What Is the Best Method to Dry Your Car After Cleaning It to Avoid Scratches and Swirls in Your Paint?

If you take the time to carefully clean your car, then you probably want to take the same time and caution with drying it afterward. You have to be careful when drying your car because you could easily scratch it if you have left behind dirt or other debris.

So, what is the best method to dry your car after cleaning it to avoid scratches and swirls in your paint?The best method is to first rinse off all debris and suds. Use a microfiber cloth or a sheepskin wash mitt to dry by pulling the cloth toward you instead of swirling it around. Dry off all the door jambs and windows, and follow with a coat of wax.

Properly drying your car is a key step in preventing scratches on your car, but there are other things to consider, as well. Read on for an explanation of how to properly wash, dry, and care for your vehicle.

What Causes Swirls?

You want to be very cautious when washing and drying your car because swirls will form if the paint gets scratched. The swirls are scratches. They appear to be swirling in the sun, especially on black cars, but really, they are just a collection of scratches going in different directions.

Many people suspect that these swirls are a result of washing, drying, or polishing the car in a circular motion, but that is not the case. Inappropriate tools and methods are the real culprits of these “swirls.” Harsh towels, mitts, and brushes will scratch at the car’s paint and protective coating. The dirt and debris on the car can also cause damage if they’re pushed into the car while washing.

Keep these things in mind as you read on. Using proper tools and methods will prevent scratching, and you won’t have any swirls to remove. There are swirl remover products, but deep scratches may be difficult to hide or fix, so it is best to use prevention.

Begin With Washing

Properly drying your car is useless if you don’t know how to wash it properly. The drying process is dependent on a good cleaning. If you wash your car correctly, you won’t have any traces of dirt or spots left behind.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on May 2, 2020.

Scratches occur when the towel drags debris across the surface of your car. This is why it’s important to make sure you wash off all caked-up dirt, bird droppings, and anything else that has made your car dirty.

Proper Tools

You must have the proper tools to wash the car. Scratches can also occur when washing, so make sure you have a microfiber or sheepskin cloth or wash mitt. You will also need two buckets: one for clean water and one for dirty water. Be sure to have a car cleaner that will work for your car. There are many kinds on the market, so choose what will work best for you.

Washing Your Car

Park your car in the shade before you begin washing it. The sun will cause it to dry too fast and will make the process more difficult. You also need to wait until the car is completely cool. It shouldn’t be hot while you wash it because you might risk burning yourself.

Begin washing your car by rinsing it off first. Before you begin scrubbing with a cloth or mitt, you should remove as much dirt as you can so you don’t end up grinding it in the paint. You can use a pressure washer or a garden hose with a spray nozzle. The pressure will make it easier to remove the tougher spots like bird droppings.

Use two buckets so you don’t get dirty water on your car. One bucket should have clean soapy water. The other should have plain water that you ring your mitt into. Using two buckets will allow you to have a steady source of clean water.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on May 2, 2020.

If you use one bucket, you are putting dirt and bird droppings into your soapy water that will then be put back on the car. This increases the chance of scratching your car since the grit goes back into the water and onto your mitt.

Do not use a scrubbing brush to remove tough spots that won’t come off. Continue scrubbing with a microfiber cloth and try to apply a little more elbow grease if you are able. Your auto parts store should have special sponges and soaps to use for spots that just won’t come off—using tools that are rougher than recommended will scratch your car.

Rinse off your car again after you have washed it. Be sure all traces of dirt and suds are gone. Suds will dry and leave a white film if they are not rinsed off. They can smear once you start drying, so be sure they are gone before you begin the drying process.

Remember This

Remember to avoid sponges and household cleaning supplies like brushes and scourers because they easily trap dirt and will scratch the paint on your car. Only use soft materials that are recommended for washing vehicles since they are specially made for that purpose.

You should also avoid using household detergents to wash your car because they can eat through the protective sealant and wax, which will eventually lead to corrosion or paint scratching off. Using dish soap is dangerous because it is a degreaser that is made to eat through hard to clean spots. It may clear off tar and bird droppings, but it might also remove protective coatings and paint.

Avoid going to automatic car washes because you can’t know for sure if the cleaner they’re using is safe for your car. Plus, the giant brushes could scrape up your car by pushing and grinding grit into the paint.

You should use a grit guard in your buckets to keep your mitt and cloths away from the grit at the bottom of the buckets so you will have less of a chance of bringing it back to your car.

You should also invest in high-quality products. Use the softest cloths and mitts available so you won’t scratch up your car, especially if your car is black because scrapes and scratches are more noticeable on black paint.

The Best Way to Dry Your Car

Drying your car may seem like an unnecessary step. If it’s a sunny day, why bother wasting time to dry it when the sun can take care of that? Air drying will leave behind water spots and any specks of dirt that are left in the water droplets. This is why it’s so important to hand dry your vehicle with a cloth. You may end up needing to wash your car again if you try to air dry it.

Drying off your car by hand will also give you the opportunity to see spots you may have missed while washing. You’ll be able to take care of it right away while you have all your supplies out, instead of seeing it later when it will be an inconvenience.

Acquire the Right Tools

Just like when you’re washing, you need to make sure you have the right tools to dry off your car. Use a microfiber towel to dry off your car. It’s recommended that you use a waffle-weave textured towel because that can absorb the most water.

