Drying towel waffle weave vs. plush MF vs. synthetic absorber

[cd36]

So I'm never sure on comparisons between the 3 popular (at least from what I've seen) types of drying towels, most people just talk about the style they like, but not how they compare to the other styles of drying towels. This seems to be my biggest weakness is finding a good drying towel that works well. So really what are the advantages of a waffle weave over a plush MF when drying? Or how about a synthetic "absorber" (chamois? not sure what these are called, but they come in tubes that you store them in, semi damp) over a waffle weave?

I find my waffle weaves have a short life, and by the time I am done drying my car, they aren't doing that great of a job, but it is nice I can use UQD/UQW as a drying aid with them, and I can potentially leave a nice coat of wax while I dry. I could potentially use a couple of waffle weave towels per wash, but it gets expensive as I'd start going through them quickly.

My "absorber" ***** up water great, and is easy to wring out once it gets saturated, but without using a "blotting" technique it seems likely to leave scratches/swirls, also since I am blotting it doesn't seem I can use a drying aid, so now leaving a layer of UQW is a two step process. I can use one absorber to dry my whole car, and it is working as good at the end as it does at the start.

Plush MF I don't have much experience with. I bought a cheap one from wal-mart way back, and it is still in good shape, but doesn't hold any water at all (maybe saturated with UQW, I'm going to try soaking them in dawn as per a forum recommendation). It seems to me most drying towel recommendations are for a waffle weave type towel or something similar to the synthetic absorber.

So what are your guys thoughts, what works best for you and why?

[Blueline]

Re: Drying towel waffle weave vs. plush MF vs. synthetic absorber

If your vehicle is well waxed and you run the water over it, after washing, with just the hose, not using the nozzle, most of the water just runs off. In that case, probably all three work as well. In my case, I use a waffle weave, and it just gets damp drying my car.

[Rcktsled]

Re: Drying towel waffle weave vs. plush MF vs. synthetic absorber

I use the jumbo waffle weave (3' x 3') to get about 95% of the water off then switch to 2 small MF (16" x 16"), one in each hand, to get most of the rest and finally break out the air compressor to blow the rest of the water out of the nooks and crannies.

Personally, I can't imagine anybody using a synthetic chamois (absorber) after trying a waffle weave towel.

[cd36]

Re: Drying towel waffle weave vs. plush MF vs. synthetic absorber

I always hear about the hose suggestion, only issue is I live in an apartment, so I am either washing my car in the parking lot, or outside the coin op car wash.

My washing technique is to wash a panel then dry it immediately, then move onto the next panel. I find if I try to do the whole car at once, it dries and leaves water marks on it.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Drying towel waffle weave vs. plush MF vs. synthetic absorber

Well, I guess I would be guilty of a two step process. First I blot with the absorber, then follow up with a water magnet. Never had a issue in the four years I have been doing it this way.

[Blue Apollo IV]

Re: Drying towel waffle weave vs. plush MF vs. synthetic absorber

I recently got two of the Meguiars water magnet drying towels..thought that they would work great. But after giving them about 5 chances to do the "job"...my last trip to the car wash...well, they both ended up in the trash. Just pushed the water around on the surface and were tough to wring out. Then it takes nearly a day for them to dry out.

I find the microfiber towels do a much, much better job.

[PPLd]

Re: Drying towel waffle weave vs. plush MF vs. synthetic absorber

I recently got two of the Meguiars water magnet drying towels..thought that they would work great. But after giving them about 5 chances to do the "job"...my last trip to the car wash...well, they both ended up in the trash. Just pushed the water around on the surface and were tough to wring out. Then it takes nearly a day for them to dry out.

I find the microfiber towels do a much, much better job.

