A car dryer, or blower, uses a stream of air to push water off the paint and out of the gaps a towel cannot reach: mirrors, grilles, badges and wheels. Used with a drying towel, it stops the drips that run out of those gaps later and leave streaks. The DTLR Vortex Mini Blower is a battery powered, handheld blower in our car dryers and blowers range.
Why use a blower to dry a car?
Water hides in every gap on a car. Wipe the panels dry and it keeps running out of mirror housings, door handles, badges and the fuel flap for the next half hour, leaving lines and spots on clean paint. A blower drives that water out before you put the towel down, so the car stays dry.
It also means less touching. On soft paint, a fresh ceramic coating or a matt finish, every pass of a towel is a chance to mark it, and air takes nothing off the surface.
Blower or drying towel?
Use both. A blower is quickest in gaps, on wheels and around trim, while a large drying towel is quickest on flat panels like the roof, bonnet and doors. Our guide to the best car drying towel covers choosing a towel.
FibreKing Gold Label Korean Drying Towel 900gsm
A 50 x 80cm drying towel.
FibreKing Silver Label Drying Towel 1100gsm
A heavier 1100gsm towel, also 50 x 80cm.
| Method | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Battery blower | Mirrors, grilles, badges, wheels and trim | Battery runtime on a big car |
| Drying towel | Roof, bonnet, doors and glass | Dragging grit across the paint |
| Blower then towel | A full, streak-free finish | It takes a little longer, but it is the routine we use |
What should you do before you dry?
Drying starts with the wash. A thorough rinse from the top down leaves less water on the car, and a good shampoo with a soft mitt leaves clean paint, so the towel only has water to lift.
A car shampoo for regular maintenance washes.
A deep pile wash mitt.
How do you dry a car with a blower?
Work from the top down, clear the gaps and wheels with air, then finish the flat panels with a towel.
- Charge it first: start the wash with a full battery, and finish with the towel if it runs low before you are done.
- Rinse well: finish the wash with a thorough rinse, as less water on the car means less to blow off.
- Start at the top: work from the roof down so water does not run back onto areas you have dried.
- Clear the gaps: blow out the mirrors, badges, grille, light surrounds, door handles, fuel flap and the gaps around the bonnet and boot.
- Do the wheels: blow the wheel faces, wheel nuts and the tyre edge, where water hides and leaves marks.
- Finish with a towel: lay a clean drying towel on the flat panels and draw it towards you to take off what is left.
How do you use a blower safely?
Keep the nozzle off the paint and the battery away from water.
- Keep the nozzle a few centimetres off the paint and never touch the surface with it.
- Do not point it at the ground near the car, as it can lift grit and blow it back onto clean paint.
- Keep the battery and the blower out of standing water and put it down on a dry surface.
- Wear eye protection when you blow out wheels and arches, where grit can fly.
- Charge and store it indoors, away from frost.
How do you stop water spots when drying?
Spots come from minerals left behind when tap water dries on the paint. Drying quickly helps, and blowing the gaps stops late drips. For a spot-free final rinse, filtered water takes those minerals out first. Our guide to deionised water for car washing explains how it works.
An inline filter with colour changing DI resin.
£23.95In stock
Common questions
Can I use a garden leaf blower to dry a car?
It can move water, but it is big, hard to aim at small gaps and may already be full of dust. A small car blower is easier to point exactly where the water is.
Is a blower safe on a ceramic coated car?
Yes. It dries without touching the coating, which suits a coated car well. Our guide to washing a ceramic coated car covers the rest of the routine.
Should you dry a car in the sun?
No. Sun dries the water on the paint before you can blow or wipe it off, which is how spots form. Dry in the shade, or early or late in the day.
Do I still need a drying towel?
Yes, for the large flat panels. The blower does the gaps and wheels, and the towel finishes the rest.
Need help choosing?
Ask our team about drying kit for your car, or browse our drying towels range.
