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- Cars
Check out our top picks for the best car drying towels to achieve that great squeaky-clean look.
Sean Szymkowski
It all started with Gran Turismo. From those early PlayStation days, Sean was drawn to anything with four wheels. Prior to joining the Roadshow team, he was a freelance contributor for Motor Authority, The Car Connection and Green Car Reports. As for what's in the garage, Sean owns a 2016 Chevrolet SS, and yes, it has Holden badges.
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Sean Szymkowski
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Don't ruin your freshly washedcarby letting it air dry, creating water spots and streaks. You don't want let your hard work go to waste and ruin that glossy shine. To prevent those, you should dry your car's paint and glass using a proper drying towel which will ensure that it stays spotless after it dries. Below, we've rounded up some top picks for the best car drying towel on the market right now, no matter what yourbudgetis. Plus, some other generalcar carecare tips to help keep your vehicle in tip-top shape. Time to leave those bath towels andcleaningrags behind.
We need to talk about The Absorber. This is a synthetic chamois drying towel product from CleanTools that does a downright amazing job after a car wash.
You can use the chamois like a cotton towel to manually dry off smaller areas, or you can spread it across a larger part of the car -- like the roof or hood -- and drag it to suck up residual water without swirl marks. In both instances, the absorbency of the chamois cloth leaves a nearly dry surface that should take just a few minutes to totally clear up before you clay, wax or just call it a day.
The Absorber makes drying your car surface a simple process. It should be on your shopping list.
Not into chamois? That's not a problem because we also love Meguiar's X2000 Water Magnet towel. It's a traditional microfiber towel but it works like magic to leave your car's surface super dry after washing. What's also great about standard car drying towels is that you can just machine-wash them in liquid detergent to rid them of dirt and debris every so often. As long as they don't get trashed, this is a microfiber towel you can use to dry your car for a long time -- and it works darn well.
We already gave our top pick to The Absorber, but we need to give some love to one of our other favorite dryer chamois: the Mighty Cleaner Shammy.
This chamois cloth does a great job picking up water and not leaving much moisture behind. The company also offers its product in a two-pack, which makes it a better deal if you want a couple of these around for drying duties. I like to have one per car hanging around the house.
If you want more than one car drying towel, here's a two-pack of great towels. Not only do SHSCLY Microfiber Drying Towels work well to dry cars off, they're also really big: They measure 29 by 33 inches, so you can cover a lot of ground. We also love how much water these microfiber towels hold before you need to wring them out.
Suppose you have a pickup truck or an SUV that requires a much larger microfiber towel. How about a 24-by-60 inch towel that sucks up water from car paint like a pro? That'd be the Relentless Drive Car Drying Towel, and this five-pack can likely serve as all the drying towels you'll ever need.
This microfiber cloth is a little smaller than our top pick. But Chemical Guys' Woolly Mammoth towel promises to dry a whole car in one shot, and it does. That's why we think it's a solid choice as a runner-up for big vehicles. Nobody wants to be swapping through tons of towels when drying their car off, and the Woolly Mammoth keeps things simple.
It's basic, and that's OK. This two-pack of chamois from the Amazon Basics brand works very well as a glass and paint dryer for the price. The towels aren't as usable as our other chamois picks, in our experience, but if you need a cheap chamois, look no further.
Not everyone has a ton of cash to spend on a car drying towel, and that's totally fine. We said there was something for everyone. There is: Mothers Waffle Weave Microfiber Car Drying Towel is a great choice as a cheap pick for a car drying towel. It does exactly what it's supposed to do after a car wash, and we can't fault it for anything at this price point. Yes, one of our picks is actually cheaper, but the value of having two waffle weave towels at this price to dry paint and glass made us want to place this product here.
Comparison of the best car drying towel for 2022
| Best car drying towel | Brand | Name | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best car drying towel overall | CleanTool | The Absorber | $16 |
| Best car drying towel overall (runner-up) | Meguiar's | X2000 Water Magnet | $7 |
| Best car drying towel chamois | Mighty Cleaner | Shammy Towel | $14 |
| Best car drying towel bundle | SHSCLY | Microfiber Drying Towels | $27 |
| Best car drying towel for big cars | Relentless Drive | Large Car Drying Towel | $40 |
| Best car drying towel for big cars (runner-up) | Chemical Guys | Woolly Mammoth | $29 |
| Best car drying towel on a budget | Mothers | Waffle Weave Microfiber Car Drying Towel | $17 |
| Best car drying towel on a budget (runner-up) | Amazon Basics | Drying Chamois | $16 |
General car care and drying tips
- Where should you dry your car?: If possible, dry your car in the shade. Washing and drying a car in direct sunlight can make the process tougher, especially if the heat and sun create water spots.
