Are you protecting your vehicle with a car cover? It's something every car own needs to consider. The best car cover products have excellent warranties and are expected to last five years or longer. If you take proper care the investment is $40 to $100 per year, but what it saves you in wear and tear on your vehicle is many times that amount.
Selecting an appropriate cover for your climate and use requirements is essential. There are many considerations. For instance, do you garage your car or do you park it on the street? Climate conditions, including humidity are also important, as are winter weather conditions, like snow, ice or heavy rainfall. All of these factors must be taken into consideration.
Superior quality, custom-fit covers are priced from $175 or so. For super-sized SUVs, trucks and vans, prices can be as high as $500. That's why it's so important to get the facts straight and make the best choice the first time. Be aware that a custom-fit product is made to order and you can't return it.
When looking at your climate and use situation, you may be forced into a trade-off or two when it comes to the fabric. If you're not comfortable with the trade-off then you may need to consider one for indoors and another for outside. I mention this because waterproof car covers are not something most people want to hassle with if they have a garage. A good trade-off is to find a material that's breathable and light enough to use inside for dust protection and yet has the capability to protect in mild weather conditions outside.
Still shopping for the product that's right for you? I feel for you. The wide selection of fabrics makes it a difficult decision. Let me assure you that doing the research is well worth the effort. Taking the time to understand how each fabric works to protect your car will help you.
It's time to change the subject just a little, because I have a question for you. Do you know when you should and shouldn't be covering a vehicle? There's one mistake I see lots of folks make, and it's covering a dirty car. I'm not talking about a very fine coat of dust, either. That's no big deal. On the other hand, when the outside of the car is grungy and you cover-up, your paint will start to look like the body shop guy took sand paper to it.
Here's what saves the day for me. I use the California Car Duster. These things are fantastic and they last a long time, so it's a good investment. They make two types. Don't skimp and get the one with the wooden handle. It's much nicer than the plastic.
The way you use the duster is just like a Swiffer in the house. Shake it out before use, start at the top and dust away. You might be thinking you're too busy to do it, but let me tell you that it's actually a time-saver. It's quick and it keeps your car clean which reduces soap and water washing. That's a good thing, right?
You might be worried about scratching, but don't be. I've been dusting for twenty-five years without any issues, and that includes my black cars. The reason it works without scratching has to do with the paraffin wax put on the mop head at the factory. It works like a dust magnet and gets softer with age.
Another thing makes my skin shiver is watching some people put their cover on. Maybe you've seen people do this, as well. What I'm talking about is the car cover jerk. That's when you just grab it by a corner and give it a quick pull and wad it up into a ball. It never fails that the big ball of fabric gets hurled onto the back seat or into the trunk. Being a car lover it breaks my heart to see, and here's why.
A car cover is made from yards and yards of fabric. When you take the time to neatly fold it and stow it properly, there's no issue. When you don't stow and use it properly you are forced to spin it around, slide it and twirl it all over the surface of your car. All of that swirling and twirling on the paintwork make swirl marks and causes light scratches. Removing them will cost you time and money.
Here's a proper way to do it. Start by putting the cover on. Next remove it starting at the front. The easy way is to neatly flip the front edge up in the direction of the windshield. I recommend 12 to 18 inch folds. When you reach the middle of the roofline go to the rear of the vehicle and do the same thing. This will make a long, neatly folded run of fabric across your car. From the passenger side roll the cover up towards the driver's side. Avoid sliding the fabric by finishing from the driver's side.
When it's time to put it back on, all you need to do is go to the middle of the car on the driver's side and toss the roll over. Be sure to hang on to the loose end. Next, unfold to the rear, unfold to the front, and you're done. This way you completely avoid dragging the fabric over the paint surface. It's so easy!
You might be wonder if windy conditions will cause the same issues. The answer is, yes, and you should make a mental note to get uncovered when it's windy. I'm not talking about breezy weather. That's not a problem. Be concerned about heavy winds. Sustained winds over 20 MPH will cause some serious scuffing damage. Plus, consider the scratching your paintwork will endure if sand or dirt gets inside.
There are some precautions you can take for light wind. In these cases I suggest using a wind control device to make sure the edges stay snug and secure. You'll need to follow the instructions for proper use. Each of the wind control mechanisms is a bit different.
Speaking of dirt under the cover, a dirty one is no different that having a dirty automobile. The ten dollar question is how do you clean it? One thing I know for sure, and that's it takes a commercial size washer to do it. Just be sure to use a tumble washer, because an agitator could cause damage and it's not covered by warranty.
Here's a little trick an old timer taught me. It's easy, too. All you have to do is scrub it while it's on your car using a wash mitt and your car wash soap. Obviously you'll want to make sure your car is clean first. Wash the outside first then flip it to do the underside, and don't forget to rinse really well. Let it drip-dry for a bit then put it in the dryer on medium heat.
If you use one already, I hope what you have read has helped you to be a better car cover owner. If you don't use one yet, they are one of the few car accessories that will keep your car in pristine condition. You just have to remember to maintain it and use it properly.
