Top Mistakes People Make When Drying a Car

Washing your car carefully is only half the battle—most of the damage happens during the drying step. Here's how to avoid the most common mistakes that lead to swirls, streaks, and water spots.

These are the top drying mistakes we see from both beginners and even experienced detailers—and what to do instead.

1. Using the Wrong Towel

Old cotton bath towels, beach towels, or generic auto store “microfiber” towels are often stiff, lint-prone, and stitched with hard edges that can scratch your paint.

Use this instead: Massive Drying Towel or Everyday Microfiber – both edgeless, ultra-soft, and paint-safe.

2. Rubbing the Paint Instead of Pat Drying

Dragging a towel across the surface—especially if the paint isn’t perfectly clean—can grind leftover debris into the clear coat.

What to do instead: Lay the towel flat, press gently, and lift. Let the towel absorb water instead of spreading it around.

3. Drying in Direct Sunlight

Sun-baked panels + hard water = fast water spots. If your drying towel can’t keep up, you’ll be chasing streaks and etching all day.

Pro tip: Wash and dry in the shade, early morning, or late afternoon. If you must dry in sun, use a blower and a super-absorbent towel like the Massive Drying Towel.

4. Ignoring Hidden Water Traps

Areas like mirrors, emblems, door handles, and trim gaps hold water. You dry the car, walk away… and then drip trails ruin your finish.

Fix it: Use a blower like the Ryobi 2300 PSI to blast out water before you towel dry.

5. Using Dirty or Unwashed Towels

If you’re drying your car with a towel that hasn’t been washed properly—or was dropped and reused—you’re just grinding contaminants into your paint.

Solution: Always wash and store your microfiber towels separately. Never reuse without cleaning. See: How to Wash & Maintain Your Drying Towels.

6. Applying Too Much Pressure

Drying isn’t polishing. You’re not buffing—just absorbing. If you’re pushing hard on the towel, you’re asking for micro-marring.

Let the towel do the work. Higher GSM towels hold more water so you can dry faster with less contact.

Recommended Drying Gear to Avoid These Mistakes

Related Posts in the Car Drying Lab

• How to Dry a Car Without Scratching
• Drying Towel vs Blower – Which Is Safer?
• Why You Should Never Use a Bath Towel

Final Tip

It’s not just about what you dry your car with—it’s about how. Master the small details now and you’ll avoid the big ones later—like repainting panels or chasing down swirl marks after every wash.

Use the right tools. Use the right technique. Don’t rush the dry.