This place gave me 30 minutes of my life back... per week!

Veritable · 05-23-2009, 04:54 PM

Maybe I'm the last guy in the whole world that has known this, so if it's an absolute common knowledge, I apologize....

Who said the intarweb is the new idiot box? I've been washing my car almost weekly for near 7 years now, and only now I learn about how you can use running water to dry your car, and I learned it right here.

"Using water to dry your car? Wha? I gotta try that!" So, today, I did.

After spraying the car, there are millions of water droplets, which stays on the car until you wipe them down. It's a lot of water, so for just the hood I probably had to wring the towel out 3 times....

Then, I removed the nozzle, letting water just flow out of the hose, put the water flow on top of the various flat surfaces, and just let the water run down. The results....

Now just one towel is good enough for the whole car, no wringing necessary.

Once again, I apologize if everybody else has known this ever since they started washing cars. It's a bit of a revelation to me, and cut my car washing time by at least 30 minutes.

Ahh, the power of internet!

Eliminator · 05-23-2009, 05:16 PM

You're shittin' me! Never tried it because I always have the sprayer on the hose. You just saved me a ton of time!

Bdez · 05-23-2009, 09:15 PM

Not only does it save time it cuts the amount of drying towel contact – which can only help with swirls and marring – try the pat dry method to further reduce swirls.

swamp2 · 05-23-2009, 09:38 PM

Great tip. I use one of these. Might be even better in combination with your tip. By the way the soft silicone blades are perfectly paint/clear coat safe, provided the car is clean.

onelove · 05-23-2009, 09:39 PM

Get a water de-ionizer like the ones offered from CR Spotless and you'll be even more impressed! I often follow up by using an electric leaf blower to dry it further and get all the water from the cracks and crevices.

Subw00er · 05-24-2009, 10:58 AM

Snother possibly unknown tip that saves time/effort. When drying with a towel, dont fold it up and wipe normally. Let it go out flat across the bonnet or roof, like you were laying down a bed sheet. Then drag from two corners keeping as much surface area intact as possible, drag slowly. I can generally make it work on the side panels too because the water makes it "stick/" Works awesome!

Also, make sure its a old big towel with no fabric softner applied.

lebreeze · 06-03-2009, 09:29 PM

I tried this today and it worked great. I couldn't believe how well it worked. I only used one microfiber and it was barely even wet after. Thanks for the tip

808MGuy · 06-04-2009, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swamp2

Great tip. I use one of these. Might be even better in combination with your tip. By the way the soft silicone blades are perfectly paint/clear coat safe, provided the car is clean.

I wouldn't use one of those if somebody paid me to. So many things can go wrong with something like that. I've been doing the water sheeting technique for about 5 years now and it really does cut down on the amount of water remaining on the car. It also gives you a good idea of the condition of your current coat of wax. If the water doesn't sheet well, it's time for another coat.

J08M3 · 06-04-2009, 07:52 AM

it wastes water though

not so environmentally friendly haha I like Swamp2's idea that's what I use as well

2thdr · 06-04-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onelove

Get a water de-ionizer like the ones offered from CR Spotless and you'll be even more impressed! I often follow up by using an electric leaf blower to dry it further and get all the water from the cracks and crevices.

. The investment in the CR spotless system is much more upfront, but in combination with a Ryobi lithium ion battery blower system, this setup is mint.

M3 vert · 06-13-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 808MGuy

I wouldn't use one of those if somebody paid me to. So many things can go wrong with something like that. I've been doing the water sheeting technique for about 5 years now and it really does cut down on the amount of water remaining on the car. It also gives you a good idea of the condition of your current coat of wax. If the water doesn't sheet well, it's time for another coat.

+1 I got scratches because of that blade used by one of the guys i went to get a carwash from.

I am never using that ever again!

05-23-2009, 04:54 PM	#1
Veritable Private First Class Drives: '13 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan 6MT Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 183 iTrader: (0)	This place gave me 30 minutes of my life back... per week! Maybe I'm the last guy in the whole world that has known this, so if it's an absolute common knowledge, I apologize.... Who said the intarweb is the new idiot box? I've been washing my car almost weekly for near 7 years now, and only now I learn about how you can use running water to dry your car, and I learned it right here. "Using water to dry your car? Wha? I gotta try that!" So, today, I did. After spraying the car, there are millions of water droplets, which stays on the car until you wipe them down. It's a lot of water, so for just the hood I probably had to wring the towel out 3 times.... Then, I removed the nozzle, letting water just flow out of the hose, put the water flow on top of the various flat surfaces, and just let the water run down. The results.... Now just one towel is good enough for the whole car, no wringing necessary. Once again, I apologize if everybody else has known this ever since they started washing cars. It's a bit of a revelation to me, and cut my car washing time by at least 30 minutes. Ahh, the power of internet!
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05-23-2009, 09:38 PM	#4
swamp2 Major General Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Diego, CA USA Posts: 8,315 iTrader: (1)	Great tip. I use one of these. Might be even better in combination with your tip. By the way the soft silicone blades are perfectly paint/clear coat safe, provided the car is clean. Attached Images

06-03-2009, 09:29 PM	#7
lebreeze Lieutenant Drives: MY11.75 m3 zcp, c63 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: windsor Posts: 580 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 e92 m3 [0.00]	I tried this today and it worked great. I couldn't believe how well it worked. I only used one microfiber and it was barely even wet after. Thanks for the tip __________________

06-04-2009, 07:52 AM	#9
J08M3 Major General Drives: 2011 M3 COUPE Join Date: May 2008 Location: NEW YORK Posts: 6,015 iTrader: (8)	it wastes water though not so environmentally friendly haha I like Swamp2's idea that's what I use as well __________________

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05-23-2009, 05:16 PM	#2
Eliminator First Lieutenant Drives: 2008 M3 SSII 6M, '87 911 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 311 iTrader: (0)	You're shittin' me! Never tried it because I always have the sprayer on the hose. You just saved me a ton of time!

05-23-2009, 09:15 PM	#3
Bdez Private First Class Drives: E92 M3 Jerez & Fox & X5 3.0d Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Brisbane Posts: 165 iTrader: (0)	Not only does it save time it cuts the amount of drying towel contact – which can only help with swirls and marring – try the pat dry method to further reduce swirls.

05-23-2009, 09:39 PM	#5
onelove Track Head Drives: 07 Z4M Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Orlando,FL Posts: 501 iTrader: (0)	Get a water de-ionizer like the ones offered from CR Spotless and you'll be even more impressed! I often follow up by using an electric leaf blower to dry it further and get all the water from the cracks and crevices.

05-24-2009, 10:58 AM	#6
Subw00er Bates '08 Interlagos Launch Drives: 08e92M, 03e46M Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NY Posts: 1,198 iTrader: (2)	Snother possibly unknown tip that saves time/effort. When drying with a towel, dont fold it up and wipe normally. Let it go out flat across the bonnet or roof, like you were laying down a bed sheet. Then drag from two corners keeping as much surface area intact as possible, drag slowly. I can generally make it work on the side panels too because the water makes it "stick/" Works awesome! Also, make sure its a old big towel with no fabric softner applied.