I just used a squeegie (sp?) for the first time today and WOW! It dries the car much quicker and cleaner with no water spots left on the car.

 

Might it scratch the paint?

 

it won't if the car is properly washed. good stuff.

 

I own a white car.. i wash it and walk away from it..

or i get on the highway and do 100 mph..

 

I have actually used a leaf blower on my old civic! it worked like a charm, but my neighbors started looking at me funny, so i stopped. What i do now, and find to work real well is scrub with soap a section at a time with moderate pressure and speed. Then rinse. Then do another section, etc. This makes the finish just air dry, with no spots! i learned this from my friend with the black GSR. I figured, if he has a black car for all this time, he must know how to keep her clean - and he was right! Also, after washing, they have this quick detailer by meguires... that stuff works like a charm!

 

This is actually a really good way. Some pros use this method themselves.

 

something called chamois, if I spell it right...one of my friends gave me his...works perfectly.

 

I voted for the squeeguee but what I use is not the common
squeeguee. I use the California Water Blade and it's awesome !

 

i used to use the old drive real fast method, but now i use The Absorber and i love it

 

I also use the Absorber too!! I hear that California Water Blade thing works pretty well, I might have to try that one sometime. Damn it is like 30 degrees out here, kinda hard to wash the car.

 

Hands up for the Absorber here too. I wish it was 30 degrees here. It's about 8. Thank god for the heated garage.

 

Where can I get one of those Califonia Blade things. Currently I just use a 100% cotton towel, but i'm up for suggestions. I have a black car so streaks come very easily

 

Car parts or Pep Boys.

 

AutoZone

 

Real leather shammies are the best. They take a while, and they are sort of tiring if you're lazy like me, but you can't beat the results on a black car.

 

Here's another vote for the California Water Blade, it's much better than normal squeegee's as it's made of Silicone, not rubber.

I still get weird looks from people in the carwash when i start drying up the car

 

Absorber for nooks and cranny areas and the California water blade.

GC

 

Im gonna have to try the water blade. I like the squeegee and judging by the comments from you guys, I'm gonna love the water blade.

 

Water blade works really well on my car then just some towels to dry anything thats left.......

 

I use white 100% cotton towels, bought at Costco / priceclub specifically for wiping stuff around the house. Works well as car drying, and car dash wipes, car windows, dog dry etc, then just throw it in the wash machine.

I'm going to try flannel cloth diapers this summer, also pretty inexpensive in bulk packs, which we currently use as spit up rags.

 

I second the vote for the California Water Blade. The thing is awesome, but you must make sure the car is perfectly clean, all you need is one little piece of rock dragged across the finish...can really ruin the good mood that comes with a clean maxima.

Water blade takes a couple of times to get the hang of, it takes some practice getting used to the curves of your car, and being careful not to whack the plastic against the car. It's especially effective at drying the windows streak free.

Family has all black cars: Max SE, ML320, CL Type S, 740 IL. Tough to keep clean.
My time proven method for black cars:
1) Wash in three segments to get soap off before it dries.
2) Water Blade quickly
3) Follow with 100% cotton cloths in each hand to dry first the windows, then the door handles, side mirrors, all the side and top panels, then the hard to reach places of the front and rear bumpers. Last is the area under the spoiler that is impossible to get to with the water blade.

 

drive really fast than squeeeeeeegeeee!!!

 

i use cali water blade plus the absorber. works like magic.

 

Absorber + real fast drive around the block

 

hmm, mine's always handwashed at a car wash place in Irvine.
got a membership there, and i can wash my car however many times i see fit! (...every 2 days...)

 

Price for a carwash here went up... $1.00 to $1.50

My town is too small for any carwash membership

 

Water blade, followed by compressed air for the mirrors, handles and trim and then an Absorber to clean up. With a black car, sub-zero temps and lots of dust any water at all leaves horrible marks.

 

I use the California Water Blade and a Chamois to get the excess water. I also have an absorber which gets the nooks and crannies.

 

I know it bugs only me, but this thread wins the prize for poor spelling. It’s squeegee, leaf (not leave) blower, chamois, and definitely . I added definitely because someone will surely spell in wrong next.

 

Seriously now! who would spell "in" wrong?

 

Squeegee? I don't need no f***ing squeegee! I use a heavy terry cloth towel, or let it drip dry at 70-mph. I do not use a chamois anymore.

 

I use the maguire (sp) gold class car wash, then use the water blade (which I found out about on .org) and then chamois the wet spots that remain. I was surprised how well the water blade worked (saves alot of time and no scratches). Maybe I'll try the absorber instead of the chamois.

 

I only do spelling, not grammar.

 

I wouldn't recommend the absorber for a black car. It sticks to the car meaning it takes off the wax and that results in fine spider webs.

 

uh...hey charlie???
why are you using my sig pic??

 

huh?

 

Thanks for the tip on the Absorber. I won't bother to try it. I like the results with the chamois on my black Max. Don't need to screw up the finish.