Instead of blowing $9 every time I want my truck washed, I went to WalMart and instead spent $20 for stuff to wash my truck all summer.

Having said that, I really never have washed my own vehicles before (nor had a car worthy of washing ).

I bought some sort of towels and they got really wet really fast and it was annoying ringing them out, drying a little at a time, etc. etc. etc.

I remember seeing squeegees at WalMart, but didn't buy one. Do you guys think those would do a better job of drying? Having a black truck has its disadvantages in terms of spots, trust me...

Anyway, let me know if squeegees are good to dry our trucks with or what the best product to use would be.

Thanks folks!

 

Squeegees? Do you mean the things llike the California Water Blade? I use on on my trucks, and they work fine.

the best advise I can give you is to always wash when it's shady or early AM or late PM. I also find a leaf blower works fine. Also, if you just run the hose over the truck without a spray the water seems to run off a lot better. Some also say the Mr. Clean wash system doesn't leave spots as it dries.

 

Search "California Water Blade" or "water blade" here within this forum... we've beat this horse until it's died three or four times...

 

In short, I'll say they're great until you notice some nice scracthes from them. I thought mine was awesome on my bedcover until I started noticing these long scratches.

After you're done washing, take the nozzle off the end of the hose and use a free flowing stream of water to sheet the water off. It'll get a lot of water off and then you can come back with a towel to dry. Much easier and safer.

 

With the Mr Clean system you just about don't have to dry the truck. Water will hide in the mirror housings, pop-out windows and bed rail covers. These could drip for a long time, so you should have a chamois.

I have a water blade but will only use it on my van, where I don't care that much about the possibility of scratching. I never use it on my truck.

MR

 

I have NEVER had a problem with scratches and my Water Blade. I clean mine before I use it every time, and never do the lower panels with it. I clean it a couple times during drying, and I have yet to have it put a single scratch in my truck. Some people will dry the whole truck with it, but you pick up crap while drying. I think they work great, and will continue to use it, but like I said, make sure it is clean!

 

The Mr. Clean wash system works very well IMO. I had one for over a year before trying it, was kind of skeptical of it. After using it I was very pleased with how it worked, there was no spots. Just went and bought the re-fills for it .

 

I take most of the water off with a Water Blade, then come behind it with a M/F towel. Saves a lot of work, especially on the 'glass tonneau cover.

I'm real happy with it.

 

Pay the shipping and I'll give you the Cali Water Blade I've got.

It's okay, but "blotting" with a big microfiber towel works much mo betta. If you run it across the surface and hit a dry spot, it'll hang up and get wrenched out of your hand. It fortunately doesn't have any particularly sharp or hard spots on it, but I have put a few light scratches in my paint using it, that may have been my fault though.

 

On My old Truck. ( 1994 Chevrolet S-10 ) When I would wash it. It was hell to dry with those leathery type soft shammy cloths because they get wet so fast.

So I bought some of that, " wax on wipe off " Spray Wax Stuff.

All you do is Wash your truck, and while it's still wet (directly after washing ) Spray on some of that stuff. Then Dry it with a regular Towell.

The water came off so easily and left the truck Shiny. It was pretty easy to do too.

I barely ever wash my new truck by hand, I usually let those professional car service things do it now.

I guess I'm just lazy

 

I use something that is called the absorber. Its like a chomis but no where close. It really absorbes 50% more water and i can dry my truck in about 5 min. The best part is u ring it out and put it back into its container and use it over and over and it will last for at least a year. It doesnt midew, its machine washable, plain and simple its the best way to dry my truck that iv found. The mr clean auto dry is just such a slow spray drying it by hand is faster. I bought this through my work, but go to walmart or google and search for the absorber, its AWSOME.

 

I use the California Water Blade on the windows and big surfaces (hood, bed lid, roof, top parts of the doors) and then I use the Absorber with the Wax as you Dry from Meguiars.

 

Thanks guys. I think I might pick up an Absorber from Wal-mart tonight after work and use it in tandem with my blade.

Thanks for your help and recommendations!

 

The Absorbers last a long time, too. I have had mine for almost 15 years and it still works great and looks great.

 

I looked on their website and it said the Absorbers may develop a smell or mildew at which time they say you just wash it.

Have you ever had to do it? Any other maintenance you have done to yours to keep it in tip-top shape?