Car Blower vs Drying Towel – What’s the Fastest Way to Dry Your Car?

Some detailers swear by a cordless blower. Others grab a drying towel and go. So what’s actually faster—and safer—for drying your car without spots or scratches?

We tested both methods side-by-side on ceramic-coated paint and glass, with a Ryobi blower and the Massive Drying Towel. Here’s what worked best, and when you should use each.

Test Setup – Blower vs Towel

We washed a ceramic-coated car with The Super Soaper, rinsed in shade, and timed the full dry using:

Ryobi 18V Cordless Blower – set to high with flat nozzle
Massive Drying Towel – used with blot-and-drag technique

Both methods were used on paint, glass, trim, and wheels to simulate real use.

Results – What’s Faster?

Area	Blower Time	Towel Time
Roof + Hood	2:10	1:40
Glass	1:15	1:30
Lower Panels	2:20	1:55
Total Dry Time	5:45	5:05

Winner (for speed): Towel
Winner (for no-touch safety): Blower

When to Use a Blower

Your car is ceramic coated and beads heavily
You’re working in tight spaces like wheels, grilles, or emblems
You want to avoid any towel contact at all

In our Ryobi blower review, it excelled on coated cars and trim but took longer overall.

When to Use a Drying Towel

You want speed and full control over each panel
Your paint is warm or has less hydrophobic behavior
You’re working in direct sun and need to move fast

The Massive Drying Towel covered large panels quickly with no streaks—even on glass. It also reduced water spotting better than the blower.

What We Recommend

Use a blower when your car is coated. Use a towel when your car is warm or time is limited.

Or better yet—use both. Blow out the cracks and trim, then follow with a single towel pass to catch stragglers. It’s the safest and fastest hybrid method we’ve found.

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