Anybody know what the dealer guys use to dry the trucks after washing them? How do they get the truck so dry and streak free in 30 min? Granted their are probably at least 2 guys on a truck at once. How do they do it?
I have a 2001 Black F-150. I use at least 3 soft cotton towels to dry the truck and still have a few streaks when finished. I have tried a leaf blower but it just seems to move the water around and still leaves streaks. I have not tried a chamos towel. What are you guys opinions on a chamos. Do they scratch on black?
Any other suggestions? Thanks.

 

I use a product called the absorber, works much better then cotton towels, much less chance of leaving swirl marks too... One of the products I've ordered but haven't received yet is made by the california car duster company, except its called a waterblade. From what I've heard it works extremely good.

 

Several reasons, three of which I'll list.

They could be using soft and/or deionized water (no minerals, so no spots). Lots of car lots have portable deionizers to do final rinses so it's not much of a stretch to expect a dealer to have the same.

They could be washing/drying the truck under a roof. Cooler surface, slower evaporation, no spots or streaks if they can wipe it up fast enough.

Their towels could be clean. Towels need to be white, 100% cotton, made in the U.S.A., and softener (liquid and sheet) free.

 

I 2nd the ABSORBER, you can buy this anywhere, Walmart, Kmart or any parts strore. I have used this product for 10 years. It works great! You'll love it.

 

I use a couple different methods. If I'm home I rinse then I use my leaf blower to blow the majority of the water off. I concentrate the air around all lights, nooks, and cranny's to drive the water out, (these are the places that continue to drip water after your done drying). Then dry with a chamois. I then use a final detailer (miracle mist) with a cotton towel. This works way better than just drying. Really gives a shine. If I'm not at home I'll sheet rinse the truck. Basicall you run a low stream of water out the hose end, no sprayer. This sheeting effect takes most of the water right off the truck. Either method leaves very little remaining for the chamois to do as most of the water has been blown or run off. I like to stick with a regular chamois. I've had not problems on my black truck with it. Just make sure to keep it clean and rinsed when you're done. Most important is to have a good wax base though. My preference is Cherry Wet Wax. Check the pics in the sig.

 

I have to add my 0.02 to the absorber.

It does a fantastic job in drying streak free in a matter of minutes.





Baj

 

Does anyone know if you can wash a chamois? Mine has gotten dirty and I don't know the proper way to clean it.

Thanks

 

Yes, the chamos I looked at said to wash it in warm water and set (streatchh it out ) to dry. The package said to leave a little soap in the chamos after the washing. I'm not sure why that is.

 

I got one about a weekor two ago, and I have to say, I was less than impressed. While it got some of the water off, it left enough to cause streaks, and it's difficult to use on any surface that's not totally flat (worked OK on the tonneau and hood, but not much of anywhere else).

Just my $0.02.

 

I gave up on chamois long time ago. While they generally do a good job, you reeeeely gotta keep them clean because they pick up and hold teesy pieces of grit as easily as a milkshake straw holds ants. I had better luck with 100 cotton terry. But now I use 100 cotton baby diapers. I mean, what are they for, if not sorping up, uhh, liquid!! They're also very soft for a similar reason, so they're as gentle on your baby as they are to your other baby. Get them by the three-pack at Sears. (Baby section, guys.......not Automotive)

 

A couple of things help/work: see if you can find a Fieldcrest-Cannon discount store nearby--buy two of their BIG, white bath towels--they are supposed to be the only 'made in USA all(including the 'thread' in the hems) cotton towels, park on a surface that has a slant or incline to it(if you can), as someone else said, don't 'spray' the water-just let it flow/sheet onto and off the truck. Then take one of the towels(already washed and dried to remove lint) and 'float' it out and over the cab roof, then lightly drag the towel to you. I do this on all the horizontal surfaces and then just wipe left-to-right or up-n-down--not in circles, on the verticle surfaces.

Btw, I use the kitchen mop to dry the bed--don't have to tack it up.

Dan

 

I use the waterblade squeegie thing on my truck every time I wash it.

Here's the routine:
start with the squeegie on all surfaces
towel the windows
towel horizontal surfaces
towel sides and tailgate
towel front end (including bumper)
towel rear bumper
Wipe out door jams with towel
dry/polish the wheels with towel

I find this works well. I make sure the towel gets washed between each use. I've got 4 towels, so I wash every 4th washing.

 

I use the Water Blade too, or what ever they call it. I got it at wallmart, it works great gets rid of 99% of the water then I use a towel to get rid of the remaining 1% of the water.

Works great

 

I have a 3yr old Absorber, and it's still doing a fantastic job. Mind you my truck is not black, but this thing even does a good job on glass. Just make sure it's clean, which is easy becuase it's machine washable.

Best chamois since sliced bread.

Bambino

 

Cotton towels all the way. I use two. One for each hand to do the Daniel-san wax on wax off method.