Drying Car

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1) synth chamois for the big water pickup
2) terry towels for the little spots left
3) cheesecloth towel for final shine
 
Micro fiber towels for the main part, those cheaper Absorber Chamois (in tube at Autozone) for the door jams. Once I have gone over it really good inside and out, I drive it around the block to let the water in the gaps come out, then spot dry her. After that I just stick it in the garage with my industrial fan blowing while I am detailing the wheels and tires. This helps dry the remaining moisture.
 
Cheesecloth = super soft fabric similar in softness to micro fiber towels you see in the store. But with one enormous advantage (in my opinion)

The cheesecloth fibers are woven together. If you looked at the micro-fiber closely you see hundreds of little whiskers. The cheesecloth does not have wiskers, rather it is completely woven. so there is zero chance of scratching. It's not good for absorbing water, but it's good at grabbing specs of dirt/dust that may be left over and take it away.

I'm not even sure where I got that cloth from, but it's about 5 years old and has kept all my cars relatively scratch free for a long time. It's a double layered cloth that's about 18" wide and about 4 feet long. I just wipe a panel then fold it over, wipe another panel, fold it over. On a newly washed and dried car it does a great job at shining it up real nice. Almost a polish...but without any chemicals.

au natural' as they say en francais!!!
 
Big blue drying towel for initial dry, a smaller waffle weave microfiber towel for the final dry. Regular microfiber towels for the door jambs, wheels, tires, engine and everything else that's not paint.
 
Fortyounces said:
Cheesecloth = super soft fabric similar in softness to micro fiber towels you see in the store.


It's not good for absorbing water, but it's good at grabbing specs of dirt/dust that may be left over and take it away.


I've bought them in auto part stores. They are great for removing wax and for a final polish.

If I have time, I apply another coat of sealant, or a quick detail spray after drying.
 
wow, some of you guys take this to a whole new level!

i bought that mr. clean auto dry package. just rinse with the special nossel and you should be spot-free.
 
California water blade. No water spots will be left. It's basically works like a windshield wiper, except you do it manually.
 
I saw that California water blade, was this close |--- | to buying one.
My only concern with that bad boy is god-forbid a pebble or something abrasive get trapped under it mid wipe. Put a nice scratch over the whole surface.

like fingernails on a chalkboard! makes me cringe!!!
 
After the wash I use an electric leaf blower to knock most of the water off the vehicle, including all the water that sits in little crevices and will drip out later when you move the vehicle. The 4Runner has lots of these crevices!

I tried the California water blade (I own one) and didn't like it much. On a vehicle that was all gentle curves it would do ok, but it's hard to get it to conform to all the compound surfaces of the 4Runner. The blast from the leaf blower does a good job, though, especially if wax has caused most of the water to bead up.
 
I use a Water Blade And Real Leather Chamois OR just the chamois...No water spots...

I seem like the only real chamois left out there??!:arrow:
 
I use the spot-free rinse of the Mr. Clean Autowash and let nature take its course. I get burned from time to time when I miscalculate the life of the water filter, but I get my 4runner dirty so often, I have to make washing as easy as possible. Not to the point of going commercial, however.
 
Fortyounces said:
I saw that California water blade, was this close |--- | to buying one.
My only concern with that bad boy is god-forbid a pebble or something abrasive get trapped under it mid wipe. Put a nice scratch over the whole surface.

like fingernails on a chalkboard! makes me cringe!!!

Good frame of mind Fortyounce. Thats is exactly why I will not use one. One little piece of grit you can't see and WHAM! A nice scratch. I use Microfiber and waffleweave towels, at least w/ Waffleweaves small grit and particles have somewhere to go (those little pockets) reducing the chance of a scratching.
 
The devil in me wants to go on about how small particles "ride a hydralic pressure wave infront of the silicon Blade"...but that would be pure BS!!! ( I am kinda proud of thinkin it up though).

I have some scratches and rock chips in the ole 2003, the water blade takes off 90% of the water and the chamois picks up the remainder along with the water spots, I will try the synthetic towels in the future though...
 

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