Should You Let a Car Air Dry After Washing?

No. Air drying can leave behind hard water spots that etch into your paint. Always blot dry with microfiber towels or use a blower.

Use soft microfiber towels and blot the surface dry. Avoid dragging towels, especially on dark or soft paint.

Yes. Ceramic sprays like Tough As Shell create a slick surface that causes water to bead and run off easily, reducing drying time and effort.

Letting your car air dry might seem easy—but it’s one of the fastest ways to ruin your paint with water spots and mineral etching.

In this post, we’ll break down why air drying is risky and what you should do instead to protect your finish and get a spot-free shine.

Why Air Drying Is a Bad Idea

🧪 Hard Water = Water Spots: As the water evaporates, minerals stay behind and etch into your paint or glass.
🌞 Sunlight Makes It Worse: The hotter the surface, the faster water evaporates—amplifying spotting and streaking.
💥 Risk of Etching: Mineral deposits can become permanent if left too long, especially on uncoated paint.

Use a gentle stream of water to “sheet” off most of the rinse water before drying. This reduces towel workload and speeds up drying.

Use ultra-soft towels like the Softer Than Soft Towel or Massive Drying Towel. Never drag or scrub—just gently blot.

Tools like the Ryobi Blower safely push water off without any paint contact. Great for mirrors, crevices, and trim areas.

Apply Tough As Shell regularly to help water bead and slide off easier—minimizing the amount left to dry.