Selecting an appropriate cover for your climate and use requirements is essential. There are many considerations. For instance, do you garage your car or do you park it on the street? Climate conditions, including humidity are also important, as are winter weather conditions, like snow, ice or heavy rainfall. All of these factors must be taken into consideration.
Superior quality, custom-fit covers are priced from $175 or so. For super-sized SUVs, trucks and vans, prices can be as high as $500. That's why it's so important to get the facts straight and make the best choice the first time. Be aware that a custom-fit product is made to order and you can't return it.
When looking at your climate and use situation, you may be forced into a trade-off or two when it comes to the fabric. If you're not comfortable with the trade-off then you may need to consider one for indoors and another for outside. I mention this because waterproof car covers are not something most people want to hassle with if they have a garage. A good trade-off is to find a material that's breathable and light enough to use inside for dust protection and yet has the capability to protect in mild weather conditions outside.
Still shopping for the product that's right for you? I feel for you. The wide selection of fabrics makes it a difficult decision. Let me assure you that doing the research is well worth the effort. Taking the time to understand how each fabric works to protect your car will help you.
It's time to change the subject just a little, because I have a question for you. Do you know when you should and shouldn't be covering a vehicle? There's one mistake I see lots of folks make, and it's covering a dirty car. I'm not talking about a very fine coat of dust, either. That's no big deal. On the other hand, when the outside of the car is grungy and you cover-up, your paint will start to look like the body shop guy took sand paper to it.
Here's what saves the day for me. I use the California Car Duster. These things are fantastic and they last a long time, so it's a good investment. They make two types. Don't skimp and get the one with the wooden handle. It's much nicer than the plastic.
The way you use the duster is just like a Swiffer in the house. Shake it out before use, start at the top and dust away. You might be thinking you're too busy to do it, but let me tell you that it's actually a time-saver. It's quick and it keeps your car clean which reduces soap and water washing. That's a good thing, right?
You might be worried about scratching, but don't be. I've been dusting for twenty-five years without any issues, and that includes my black cars. The reason it works without scratching has to do with the paraffin wax put on the mop head at the factory. It works like a dust magnet and gets softer with age.
Another thing makes my skin shiver is watching some people put their cover on. Maybe you've seen people do this, as well. What I'm talking about is the car cover jerk. That's when you just grab it by a corner and give it a quick pull and wad it up into a ball. It never fails that the big ball of fabric gets hurled onto the back seat or into the trunk. Being a car lover it breaks my heart to see, and here's why.
A car cover is made from yards and yards of fabric. When you take the time to neatly fold it and stow it properly, there's no issue. When you don't stow and use it properly you are forced to spin it around, slide it and twirl it all over the surface of your car. All of that swirling and twirling on the paintwork make swirl marks and causes light scratches. Removing them will cost you time and money.
Here's a proper way to do it. Start by putting the cover on. Next remove it starting at the front. The easy way is to neatly flip the front edge up in the direction of the windshield. I recommend 12 to 18 inch folds. When you reach the middle of the roofline go to the rear of the vehicle and do the same thing. This will make a long, neatly folded run of fabric across your car. From the passenger side roll the cover up towards the driver's side. Avoid sliding the fabric by finishing from the driver's side.
When it's time to put it back on, all you need to do is go to the middle of the car on the driver's side and toss the roll over. Be sure to hang on to the loose end. Next, unfold to the rear, unfold to the front, and you're done. This way you completely avoid dragging the fabric over the paint surface. It's so easy!
You might be wonder if windy conditions will cause the same issues. The answer is, yes, and you should make a mental note to get uncovered when it's windy. I'm not talking about breezy weather. That's not a problem. Be concerned about heavy winds. Sustained winds over 20 MPH will cause some serious scuffing damage. Plus, consider the scratching your paintwork will endure if sand or dirt gets inside.
There are some precautions you can take for light wind. In these cases I suggest using a wind control device to make sure the edges stay snug and secure. You'll need to follow the instructions for proper use. Each of the wind control mechanisms is a bit different.
Speaking of dirt under the cover, a dirty one is no different that having a dirty automobile. The ten dollar question is how do you clean it? One thing I know for sure, and that's it takes a commercial size washer to do it. Just be sure to use a tumble washer, because an agitator could cause damage and it's not covered by warranty.
Here's a little trick an old timer taught me. It's easy, too. All you have to do is scrub it while it's on your car using a wash mitt and your car wash soap. Obviously you'll want to make sure your car is clean first. Wash the outside first then flip it to do the underside, and don't forget to rinse really well. Let it drip-dry for a bit then put it in the dryer on medium heat.
If you use one already, I hope what you have read has helped you to be a better car cover owner. If you don't use one yet, they are one of the few car accessories that will keep your car in pristine condition. You just have to remember to maintain it and use it properly.
About the Author:
Need custom car covers to protect your vehicles. Check out Autopia Car Covers, the custom car covers superstore!
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