[Guest]

Best way to dry your car.......chamois?? synthetic chamois?? terry towels?? microfibre towels?

 

[Frosty]

Leafblower

Seriously... no touch = no scratch.

I use a microfibre towel since I don't have a leafblower and I don't want to look like a freak. :laughing:

 

[S-curve]

Never given a car a blowjob with a leafblower before. I have always had good luck with The Absober chamois followed by a little compressed air around the mirrors and door handles. Just whispering a little sweet nothing, I guess:laughing:

 

[Guest]

i have used a car squeege for the last 2 washes and no problems yet!!!

 

[AcuraGuy]

do you guys notice those tiny spiderweb looking scratches on the surface of the paint under direct sun? they look like swirl marks from wax..but permanant. i notice i get that from drying using regular beach towels.
If i use a chamois will i still get those scratches?

 

[S-curve]

do you guys notice those tiny spiderweb looking scratches on the surface of the paint under direct sun? they look like swirl marks from wax..but permanant. i notice i get that from drying using regular beach towels.
If i use a chamois will i still get those scratches?

Might help to use a chamois. However, what you are referring to is a natural occurance in a black car (and dark colors). This is why it takes such frequent waxing and surface care. There is no real damage, just every time anything touches black it leaves its mark. Just polish and wax regularly. With my Black Currant Pearl Accord, I had to wax every 2 weeks to keep things looking good.

Zaino is also praised for its ability to mask these fine lines. Since I do not use Zaino, I am not sure of which number but I am sure somone will be along shortly to give that info.

Meguiars Gold Class is great for masking these lines. However, like I said, you must reapply about every 2 weeks on a dark car to keep these lines away.

 

[Johnny Navs]

Zaino is also praised for its ability to mask these fine lines. Since I do not use Zaino, I am not sure of which number but I am sure somone will be along shortly to give that info.

Yep. Zaino Z-5 is for swirl marks and fine scratches.

:thumbsup:

 

[Frosty]

do you guys notice those tiny spiderweb looking scratches on the surface of the paint under direct sun? they look like swirl marks from wax..but permanant. i notice i get that from drying using regular beach towels.
If i use a chamois will i still get those scratches?

Big fluffy towels are perfectly safe to dry with, as long as they are 100% cotton, and not polyester. I blot dry, don't rub.
Those swirls are on everyone's cars... black just happens to be infamous for making them visible.

Z-5 is your saviour. It works wonders at hiding those pesky lines. It's far better than anything that I've tried before.

 

[Guest]

I've got a drying question too: No matter how hard I try, I cannot prevent water from getting trapped from behind the rear view mirrors on the doors. Actually, I think it is coming from the black plastic piece in the far corners of the windows (if you know what I'm talking about?). I can literally sit and watch the water come out of there for an hour and drip down and leave water marks across my doors and patting it dry does not help. The worst is if I happen to go out for a drive before I wait for the water to clear out of there - my nicely washed car is ruined w/ water streaks all across the side of my car, like I went 4 wheeling. Any advice (I don't have a leaf blower)? Thanks. :spin:

 

[Homer2]

the black crsytalline effect . .thats what ive named it (worldwide patent pending)

it seems its simply the natural results from the ingredients in darker paint

anyways - onto the new topic - secret water hiding places

you guys have it tough

i have washed a couple of rsx's - and the first time i did one, i could NOT belive the amount of water that came from the mirror support area . . it was like a tiny hose was leaking . .

air will help - time helps

all cars have these secret spots - and yes, sometimes you just cant wait them out

take a quick spin when you are done everything else - and take along with you...

a nice soft cloth (see above for note re 100% cotton) and a detail spray - whatever you use. when you get a couple of blocks, pull over - wipe gently and spray

any better solutions - and im all ears on this one - cause i dont have the bals to use a leaf blower yet either, and compressed air isnt in my garage . . .

 

[Frosty]

I've got a drying question too: No matter how hard I try, I cannot prevent water from getting trapped from behind the rear view mirrors on the doors.

That's the worst part of the car.
It gets in everywhere in that area.
- Open the door, dry along the top of the door and along the inner lip of the roofline and A-pillar
- Kinda prod to slip the towel in behind the bracket for the mirror from inside the door.
- Stick the towel in around the edge of the mirror to get water out of the housing
- Fold the housing in and dry around the elbow at the housing and bracket.

That usually eliminates MOST of the drips. I'll get a few popping out for 5 minutes or so. It's such a pain though, LOL

 

[2002 Type S]

I use a synthetic chamois to dry my car. I've just recently bought it and it seems to work very well. It's a MOMBA Synthetic Chamois (comes in a plastic case). I got it from a Pro-Hardware store.

Are synthetic chamois a good choice?? I soak it with water after using it for a few minutes as well.

I also get the water coming out from the mirror as well...but just on the driver's side :dontknow:

 

[Frosty]

From another thread:

I don't like chamois either.

It's in the design.
Something perfectly flat has the most surface area. Therefore something flat can absorb faster that something that's textured.
Chamois are relatively flat, so they absorb lots of water fairly quickly.

Something that's flat also doesn't provide anywhere for dirt to be pulled away, so if you rub, you drag any dirt you missed along the surface. Rubbing with a chamois is trouble.

With a chamois, I just lay it on a part, kinda press it, and lift it. No rubbing. It helps a lot to keep the swirls down... eventually I just took Homer2's advice and switched to a bathtowel, which works really well... but a little linty sometimes.

 

[Drew187]

Leaking Mirrors....

When I dry my car I open the doors, and pull part of the rubber gasket off the back of the mirror, theres only about 3 or 4 little hooks that keep it on. Lossening the pressure releases the water faster, and I just let it drain while I dry the rest of the car.

 

[miztahsparklez]

worst part = hatch

open the hatch when you just washed your car.... you wont be happy =)

 

[Motab]

worst part = hatch

open the hatch when you just washed your car.... you wont be happy =)

Yeah, the hatch sucks... The first time I was going to clean the hatch jam, I had already finished Drying and Z-6'ing the car, and then BAM! I was angry. Same thing with the hood too...

One of these days I'll get an air compressor to get some of those mirror type spots.

As for the topic, I use a combination of the California Water Blade and big fluffy towels. I don't remember the name of the towel, but it's leagues better than what I dry myself with after a shower. The Water Blade is awesome for getting most of the water off, and I keep it in its little plastic container when I'm not using it to make sure it doesn't get jacked up.

 

[Nocturnal]

"The Absorber" :thumbsup:

 

[spydersrsx]

"The Absorber" :thumbsup:

agreed:thumbsup:

 

[Guest]

hey anyone try those microfibre towels they have at walmart and other places?...hmm wonder if those are good....

 

[Sanchez83]

The Absorber works wonders.