I wash my car as follows:
water hose spray whole car
-> wash with 2 bucket, 4 white Meguiar's MF mitts (grit guard is not available here, so I use 4 mitts, each face of mitts is just touching one panel)(i cycle between Gold Class, UW&W, Autoglym Shampoo)
-> water hose rinse the whole car
-> dry with 2 water magnets

The water magnets seem to work well in my case. They can take up water well like what you will expect from a microfiber cloth. However, I do think they are a bit overpriced (USD$17 each) in HK which you can buy a 3 supreme shines pack for the same price. Maybe the waffle weave design made the manufacturing process expensive? I may use supreme shine or other MF clothes to dry up the car after my water magnets breaks down.

I tried the drying towel from Turt1e Wax. It is actually a piece of PVC-like plastic that has to be damped before use. Besides, I feel that PVC cloth strips off wax and make the paint surface dry...

Just personal comments.
BTW Blue Apollo IV you got a VERY NICE MUSTANG! We do not have Mustang here in Hong Kong bcos we are right hand drive (British system)

[Blue Apollo IV]

Re: Drying towel waffle weave vs. plush MF vs. synthetic absorber

BTW Blue Apollo IV you got a VERY NICE MUSTANG! We do not have Mustang here in Hong Kong bcos we are right hand drive (British system)

Thanks...It's a lot of fun to have! I get complements on it all the time - much more than I ever expected.

[DetailArtist]

Re: Drying towel waffle weave vs. plush MF vs. synthetic absorber

How you DRY a car is where the detailing begins.
A big, clean bath towel in 1 hand, a large waffle weave mf in the other does it perfect everytime for me
My 100% streak-free wash and dry routine (always in the shade, and keep it wet if it starts to dry before you';re done washing)

1. Pop the hood but don't lift it
2. A very small drop of car wash soap in a 2 1/2 gallon bucket- too much soap is a no-no
3. Lift wiper blades, wet the car
4. Squirt the wheels w/ your choice of wheel cleaner
5. Lambs wool mitt wash everything except wheels and bottom edges, then remove the mitt from bucket
6. Use a proper brush and a 2nd lambs wool mitt on cars bottom edges and wheels, rotate wheels 180 degrees and clean them again
7. Hose it all down, drop wipers, lift the hood, drop all windows a few inches
8. Dry all 4 edges of hood, top of fenders, headlights and front bumper w/ the big, clean bath towel. Close hood. Dry windshield and rear glass w/ bath towel then waffle mf (this is the key- the waffle weave mf AFTER a bath towel dries it perfectly streak-free).
9. Wipe the wet side windows in & out w/ the now damp bath towel (note widows are slightly opened so the tops can be cleaned), chase w/ waffle-weave mf, raise the windows, finish the outside of windows w/ same waffle mf.
10. Wipe down 1 panel at a time w/ bath towel chased and detailed by waffle mf.
11. Use a smaller hand towel to dry wheel arches, rockers, trunk jam and wheels
12. Finish windows inside w/ glass cleaner and a fresh waffle mf

I do this on every car now in that order

[TLMitchell]

Re: Drying towel waffle weave vs. plush MF vs. synthetic absorber

I always hear about the hose suggestion, only issue is I live in an apartment, so I am either washing my car in the parking lot, or outside the coin op car wash.

My washing technique is to wash a panel then dry it immediately, then move onto the next panel. I find if I try to do the whole car at once, it dries and leaves water marks on it.

Sounds like you're the perfect candidate for ONR.

TL

[2010fusion]

Re: Drying towel waffle weave vs. plush MF vs. synthetic absorber

I have used a water blade, cheap Wal-Mart absorbers and Absorber brand for picking up water. I just purchased one of the Microfiber water magnet towels and they work. The other day after I washed I removed the nozzle from the hose and ran across the surface with the water like in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtoWk9thSEI. It eliminates the little droplets of water and has less for you to sop up and helps with reduction of water spots.

Trust me I was a non believer myself but the Water magnet towels are worth it.

[ti286]

Re: Drying towel waffle weave vs. plush MF vs. synthetic absorber

Waffle weave microfiber is the way to go if you're looking for a car drying towel.

NO squeegees, no chamois will substitute.

The bigger the better.