The hardest (and most irritating) part of washing a car has long been the drying process. From the dark ages of chamois that left swirl marks galore on paintwork came the improved microfibre drying towels that work far better but were susceptible to leaving water spots and still need to be washed after each clean. The latest and best option available is the car dryer, a big hair dryer for blowing the water safely and cleanly off your car.
As water spots are a visual blemish on otherwise clean paintwork, it makes sense to try and avoid them at all costs. Full-size specialist car dryers will use warm, filtered air but are rather specialist tools and probably best left to professional detailers as they also cost a decent wedge of cash. Instead, we’ve found some genuinely useful gadgets that can double as car dryers to save you drying time while washing your car.
The best car dryers
The best car dryer
Description
If you're wanting to completely forgo drying towels and instead use warm, filtered air to dry your
Pros
- Exceptional power
- Versatile
Cons
- Expensive
The best car dryer for small areas
Description
MetroVac is an American company that specialises in both car dryers and beefy vacuum cleaners. The
Pros
- Great for small nooks
- Solid construction
Cons
- Not powerful enough for a whole car
The best car dryer for quality
Description
The BigBoi is a big unit of a car dryer, and is priced accordingly, but can quite easily be used
Pros
- The ultimate way to dry a car
- Exceptional build quality
Cons
- Very expensive
The best multipurpose car dryer
Description
A good wet and dry vacuum cleaner is essential for properly cleaning a garage, and finding one
Pros
- Can be used for drying nooks
- Also works as a good wet and dry vacuum cleaner
Cons
- Not the most effective car dryer
The best car dryer for home mechanics
Description
More serious home mechanics will probably have a fairly beefy air compressor taking up a good
Pros
- Great water removal
- Versatile
Cons
- Expensive to set up