Should You Let Your Car Air Dry After Washing?

Letting your car dry on its own might seem easy—but it’s the fastest way to ruin your clean finish. Here's why air drying is risky and what to do instead.

This guide breaks down the pros and cons of air drying, what happens if you skip towel drying, and how to dry safely without scratching your paint or leaving water spots.

Why Air Drying Is a Problem

When you let water sit on your paint, it doesn’t just disappear. It evaporates and leaves behind minerals, which cause water spots—and if your paint is hot, those spots can etch permanently.

On darker or ceramic-coated cars, this problem is even worse. Spots stand out more and are harder to remove without polishing.

What to Do Instead

Use a combination of air and towel drying for the best results:

• 🔹 Blow water out of crevices using a car dryer or leaf blower
• 🔹 Blot panels dry with the Massive Drying Towel
• 🔹 Finish edges and tight areas with the Orange Wash Microfiber

What About In the Sun?

Never let a car air dry in direct sunlight. Water evaporates too fast, and you’ll get water spots immediately. If you must wash outside, do it panel-by-panel and dry each one right after rinsing.

Watch How We Dry a Black Car in the Sun – No Spots

This test video shows exactly how to use The Super Soaper + proper drying towels to wash and dry a black car in full sun—without streaks or spots:

Related Posts in This Series

• How to Dry Your Car Without Scratching the Paint
• The Best Drying Towels for Daily Drivers
• The Ultimate Car Wash System for Daily Drivers

Recommended Drying Tools

• Massive Drying Towel – Ultra-absorbent towel that eliminates streaks and spots
• Orange Wash Microfiber – Safe for tight spots and final touchups
• The Decon Bundle – Full wash and dry kit for swirl-free results