Drying Kit Test

May 2008

Most motorists know that to keep a car’s paintwork pristine, drying it properly after washing is essential. The traditional way to shift rinse water is with a chamois. But these alternatives aim to make the job easier, quicker or more efficient by waxing at the same time. So which is the best wash-and-go solution? We put cloths, blades and waxes to the test.

The Test

Before being put to work on our test car, we determined how much water the cloths and chamois absorbed. Then we timed how long it took the products to dry the horizontal panels, followed by the wings and doors. Ease of use and finish also came into consideration.

Verdict

The ultimate drying package comprises Kent’s cost-effective blade followed by the compact Farécla Smart cloth to soak up the last drops. But this combo is more than twice the price of Halfords’ huge and absorbent synthetic chamois, so that takes our Best Buy. Farécla’s versatile Edgeless cloth is our Recommended product and, if you want to add a little protection and shine as you dry your vehicle’s bodywork, look no further than Turtle Wax’s Wax it Wet time-saving solution.

Contacts

A1 Motor Stores (The Absorber), 01455 822000, www.a1motorstores.co.uk
Autoglym, 01462 677766, www.autoglym.co.uk
Bainbridge Marine (Farécla Marine Blade), 01489 776000, www.bainbridgemarine.co.uk

Car Valet Warehouse (Aqua Wax), www.carvaletwarehouse.com

Farécla, 01920 465 041, www.farecla.co.uk
Halfords, (Autoglym, Meguiar’s, Turtle Wax), 0845 762 6625, www.Halfords.com
Meguiar’s, 0870 241 6696, www.meguiars.co.uk
More Than Polish (Race Glaze), 01780 767080, www.morethanpolish.com
MotorWorld (Autoglym Flexi Blade), 0845 050 5000, www.motor-world.co.uk
Race Glaze, 01780 767080, www.raceglaze.co.uk
Speeding (Kent Flexy Blade), 0845 230 7071, www.speeding.co.uk
Trillogy (Farécla cloths), 01280 822865, www.trillogyltd.com
Turtle Wax, 01695 722161, www.turtlewaxuk.com

Top 3

1. Halfords Easy Glide Synthetic Chamois (XL)
2. Farécla Smart Edgeless Cloth
3. Turtle Wax Wax it Wet

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