- How do you dry your car after a car wash?: If you want to be sure you actually dry your car, wring the towel or chamois out often as you go along. If you don't, you'll simply be spreading water, not soaking it up.
- How do you dry your car's nooks and crannies?: To dry the tight and tough-to-reach places after a car wash, the plan of attack is to blow out those crevices. If you have an air cannon, shop vac or even a leaf blower, you can blast areas with air to make sure water exits the crevices to prevent streaks.
- How can you make drying your car even easier?: After you've finished drying your car, follow up with your favorite car wax. A coat of quality wax will help your car's paint bead, and water will roll off with ease.
Get your car dry with the best products
All of these picks will ensure you're left with a bone-dry car -- you can't go wrong. So choose your preference and keep those cars clean!
As an expert and enthusiast, I don't have personal experiences or opinions, but I can provide you with information based on the search results I found. Here's some information related to the concepts mentioned in the article you provided:
Best Car Drying Towels:
The article discusses the best car drying towels available on the market. It provides recommendations for different types of towels based on their features and performance. Here are some of the top picks mentioned in the article:
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The Absorber: The Absorber is a synthetic chamois drying towel from CleanTools. It is highly absorbent and leaves a nearly dry surface without swirl marks. It can be used to dry off smaller areas or spread across larger parts of the car. [[1]]
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Meguiar's X2000 Water Magnet: This is a traditional microfiber towel that works well to leave the car's surface super dry after washing. It can be machine-washed with liquid detergent to remove dirt and debris. [[2]]
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Mighty Cleaner Shammy Towel: This chamois cloth does a great job of picking up water and leaving minimal moisture behind. It is available in a two-pack, making it a better deal for drying duties. [[3]]
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SHSCLY Microfiber Drying Towels: This is a two-pack of large microfiber towels that work well to dry cars off. They have a high water-holding capacity and are 29 by 33 inches in size. [[4]]
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Relentless Drive Large Car Drying Towel: This is a 24-by-60 inch microfiber towel that is suitable for big cars like pickup trucks or SUVs. It is highly absorbent and comes in a five-pack. [[5]]
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Chemical Guys Woolly Mammoth: This microfiber cloth is slightly smaller than some other options but promises to dry a whole car in one shot. It is a good choice for big vehicles and simplifies the drying process. [[6]]
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Amazon Basics Drying Chamois: This two-pack of chamois towels from the Amazon Basics brand is a budget-friendly option. While they may not be as usable as other chamois picks, they work well as a glass and paint dryer for the price. [[7]]
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Mothers Waffle Weave Microfiber Car Drying Towel: This is a budget-friendly option that offers good value for money. It is a waffle weave towel that effectively dries the car's paint and glass after a wash. [[8]]
Please note that the prices mentioned in the article may have changed since the publication date, so it's always a good idea to check the current prices on the respective websites.
General Car Care and Drying Tips:
The article also provides some general car care and drying tips. Here are a few mentioned in the article:
- Drying Location: It is recommended to dry your car in the shade if possible, as washing and drying a car in direct sunlight can make the process tougher and may lead to water spots. [[9]]
- Drying Technique: To ensure effective drying, it is advised to wring the towel or chamois out often as you go along. This helps to soak up the water rather than spreading it around. [[9]]
- Drying Nooks and Crannies: For drying tight and hard-to-reach places, you can use an air cannon, shop vac, or even a leaf blower to blow out the water from crevices and prevent streaks. [[9]]
- Follow-up with Car Wax: After drying your car, applying a coat of quality car wax can help the paint bead and make water roll off easily. This can further protect your car's paint and keep it clean. [[9]]
Remember, these tips and recommendations are based on the information provided in the article you shared. It's always a good idea to do further research or consult with professionals for specific car care needs.
I hope this information helps! Let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with.
