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  1. #1
    There is no cure! joyriide1113's Avatar
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    Are you completely drying your car?!?

    One of my biggest most challenging petpeeves when it comes to washing my car is drying the friggin` car.

    It has gotten so bad that I take about 2 hours to fully finish a regular weekly clean up on the exterior of my car.

    Sure when I clean my sisters, mothers, fathers, ect. cars on the weekends, it only takes me about an hour to fully finish, given that I did everything proper and used good techniques. But when its my own car, I go crazy blowing the water out of cracks, drying trunk and door jams, ect. I find that it reduces water runs drastically but not completely.

    Are you guys being as anal as I am?

    Do you just learn to live with the small runs of water or what?

    Thanks,
    Joy
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  2. #2
    harry444's Avatar
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    Re: Are you completely drying your car?!?

    Unfortinatly YES! it also takes me a good 3 hours to compleatly dry my car I use a air compressor with 90psi to blow the water out of all the tight areas.Lets not forget the wheels !

  3. #3
    There is no cure! joyriide1113's Avatar
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    Re: Are you completely drying your car?!?

    Oh yes. I hate applying tire dressing to a tire with a bit of water. Once the dressing dries it shows the streak. haha!

    We`re NUTS!
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    //2007 BMW 335i e90 Sedan // Montego Blue // Black.Aluminum//

  4. #4
    Mike CalgaryDetail's Avatar
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    Re: Are you completely drying your car?!?

    I find the easiest way to dry the car, is to use a californa blade if you want (i dont like it on my paint im a little anal) but i have a leef blower that i blow over the whole car like a giant hand dryer. I then use some cheaper mfs that i bought at canadain tire (they work really well i have yet to have a problem with them) then i used the air compresseor when i can borrow one and get the tight spots, from there i just use an adams WW MF, i find i can do it all in less then a half hour. I get as much water off b4 the WW (sometimes i use two) and have had no problems with my paint, no swirls and im left with a nice clean, dry car
    and as to the run off normaly i will drive the car around the green if its nice enough, if not i keep a small mf in the glove box so when i see the run off i can quickly get it. Its an added 30 seconds but makes it look good
    06 Nissan Altima 3.5SE

  5. #5
    There is no cure! joyriide1113's Avatar
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    Re: Are you completely drying your car?!?

    Quote Originally Posted by CalgaryDetail
    I find the easiest way to dry the car, is to use a californa blade if you want (i dont like it on my paint im a little anal) but i have a leef blower that i blow over the whole car like a giant hand dryer. I then use some cheaper mfs that i bought at canadain tire (they work really well i have yet to have a problem with them) then i used the air compresseor when i can borrow one and get the tight spots, from there i just use an adams WW MF, i find i can do it all in less then a half hour. I get as much water off b4 the WW (sometimes i use two) and have had no problems with my paint, no swirls and im left with a nice clean, dry car
    and as to the run off normaly i will drive the car around the green if its nice enough, if not i keep a small mf in the glove box so when i see the run off i can quickly get it. Its an added 30 seconds but makes it look good
    Its not the drying process with my Waffleweaves that make it soo long, but its the added measure caused by my ocd (lol) of getting all the water gone.

    I can get the car dried with a waffle weave in 15 minutes. That includes a qd spray.
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  6. #6
    pt91's Avatar
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    Re: Are you completely drying your car?!?

    I do the same thing and it takes me at least two hours. I use my metro blaster to get most of the water off and concentrate on the windows, mirrors, seams, license plate door sills, weatherstrip, wheels, tires, wipers, door handles and all other H20 holding menaces!
    Then I finish off with a soft WW and get the door edges, cargo door and under the hood. I hate drips!
    I sort of miss the days when a thorough drying was driving really fast
    Now I have added the foam gun and boars hair brush for seams and I am looking at a solid three hours until I get to the QD.
    1991 NSX Blk/Blk
    2005 Civic Si
    2003 Xterra SC < Sold!
    2006 NBP EXP Honda Element AWD

  7. #7
    97F1504x4's Avatar
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    Re: Are you completely drying your car?!?

    I also use my air compressor to blow out all the knooks and crannies along with the wheels. Lug nut areas etc.

    Richard
    1997 Ford F150 4x4 Pacific Green w/HOK Kandy Green Flames
    2006 Mustang GT

  8. #8
    All About The Bling Bling TrueDetailer's Avatar
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    Re: Are you completely drying your car?!?

    I`m not as picky as some on this board. I don`t go as far as blowing out cracks,drying under the hood, etc. everytime i wash it. I dry the car, dry the door jambs and i`m done. Whatever water drips from the mirrors or molding i`m not to worried about. Why spend all that time drying the car when in a few hours its gonna have some bugs on the front end,dust all over it, dirt in the wells.

