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 |
Different related articles
Maintenance
A Quick Detailer is a specific product that is used to give the current layer of wax a 'boost' when it is a few weeks old and starting to show wear. A quick detailer is often referred to as a QD....
Manufacturers
AMMO NYC is a detailing products manufacturer with the slogan "Drive + Protect". The brand offers a small range of products aimed at the most common steps in the detailing process. ...
Detailing Miscellaneous
If you are starting up a business, it is important to market your business, otherwise people will not know you exist. But how do you do this? How do you make them aware of your presence and service, and then make them come to you? It is something that is difficult for any business. This is why there is big money in marketing. However, there are some reasonably simple steps you can take to get things started....
Manufacturers
Menzerna is a Germany based manufacturer of industrial polishes, partly for the automotive detailing industry. Apart from manufacturing their own products, they also develop and manufacture products for others industrial companies....
Guides
Millions of people wash their car using a sponge. But if you read the threads on this forum you will see that hardly any members are washing their cars using a traditional sponge. Why is that? It all comes down to the flat face of the sponge. Imagine automotive paintwork with your typical dirt and grit particles stuck on the top of the paint, that you want to wash off to reveal your car's shine. Some of these dirt particles are sharp....
Detailing Miscellaneous
It is often asked on detailing fora and social media: "what is the best rotary". Off course there is a difference between certain products and brands, but it is important to know what you are asking. In this guide I will try to explain what the problem is with this question unless it is asked more in-depth....
A Quick Detailer is a specific product that is used to give the current layer of wax a 'boost' when it is a few weeks old and starting to show wear. A quick detailer is often referred to as a QD....
[…] worry because we are here with some best tips and tricks to help you revamp your car’s shine. Blow drying your car is the best and the safest option till now. Hence to make your cleaning ordeal easy, we have found […]