Spaceship swirly marks - How do you dry your car?

[psykik]

I use megs water magnets. Ive got 3 of them. I got these cos everyone said they were the best. Im probably just not using them right.

When i dry the car i start top down, roof first. Then panel by panel.

I noticed that I'm causing swirl marks by bad drying or a little too much elbow grease. I need to learn a better method. When i try to use the cloths lightly, the car stays wet! Even if i turn the cloth over, or ring it dry from damp. Im just not getting good results at all. Infact, im damaging the car.

The method i tried to use was in this video:

YouTube - How to dry your car

Or go to youtube and type in "how to dry your car"

I use a hose pipe to sheet off most of the water, then try to blot most of the water without "scrubbing". However, for me this just does NOT work. The hose pipe leaves lots of water still left over. The car in the video was probably highly waxed earlier! Go and take a look! I still have lots of water left underneath and it requires elbow grease to "polish" it off, thus causing swirl marks.

I have to learn a better way of doing this or else i may as well go back to the bosnian car wash down the road as im causing as many scratches or swirly marks as they did.

So questions for you:
1- how are you drying your car? What method are you using?
2- How do you dry without causing scratches or swirl marks?
3- how Long does it take you to dry your spaceship?
4- What drying cloths are you using with what results?

Hopefully, i'll learn something from you and get better. I'm making a big mess of washing my own spaceship so far and I must improve fast!

I am thinking of paying a professional detailer to do the job and learn from them a bit of valeting, but this isnt cheap.

Thanks

[Unknownsoldier]

Try the way I do it, lay your microfibres flat onto the paint work, then remove wring out and re-do, it saves rubbing at the paint work.

Tom

[psykik]

Tom, ok, what about door panels?

[Unknownsoldier]

same just 'dab' at it, that way you remove the water without moving any leftover dirt (should be any at this stage ) around your panels.

Tom

[robbo51]

Dabbing???
Is this serious guys??
Come on...!!
Youre never going to totally prevent swirls..The paint is too crap for that
Just dry it with the cloths, protect it with wax n sealer..Done!!

[Unknownsoldier]

I dab mate, and my swirls are minimal (I know you can't protect your paint fully, but why drag anything around to make it worse?).

Tom

[Munro]

No doubt I will be shot down in flames by the expert detailers on here:

1- how are you drying your car? What method are you using?
Take it for a short drive at speed (legal of course). This blows all the water off and drys your brake disks so they dont rust. The only time I dry with a cloth is when I am going to wax , which is about 3 or 4 times a year.

2- How do you dry without causing scratches or swirl marks?
Minimise rubbing anything over the paintwork (see 1).

3- how Long does it take you to dry your spaceship?
About 20 seconds at XX mph

4- What drying cloths are you using with what results?
One of the water magnet cloths on the odd occasion I dry with a cloth.

[Dimplyred]

That is one of the good things about silver, it doesn't show streaks.

If you try this method with a darker colour, it would look a right mess

[Munro]

Originally Posted by Dimplyred

That is one of the good things about silver, it doesn't show streaks.

If you try this method with a darker colour, it would look a right mess

I think I get away with it because the water is soft in Scotland ie not much disolved in it.

[Dimplyred]

Originally Posted by Munro

I think I get away with it because the water is soft in Scotland ie not much disolved in it.

Yes you are probably right. Great labour saving way of doing it, if you can get away with it.

[psykik]

thanks so far guys, please keep it coming, ive got lots to learn, hopefully the more we share the better!

Munro, ok after driving dont you get lots of water spots everywhere?

[Munro]

Originally Posted by psykik

Munro, ok after driving dont you get lots of water spots everywhere?

Havent noticed anything after drying using the driving technique. The combination of soft water and possibly the silver paint hiding any minor marks seems to make it work.

You could always try it yourself....

[Coldwarkid]

Originally Posted by psykik

I use megs water magnets. Ive got 3 of them. I got these cos everyone said they were the best. Im probably just not using them right.

When i dry the car i start top down, roof first. Then panel by panel.

I noticed that I'm causing swirl marks by bad drying or a little too much elbow grease. I need to learn a better method. When i try to use the cloths lightly, the car stays wet! Even if i turn the cloth over, or ring it dry from damp. Im just not getting good results at all. Infact, im damaging the car.

Same here!

Sad to say but I think it's down to the paint, I've never experienced swirl marks appear so quickly, it's even got to the point where I don't wash because of the damage I think it will cause.

[psykik]

Originally Posted by Coldwarkid

Same here!

Sad to say but I think it's down to the paint, I've never experienced swirl marks appear so quickly, it's even got to the point where I don't wash because of the damage I think it will cause.

Coldwarkid, YES the paint job on the civic is well below par but I cant be intimidated for fear of damaging it for not washing the car nor desiring it to be clean and shiny. To me its all down to method and technique. We cant change the crap civic paint job but we might be able to improve our drying technique to compensate! I dont yet know which drying technique is best that actually works and minimizes the swirl marks ive already reported, but by golly i am going to find out by trial and error, by speaking to detailers and perhaps hiring one or two to do a job for me while i learn. I will NOT accept i cannot wash the spaceship and make it shine without Swirlymarks, to accept surrender is to say my expense incurred on megs g220, snow foam gun, collinite is a complete waste of money. I do not surrender. My spaceship WILL SHINE!

Keep the advice coming all!

Thanks

[psykik]

Originally Posted by Munro

Havent noticed anything after drying using the driving technique. The combination of soft water and possibly the silver paint hiding any minor marks seems to make it work.

You could always try it yourself....

Munro did that, too many waterspots afterwards for my liking dried in, harder to remove and obvious blots on the NHB. These might be lessened on a lighter colour, but stand out like sore thumbs on the NHB. Further, after driving with no drying noticed the NHB collects dust and any attempt to clean only the remaining waterspots away further risks scratches from the accumulated dirt. Therefore am abondoning this technique but with thanks, in favour of trying other suggestions.

Anyone got any other suggestions?

Thanks

[Dimplyred]

I have just dried mine off using a dry micro fibre wash mitt.

It really worked well, it removed the majority of the water and then I just finished it off with a slightly damp micro fibre cloth. I would say that it took half the time it normally takes me with a drying towel.

[hurricane]

A good leaf blower will also do the trick!

[psykik]

Dimply thats interesting, will try that then!

I've tried every method, and either im stupid, the megs magnets are silly, or im just not doing it right.

Must learn the right way to do this without scratching the car with elbow grease trying to get rid of the water spots!

[Dimplyred]

Originally Posted by psykik

Dimply thats interesting, will try that then!

I've tried every method, and either im stupid, the megs magnets are silly, or im just not doing it right.

Must learn the right way to do this without scratching the car with elbow grease trying to get rid of the water spots!

With a drying towel, you shouldn't press on hard or you are just forcing the water back out of the towel.

Use it gently, let the towel do the work and soak up the water.

[robbo51]

Megs Water Magnet every time!!