th I use ZEP tire dressing on my tires and inner wheel wells. I get this stuff free too, so that why I use it. I'm sure there's better stuff out there.

All of this takes about 2 and a half hours. That's it. I always get an AMAZING shine, and nothing ever sticks to my car cause it's SO SILKY SMOOTH.

 

I'll have ot check out the Absorber drying towel. I feel like I've tried so many different types of chamois but they all pretty much suck and leave water marks. I've even tried the California water blade but that wont work on our cars - too many curves I think.

 

http://www.detailersparadise.com/ good for products
http://gliptone.com <-- when I used to detail, and now I get almost all of my stuff through them, their products have great results and are easy to work with.


the tutorial http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-wash.html

 

I use a squeegee and then a microfiber to dry and small spots the squeegee left behind.

 

Yea, taking the nozzle off your hose and letting the water "sheet" off your car is very important. Like GR8TG35 said, if your car is waxed, this trick will leave very little beads of water on your car. You get almost no waterspots. I would use a microfiber towel instead of a 100% cotten towel. I heard that the cotten towels are more prone to leaving little swirl marks, but that's just what I heard. I've always used microfiber towels and have never seen a scratch on any of my cars. Just my 2 cents

 

Finally got a chance to do a hand wash yesterday, as it was in the 50's in the Philly area. I also turned the lawn sprinkler loose under the car to wash off any road salt/grime.

Anyway, I use Zaino car wash (www.zainostore.com) with a sheepskin washing mitt. I also use two buckets, one for clean water and soap suds and one to wash off the mitt after it's washed dirt from the car. I use Griot's Garage (www.griotsgarage.com) wheel cleaner, sprayed on the wheels and left for a couple of minutes, then I agitate the cleaner with Griot's little foam wheel mitts, or a clean towel. I dry the car with Microfiber towels from Pakshak (www.pakshak.com - good prices), and apply 303 Aerospace Protectant on the tires (no petroleum-distillates like Armorall, so better for the rubber) and I sometimes also apply Tirerack Wheelwax on the wheels when I get a chance. I put on another coat of Zaino as well just to get a little extra winter protection. From time to time I also spray a bit Griot's undercarriage spray in the wheel wells to make them shine.

Since the winter makes the car dirty so fast around here, I had to snap a few pics :





And for those who've wondered what the ASA JH3 17" winter wheels look like over the Brembos, here ya go:

 

First of all, not all microfiber (=mf) towels are the same.
I use a waffle weave microfiber (=ww mf) towel. My car is black and where I live the temperature is 80 degrees year round. The air is slightly salty depending on where I am so its very challenging to keep my G clean. I've found the most success so far with a sheepskin mitt+buckett+normal wax-friendly car wash soap (not detergent) for washing... and the wwmf towel for drying.

if you take good care of the towel and do not wash in hot/direct sunlight you should find that it does an excellent job. Not including glass you could probably dry the car in 10mins if the cloth is clean and dry before hand. It typically takes me as long as 15 mins but normally im in no big rush.
it will not leave any water marks nor will it swirl the paint, ive found it to be the best technique out there as far as speed, safety (on the paint), and quality. The only thing i can think of that might be better is a leaf blower (if fast enough and used carefully)

i got my ww mf towel from http://www.pakshak.com. the purchase experience from them was top notch. Communication was excellent and the order went out very quickly. I highly recommend them

the product is equally excellent. I can dry my G without ever ringing out the towel (until im done with it all). Of course the key to this is to keep the towel clean and dry in advance. You might be able to do two washes and drying sessions without ringing out the towel, to give you an idea on how good it is.
i wouldnt use any other kind of mf towel on the car...if you go this route i also recommend getting a water blade (think of a winshield wiper blade) to get water off of the glass. the wwmf towel handles it fine but if you use the blade its easier and its less water to absorb into the towel. good luck with whatever you decide to use

 

Thanks Tekknikal for the suggestion. I'll look into it.

 

i havent been to pakshak in a while, i noticed he has some mitts now. i highly recommend you get one, maybe two- one for the body of the car and the other for the wheels, exhaust, etc. its not that expensive and it works so well im sure you could sell it if you really didnt like it.

i would also recommend two of the ww mf towels. thats more pricey but i wish i got a 2nd one (for the same reason). ill be ordering another soon.

i wouldnt recommend using normal mf to dry the car. that would be bad.
also i dont think the mf pads/bonnet are really good, but thats me.
i talked to randy there a while back and mentioned lexol, they carry it now. if they have something you want, ask them about it.
I highly highly recommend lexol for leather. use the cleaner and then the conditioner at least once every few months where you are.. (in the summer if its hot do it every few weeks.. for reference i think i need to do it at least every other week where i am)

they also have excellent products for detailing- claying, waxing, sealing.. not sure if you want to go down that road though.

btw i dont want to sound like im working for pakshak or anything, so dont take my word for it, go to autopia forums and you can read what people say there there: http://autopia.org/ if you have any other questions or need advice dont hesitate to let me know ive been down this road and learned some bad lessons the hard way

 

Just curious - what would be bad about it? I've used Pakshak's Ultra MF towels to dry and they seem to work quite well for me (although I do have to use 2-3 of them to really dry properly.)

 

in my experience it depends on the towel. pakshak has some good ones so it may not be that bad. but from what ive seen, the best case is that it takes a lot of rigning out or more likely, towels, to get the job done. even then you may have streaks left.
worst case youre picking up dirt and adding swirl marks (maybe not swirls if you go in one direction, but you know what i mean). if you arent using a quality mf towel you may pick up dirt and put light scratches in the car, although i dont think this is likely. for most people, it would probably not be that efficient and just add some light swirls.

edit- it also depends on how clean your car is in advance. it seems to me that the wwmf towels are more tolerant to not having a superclean car. in any case they seem much faster and far more effective. pakshak's towels are very good, and you seem to take good care in what youre doing so you probably arent doing harm. look at your car under direct light and at angles up close and see if you see swirl marks/fine lines on the paint. if so then i suggest you consider the wwmf towels. i would consider them anyway though just because theyre that good.

also, when i made that comment, i was really trying to turn him away from going to target/walmart and buying some mf towel and using it to dry the car, expecting top quality results.