Towel water streaking when drying the car

[SFM]

I've been taking my Stinger to local car washes where they do everything since I got it, but last month I decided that I wanted to wash it by myself. The only problem I have is that it gets a lot of towel water streaks when drying the car. This didn't happen when I had it washed at the local car washes. The towel water streaks only show from angles during the day, and all of them can be seen at night. I tried using six large drying microfibre towels and drying aid spray, but I can still see the water streaks on the paint and windows. Does anyone have any idea on how to minimise the water streaks?

 

[nhcowboy28]

1) wash with a hybrid ceramic wash/wax.
2) take your car for a high speed run after washing before touching it
3) only use virgin microfibers.
4) then use light amount of detailer as needed.

I’m sure merlin will give you an epic novel on car washing and detailing. Ask for cliff notes.

 

[westcoastGT]

1) wash with a hybrid ceramic wash/wax.
2) take your car for a high speed run after washing before touching it
3) only use virgin microfibers.
4) then use light amount of detailer as needed.

I’m sure merlin will give you an epic novel on car washing and detailing. Ask for cliff notes.

arch enemies .............................BAWAAAAA !!!!!

 

[RedCal]

Is the car / panels hot when you are drying it? What drying aid are you using? -and yes probably best you don't read anything merlin posts on the subject lol

 

[MerlintheMad]

arch enemies .............................BAWAAAAA !!!!!

Rivals, not enemies. I think.

As already suggested, only wash and dry on a cool surface. In the Middle East, are there such places? Maybe in the middle of the night. Really, though, a warm to hot surface is going to totally mess with being able to wick off the water in the towel as opposed to dragging evaporating water. Try working in smaller sections: wash, dry, move to the next section. Optimum No Rinse is dedicated to the sectional washing approach: they instruct that if the washed area dried too much before you applied the towel, just wet it again and dry immediately.

 

[westcoastGT]

Which one is Merlin ??Bawaaaaa

 

[RedCal]

Well I don't think he is known for being particularly speedy

 

[MerlintheMad]

^^^ "Wile E. Coyote, super genius. I just love the sound of that."

 

[JSolo]

"Try working in smaller sections: wash, dry, move to the next section."

How does that work? If I soap the roof, suds get on the doors. If soap the doors, some ends up on the roof. Catch 22! And that's before even drying anything.

My method is simple. Soap sections of the car (front bumper, rear bumper, roof, hood, doors, trunk). Use wash mitt, cleanse inbetween sections, roughly rinse section. Once the entire car is done, I use a gentle shower to rinse it off entirely.

Depending on weather - sun, cloudy, windy, etc.. I'll usually drive car back in garage to dry off. It takes 5-6 microfiber towels before the car is fully dry. Fortunately my eye sight isn't it was it was when I was a young grasshopper, so if there are imperfections, I don't see them!!!

 

[nhcowboy28]

Fortunately merlin and I have offered to wash your car for you…

 

[MerlintheMad]

"Try working in smaller sections: wash, dry, move to the next section."

How does that work? If I soap the roof, suds get on the doors. If soap the doors, some ends up on the roof. Catch 22! And that's before even drying anything.

The Optimum No Rinse method: with ONR you wash and dry, "no rinse". I've never used soap except when in a touchless hand wand car wash (when I need to perform an undercarriage cleaning, and/or the grime is too much for an ONR wash alone): I still finish up with ONR in my carport.

 

[5tinger]

To enhance the existing coating and remove post wash imperfection suggest applying a quick detailer after washing and drying uch as

 

[Duende01]

The streaks are mostly due to the usage of a wet towel. To prevent this you can use two towels, one in each hand and follow the wet one with a dry one. Another option is to use multiple towels, once your first set is damped or wet, you can set it off to dry up and grab another set and continue rotating as you work your way thru the entire vehicle. If you see thick water streaks after your pass with your towel, you will see water streaks when it dries up. The object is to remove as much water with the towels and then let the wind do the rest in drying up the small residue.

 

[SFM]

Is the car / panels hot when you are drying it? What drying aid are you using? -and yes probably best you don't read anything merlin posts on the subject lol

The car is cool to the touch whenever I wash it. I also use Meguiar's Hybrid Ceramic Detailer, but I'll try their Quik Detailer also.

 

[SFM]

Rivals, not enemies. I think.

As already suggested, only wash and dry on a cool surface. In the Middle East, are there such places? Maybe in the middle of the night. Really, though, a warm to hot surface is going to totally mess with being able to wick off the water in the towel as opposed to dragging evaporating water. Try working in smaller sections: wash, dry, move to the next section. Optimum No Rinse is dedicated to the sectional washing approach: they instruct that if the washed area dried too much before you applied the towel, just wet it again and dry immediately.

I wash my car at 6 AM as it's not too dark and the paint is cool. I'll try also working in smaller sections. Thanks.

To enhance the existing coating and remove post wash imperfection suggest applying a quick detailer such as

https://www.detailedimage.com/products/auto/Meguiars-Hybrid-Ceramic-Detailer-26-oz_2125_1_nw_2592.jpg

I'm currently using this product as a drying aid.

The streaks are mostly due to the usage of a wet towel. To prevent this you can use two towels, one in each hand and follow the wet one with a dry one. Another option is to use multiple towels, once your first set is damped or wet, you can set it off to dry up and grab another set and continue rotating as you work your way thru the entire vehicle. If you see thick water streaks after your pass with your towel, you will see water streaks when it dries up. The object is to remove as much water with the towels and then let the wind do the rest in drying up the small residue.

I usually wipe the car until the towel is wet and then replace it with another clean and dry towel. But I'll do what you said as it's better.

 

[nhcowboy28]

The car is cool to the touch whenever I wash it. I also use Meguiar's Hybrid Ceramic Detailer, but I'll try their Quik Detailer also.

Their hybrid ceramic DETAILER blows donkey balls. It streaks. Bad.

Their hybrid ceramic WAX (applied while washing) is awesome. Find a normal, old school detailer (chemical guys or mothers).

 

[SFM]

Their hybrid ceramic DETAILER blows donkey balls. It streaks. Bad.

Their hybrid ceramic WAX (applied while washing) is awesome. Find a normal, old school detailer (chemical guys or mothers).

I'll use their Hybrid Ceramic Wax. I've seen videos about it. I also thought it was because of the Hybrid Ceramic Detailer, but I tried drying it once with no detailer spray, and the results were about the same. They also have a product called Quik Detailer, which is supposed to be lighter than the Hybrid Ceramic Detailer. I need to find a detailer spray that leaves nothing behind, so I'll begin my research.

 

[RedCal]

The car is cool to the touch whenever I wash it. I also use Meguiar's Hybrid Ceramic Detailer, but I'll try their Quik Detailer also.

For sure try a different QD... I had streaks with the chemical guys ceramic QD, switched to the Gyeon ceramic QD and love it... and it's cheaper

 

[KAS]

Instead of using a towel for drying, have you considered using a blower? I bought a Bosch one because it had the highest air volume and speed I could find and it works a treat - no streaks, much faster than using towels and no more water dripping from the mirrors, bottom of doors, tailgate, etc.

GBL 18V-120 Cordless Blower | Bosch Professional

 

[Aarvix]

+1 for leaf blower.