    Now on the friday afternoon wash for the weekend, i make sure i get most the water from the jambs,moldings and such. Basicaly make it as perfect as i can withou spending hours on it.

  9. #9
    Don't diss the FAST!! vwgtivw's Avatar
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    Re: Are you completely drying your car?!?

    You guys think you have problems I have 99 Ford F350 crew cab dually. Alot of surface area and nooks and crannies. About 3.5 hrs start to finish on a regular wash.:bump

  10. #10
    God drives a Cadillac.
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    Re: Are you completely drying your car?!?

    I start my drying process with a CWB. I`m very careful with it by going slow, keeping it clean, going over an area only once, and using it primarily for horizontal surfaces.

    Then, I use the blower port of a dedicated shop vac to blow vertical surfaces and the hard to dry places. The shop vac is not as good as a leaf blower but it is quieter and since I like to start my washing early on weekend mornings, quiet is important to maintain harmony with the wife and neighbors.

    Then, I use one of the many fine absorbing towels, etc to over missed spots.

    Then, I use the shop vac to go around the crevices again.

    Then, I again use one of the many fine absorbing towels to fine missed spots.

    Then, I continue those two last steps over and over again until I`m exhausted.


    Edited to add:

    Actually I start the drying process with a sheeting rinse.
    The 80/20 rule applies to detailing.

  11. #11

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    Re: Are you completely drying your car?!?

    Quote Originally Posted by joyriide1113

    It has gotten so bad that I take about 2 hours to fully finish a regular weekly clean up on the exterior of my car.


    Are you guys being as anal as I am?

    Yes I am anal with this and it takes me 2.5 to 3 hours to do a full wash and dry of the car. The exterior isn`t that much of a problem when I sheet the water and then use a water blade on the glass and a waffle weave on the paint. It`s the little nooks and tight spaces that take the time. I also use compressed air to blow them out. I dry everything under the hood and give it a wipe down while I am in there. I do the door and trunk jambs, wheel lug nuts , etc.

  12. #12
    97F1504x4's Avatar
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    Re: Are you completely drying your car?!?

    Quote Originally Posted by Anthony A
    Yes I am anal with this and it takes me 2.5 to 3 hours to do a full wash and dry of the car. The exterior isn`t that much of a problem when I sheet the water and then use a water blade on the glass and a waffle weave on the paint. It`s the little nooks and tight spaces that take the time. I also use compressed air to blow them out. I dry everything under the hood and give it a wipe down while I am in there. I do the door and trunk jambs, wheel lug nuts , etc.

    Yep me to I think it is easier to maintain the truck and cars by doing all these steps each time.

    Richard
    1997 Ford F150 4x4 Pacific Green w/HOK Kandy Green Flames
    2006 Mustang GT

  13. #13
    Autogeek's Avatar
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    Re: Are you completely drying your car?!?

    Takes me about an hour...if I`m going somewhere shortly after, I`ll just bring a towel and some QD and wipe off the water that comes out of the cracks. Usually I wash at night, so the car just sits in the garage and the water doesn`t really run out.
    www.autogeek.net - We Are Car Care!

  14. #14
    Swirls?!?! NNOOOOOOO!!!!! Big Leegr's Avatar
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    Re: Are you completely drying your car?!?

    Well, as usual, I`m different.
    I usually use a qd as I wipe off the remaining water after sheeting what I can (Including drying door jambs etc.), then go for a quick drive (few blocks) and then use S+W+G to wipe off any water trails that formed. I`d say I`m done drying in under half an hour, drive included.
    Of course, I live a couple blocks from both a cement company and a grain elevator, so I don`t expect a pristine clean for very long.
    Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult!

  15. #15
    Just One More Coat Beemerboy's Avatar
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    Re: Are you completely drying your car?!?

    Quote Originally Posted by joyriide1113
    One of my biggest most challenging petpeeves when it comes to washing my car is drying the friggin` car.

    It has gotten so bad that I take about 2 hours to fully finish a regular weekly clean up on the exterior of my car.

    Sure when I clean my sisters, mothers, fathers, etc. cars on the weekends, it only takes me about an hour to fully finish, given that I did everything proper and used good techniques. But when its my own car, I go crazy blowing the water out of cracks, drying trunk and door jams, etc. I find that it reduces water runs drastically but not completely.

    Are you guys being as anal as I am?

    Do you just learn to live with the small runs of water or what?

    Thanks,
    Joy

    I haven`t read this whole thread but after the wash and first pass with the MF towel....I move it into the garage and use a leaf blower to blow out the water from cracks and unders elbems, etc....this seems to take about 90 to 95% of the water...Some areas like under my lience plate never really dry, but this method really helps allot
    Old Enough To Know Better, Too Stupid To Care....

    Dave`s Detailing
    Sonoma County, CA

 

 
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