If you don’t want to use a towel, you can use a car dryer to blow off the water. A car dryer will dry off your car quickly, which is important, so water spots won’t be left behind. It will get all the hard to reach areas like grilles and doors that may be difficult to reach with a towel. This handy tool isn’t necessary, but it might be worth the investment if you want to save some time and work.

A squeegee is a great tool to use on car windows to push off the water. Although it’s not necessary, you may find it to be a useful tool that makes the job easier.

Drying Your Vehicle

Speed is a crucial factor when drying your car, which is why it’s important to wash your car in the shade. The sun will speed up the drying process and cause water spots to form before you can remove the water droplets.

Before you even begin washing your car, make sure you have all the necessary tools near you. Switching from washing to drying should be a quick process so you can avoid water spots. Only allow remaining water from washing to sit for no more than two minutes before you begin drying it off.

Run water again over your car right before you start to dry. Don’t use a spray nozzle so the water can run freely and cover more of the car. This process will remove any remaining dirt and grit that may have been left behind after washing. Remember that grit will scratch your vehicle, so you should make sure there isn’t any left on your car before you put a towel on it.

Dry off the top of the car first and then move to the bottom. As you dry from top to bottom, water will continue to fall down. If you start from the bottom, you risk getting water spots from droplets that will drip down and dry while you are drying the top of the car. You may have to rinse again to remove the spots.

The best method to dry the car is to lay out the towel, pull it toward yourself, and then shake off the water. This is the best way to prevent streaking because you have less of a chance to force stray grit into the paint of the car. Gently pulling the towel toward you shouldn’t have enough pressure to do any damage. Shaking off the excess water will prevent it from getting back onto your car.

When you get to the windows, use a squeegee to knock off the water, and then use the microfiber towel to get any remaining droplets that are left behind. If you don’t have a squeegee, you can stick to your towel that you’re using for the rest of the car.

Once you finish the outside of the car and windows, open the doors, hood, and trunk to wipe down the door jambs. Be sure to get wherever there is any water, so it doesn’t get into your car and on the seats.

Next, wipe down the tires with a different towel. You should still use a microfiber cloth, but it should be a different one than what you used on the body of the car. If the tires are dirty, they may soil the towel, and you won’t be able to use it on the car again. You should also have a separate towel for the engine if you need to dry that off, as well.

What to Avoid

There is plenty of room for error while drying your car, so make sure you know what the common mistakes are so you can be sure to avoid them.

Never use rough sponges, brushes, or towels. If you use the method of laying out the towel and dragging it toward you, then you will be using minimal pressure while drying, but you should still use the softest towels you can find. Using harsh materials will scratch your car, even if you barely apply any pressure.

Don’t use terry cloth or beach towels because the materials they are made of can be too rough for your vehicle. They may contain polyester, which will easily scratch your car. Terrycloth can shed lint, which will be a hassle to get off the car after you have dried it. It can also become hard and matted after being used several times. A plush microfiber mitt or towel will be worth the investment because you can use it several times.

Never mix up your towels. Separate the towels you use for the body of the car, the towels you use for the tires, and the towels you use for under the hood. The tires and hood may be greasy and oily, which will stain. If you use these towels for the body and windows of your car, it may result in streaking. Always use a clean towel when drying your car, so you don’t have to wash it again.

Remember to keep the towels separated in storage, as well. Traces of grease and oil can contaminate clean towels even if they’re just sitting next to each other on the shelf, so make sure you separate them and keep track of which towel was used on the specific areas of the car.

Other Ways to Prevent Scratches

Careful washing and drying are the key steps to having a scratch-free vehicle, but it is only the beginning of preventative measures you can take.

Car wax can be applied after drying to make the lifespan of your car’s paint last longer. It will protect the paint from the sun and water and will keep your car looking shiny and new.

You can apply wax several times a year, but you should definitely do it before summer and winter since they are the harshest seasons with extreme weather.

There are many different types of wax on the market, so you can choose what will suit your needs. If you have a black car, there are waxes that are specifically made for that color since the scratches are usually more noticeable on the dark surface. There are also kinds that have polish in them and will remove small scratches. They should be fairly simple to use; just follow the directions on the packaging.

Final Thoughts

You can easily dry your car in a safe manner that will prevent scratches and swirls. To do so, make sure you have proper towels and a squeegee and do the following steps:

Rinse off all remaining suds and grit.
Place a microfiber towel on the car and pull it toward you.
Shake off excess water and repeat as necessary.
Dry the windows with a microfiber towel or squeegee.
Dry the tires with a different towel.
Optional: Apply a coat of car wax for a protective layer.

Remember that harsh towels and brushes will scratch your car. Use microfiber or sheepskin towels and mitts when washing and drying your car.

Make sure your car is completely clean before you dry it. Rubbing grit and dirt into the paint will cause it to scratch and have the swirling effect.

Avoid automatic car washes if you want to be certain that your car is being safely cleaned. Unless you ask for specific information, you can’t exactly know what kind of soaps and waxes are being used. The giant spinning brushes are always a hazard. They might be made of suitable materials, but it’s always a possibility that grit is trapped between the cloths and is getting pushed across the surface of your car.