Drying Aids 2024 – 2025
I’ve covered the drying aid topic a few times, but as always, new products come, and old products go. And while its always exciting when a new product arrives and impresses, its also nice to return to old favorites.
In basic terms, a drying aid is providing lubrication between the paint and your towel. The byproduct of using a drying aid is increased gloss, slickness and protection. When selecting a drying aid, I’m naturally aiming for that gloss and slickness improvement, but I also want something that feels lubricated and doesn’t require 15 towels to apply. In that I mean a product that can be sprayed on and then flashes away with minimal towel work. It should also be multi-surface safe, as in paint, trim, glass, rubber. And if it smells nice, even better! A product that needs special technique or multiple towels is counterproductive, and highly frustrating if it leads to streaking or hazing.
I classify drying aids into two groups –
Protective –
These are products that will boost gloss and slickness, while also leaving behind durable protection that can help maintain and prolong the integrity of your LSP (wax, sealant, coating). Products in this category would include spray waxes, spray sealants and Si02 spray sealants. The main drawback here would be streaking issues caused by excessive frequent use. I like to alternate between these two categories to mitigate this. The following are what I’m using the most at the moment.
Armour Detail Supply Amplify – Within the first 15 seconds of using this product for the first time, I knew this was a winner. Nothing comes close to offering such an easy application, it goes one and flashes away with the least amount of toweling I have ever experienced. The finished result is slick and glossy, the amazing scent seals the deal! It can also be used as often as you like without masking the LSP underneath or cause streaking issues. This is by far the product I grabbing the most at the moment.
Obsessed Garage Drying Aid – This is basically a polymer sealant that is sold by many brands, but in this case, they have removed the scent and colouring to improve chemical stability. If you like the look and feel of a waxed vehicle, this is the product for you as it exhibits that warm glow and lovely slickness that a traditional wax would deliver. It’s also very easy to use, requiring far less towel work than something like Bead Maker. While its more expensive than Bead Maker, it also goes further…………….less is more. If you don't feel comfortable buying this product (trust me, I get it), then look at Adam's Slick & Slide or Ethos Pro Shine, these have a colour and scent though.
Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Detailer – This is such a brilliant product, a true gem hidden within the oversaturated Meguiar’s lineup. I wouldn’t call the protection left behind as substantial, but it certainly boosts water beading, gloss and slickness. What I love most is how easily it wipes on and flashes away to a streak free finish. If the scent was a little more modern, the product would be a knockout winner. I’d also say that its far too expensive at full price, so buy when on sale.
Wildcard – Armour Detail Supply Adapt is labelled as a waterless wash, but it works brilliantly as a drying aid due to the high lubrication factor. It does contain some Si02, so technically it belongs in this category. And its that Si02 that helps delivery the glossy, slick finish. Adapt requires slightly more towel work during application, but overall, it flashes away very nicely. And like all of their products, Adapt has a heavenly scent. In a technical sense, you could also use something like ADS Hero or Carpro ECH20 for role too.
Non-Protective –
These are products that don’t leave behind much if any durable protection, their role is simply for lubrication, gloss and slickness. These products are usually some form of detail spray, waterless or rimeless wash, and are removed by rain or at the next wash, in turn meaning you can use them as often as you like.
P&S Paint Gloss – This is a simple quick detailer that does what it says on the bottle, gloss! It’s simple to use, multi-surface safe, smells amazing and is affordable. I even use this for interior wipe downs and as an anti-static agent when dealing with stubborn carpets.
Koch Chemie All-round Quick Shine – Another quick detailer that can be used with ease. I actually got sent a bottle of this to try quite a while ago, a product that went on to surprise me immensely. I really like the unique scent, but also that simple application and the fact it can be used over and over again without adverse effect.
Meguiars Last Touch – This brand offers an endless collection of quick detailers, but this one is the best. Available in gallon or 946 ml formats, this stuff is just so fool proof that if you want something to get the job done without fuss, this will have you sorted. It has the typical quick detailer smell and colour, which means it’s a got a great overall user experience.
Wildcard – P&S Absolute mixed at the 64:1 quick detailer dilution. Using a rinse-less wash for this role makes for a really mild, simple drying aid solution that won’t cause excessive build up or streaking problems. I chose Absolute here because of the polymer-based rinse-less products, this is the slickest going without leaving behind protection.
Avoid -
While there are certainly countless drying aid options on the market, the above are the ones I've found the easiest to use and deliver the finish I'm after. The below are what I would avoid..................
In the early days of the drying aid concept, many used spray waxes. However, you may find these require more towel work to deliver streak free results, and I've noticed they feel quite grabby/sticky under the towel initially. They also don't really work on trim or rubber.
I would also avoid products like WoWo's Showstopper and P&S Dream Maker, both have a very poor user experiences and I could never make them work. I have also found the more substantial Si02 spray sealants to lack lubrication, even if they end up delivering slickness. In that respect, I tend to avoid using NV Boost v2 and P&S Defender.
Towels -
This is very subjective, so use the following as a guide.
For larger vehicles, I like to use a medium 38 x 60cm TRC Gauntlet as a primary towel, then a 40 x 40cm TRC Platinum Pluffle for a final wipe. The larger towel spreads the product and absorbs any lingering water after blowing down, the smaller towel levels any remaining drying aid.
For smaller to medium cars, I downsize the larger towel to a 40 x 40cm Microfiber Madness Chipmunk Junior, which is very similar to the Gauntlet, but in a more manageable size. I again use the Platinum Pluffle as the secondary towel.
Sadly, the Platinum Pluffle is being discontinued, so get them while you can. In the past, I have also used the FTW from TRC, which is a twist loop towel that is great for streak free results. It is however a little grabby. And for those who have issues with pink, they are available in blue and orange too.
