There are multiple ways of drying your car. The most common one is drying with Microfiber towels. However, you can also use a device that blows air for blow-drying off the water. This can especially be handy when you have to deal with small spaces, crevices or trims that can hide water.
The danger of blow-drying you car
Drying your car with a microfiber towel gives the risk of creating swirls and light surface imperfections. Air drying your car also has certain risks involved. You can blow dust over the surface, creating marks for example. This list will give you a hint an things to take into account.
- The material an air-blowing device is made off is often plastic and metals. If you touch the paintwork with these, you can cause scratches or deep marks
- You can create light surface imperfection when you blow dusty air over the surface
- Water can evaporate to quickly, leaving water spots
- Some of these devices use up a lot of electricity
- An electrical device can be hazardous to use around a wet area that just recently used a lot of water
- You can not just blow water away, but also blow it in crevice you don’t want it to go
Things to look out for
There are certain things that are recommended to look out for when you use one of these devices on any surface.
- Does the machine have an air filter
- How heavy is it
- How much electricity does it use
- How much noise does it make
- Can it only blow air out, or also suck air in
- Does it have the option to heat the air
- How long is the lead
- How long is the hose
- How much air does it blow on max setting
- Can you adjust how hard it blows/sucks
The types of devices on the market
A few types of devices that can be used for this job. However, some are not recommended because they don’t have air filters, speed settings or are very heavy.
- Air blasters
- Pet dryers
- Hair dryers
- Air compressor
- Leaf blowers
- Inflation pump
- Air-in-a-can
- Vacuum cleaner with blow function
The pro’s and cons
In general, blow drying your car is safer then drying with a microfiber towel. But it does have it’s downsides, and to know if the purchase of such a device is worth it, you can use the list below to see how the pro’s and cons compare to each other.
General pro’s and cons
| Pro’s |
Cons |
| It can be quicker then drying with a towel |
It uses up electricity, costing more money |
| You have less wet towels that need washing |
It will still need a wipe to prevent waterspots and mineral deposits |
| You can blow water out of places where the towel can’t reach |
You could bump into the vehicle with the hose or the device |
| Several devices have a heater setting, giving you hot air to work with |
You could blow water into crevices you don’t want it to go |
| Such a device could be used for several tasks |
You could splash water at an already dried area |
| It can help in the winter to blow off snow (be careful with any heated air!) |
The noise it makes can be a nuisance in certain situations |
| Some devices also have a suction function |
It doesn’t wipe off any superficial contaminants that might be left behind after rinsing |
Air-blaster pro’s and cons
| Pro’s |
Cons |
| They are often designed and tested for detailing purposes |
These devices are generally not very cheap |
| They can be very compact and lightweight |
Some require frequent maintenance |
| Easy to use |
Parts can be expensive or difficult to find |
Pet dryer pro’s and cons
| Pro’s |
Cons |
| Fairly cheap option |
Build quality might not always be the best |
| Many have an air filter |
Parts can be difficult to find |
| Often supplied with a long hose |
Some make a lot of noise |
Hair dryer pro’s and cons
| Pro’s |
Cons |
| Small, compact and easy to carry with you |
Not all will give you the airflow needed |
| Fairly multi-functional |
Most don’t have a proper air filter |
| Reasonably cheap and easy to get |
Not build for this purpose, and might not hold up to its (ab)use |
Air compressor pro’s and cons
| Pro’s |
Cons |
| You are likely to have one as a detailer anyway |
Very noisy |
| Adjustable to control airflow and pressure |
A good one can be expensive |
| Fairly easy to source |
When broken they are often replaced instead of repaired |
Leaf blower pro’s and cons
| Pro’s |
Cons |
| Big and powerful |
Doesn’t have an air filter, you might blow dusty air over the surface |
| Very common item to find in a DIY- or gardenstore |
Often very loud and heavy |
| Works well with blowing large volumes |
Often doesn’t have any control over airflow or pressure |
Inflation pump pro’s and cons
| Pro’s |
Cons |
| Light and easy to carry with you |
Requires extensive manual effort |
| Simple device with not much that can break down |
The amount of airflow and pressure is very limited |
| Easy to find, repair and to carry with you |
With a short hose, it’ll be difficult reaching certain areas |
Air-in-a-can pro’s and cons
| Pro’s |
Cons |
| Small and lightweight, also often very eco-friendly |
Not very cost effective |
| No manual labour, electricity or other form of energy needed |
Often only a viable option when bought in large volume |
| Some cans can be refilled, making it more economical |
Focuses on a small area, not suitable for large areas |
Vacuum cleaner (with blow function) pro’s and cons
| Pro’s |
Cons |
| Multi functional as a vacuum cleaner and a blower |
Can be very noisy |
| Might come with certain attachments that can prove to be useful |
If your vacuum breaks, you also don’t have a blower anymore |
| Generally fitted with an air-intake filter |
Might be heavy and to big to reach high places |
