Your car is going to be important to you - even if it’s just a means of transport, it’s going to be something you won’t want to do without, and if you think of it as more than that because you’re interested in cars or it holds a special meaning for you, then it’s going to be even more important in your life. 

That’s why it’s so crucial to take care of every aspect of it meticulously, and why you might decide that investing in a car cover is a good idea because that car cover will help to keep your car safe and protected from the elements. A high-quality car cover even adds an extra layer of defence against scratches and other small but irritating bits of damage, and in some cases it might deter thieves - having to take the car cover off to get to the car adds time to their crime that they won’t want to deal with. 

Yet getting the car cover is only the start, and it’s actually vital that you take care of it as well as the car underneath it. Properly maintaining and cleaning your car cover is a necessity, and here are the ways to do it. 

Why Car Cover Maintenance Matters 

Before we get to the heart of the matter and talk about how to clean your car cover, it’s a good idea to go into why you need to clean your car cover - understanding the ins and outs of taking on this task will make it much easier to find the motivation to get it done. 

UV rays are one of the major reasons why you need a car cover in the first place, for example, because too much exposure to the sun can make your paintwork fade - having a well-cared-for car cover will help keep your car’s exterior looking great. 

Another issue that can cause problems for your car and that a car cover will solve is dust and debris. Whether it’s actual dust, bird droppings, pollen, or anything else that can fall from the sky and land on your car, it’s a potential problem that can leave scratches and paint damage behind - unless you have a car cover, that is. 

Even the rain can be a problem, leaving stubborn - and highly annoying - water spots in its wake, which, apart from looking unattractive, can eventually lead to corrosion. A car cover will keep your car dry and protected. 

How To Take Care Of Your Car Cover 

Apart from knowing how to clean your car cover, which we’ll get to shortly, it’s a good idea to know how to take care of it in general. Here are some tips. 

The first thing to do is to carry out regular inspections of the car cover itself. Rather than waiting until you know there’s an issue or only cleaning your car cover because a certain amount of time has gone by and it’s on your to-do list, it’s better to check the cover every few weeks or even every few days, just to be sure. Look for potential problems like frayed seams, holes, or rips in the material. Once you spot the problems, you can fix them quickly and keep your car safe. 

It’s also absolutely essential that you pick a car cover that really fits your car. It has to fit snugly, as anything too loose won’t be able to do its job, and debris and moisture will be able to get in from underneath. And, of course, you’ll need to secure the car cover in the right way (check the instructions to be sure you’ve got it right) otherwise even a snug fit might not stay put for very long. 

Proper Maintenance Steps To Clean Your Car Cover

If you want to clean your car cover in the right way so you can be sure it’s going to protect your vehicle from everything we’ve mentioned above, it’s wise to research how to do it before you get started. It might seem like a simple job, but there’s more to it than you might think. 

Before you do anything, even if you’re quite sure you already know what to do to clean your car cover, you’ll need to check the manufacturer’s guidelines. There might be some specific cleaning instructions written there that you should pay attention to, and that, when followed, will help to keep your car cover doing its job for a much longer time. Even if you’ve had a car cover in the past, that doesn’t mean the instructions for keeping it clean and well-maintained are going to be the same, as different makers will require different things; it’s always best to check. 

Once you know what you should and should not be doing in terms of cleaning your car cover, you can move on to the next stage, and that’s removing any dust and debris that might be on the cover (and if it’s protecting your car in the way it should be, there’s bound to be something there). The first step is to shake the cover as hard as you can - this might need two people, depending on the size of the cover - to you can remove as much of the loose dirt and much as possible. Then use a soft brush or a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment to gently remove anything that’s left. 

When the majority of the loose dust and other dirt has been removed, you’ll be able to see what other cleaning issues are left behind, which means you’ll be able to spot-clean those issues carefully. Use a solution of mild detergent and water, and use a soft cloth or a sponge to gently scrub the dirty areas until you’ve removed whatever was there. Make sure you rinse the area with clean water when you’re done, and then allow it to air dry before you use it. 

In some cases, you might even be able to machine wash the car cover, but this is something you’ll have to find out for yourself by reading the guidelines; if you can do it, though, it will save a lot of time. 

Buy A High-Quality Car Cover At The Cover Shop 

You’re going to need to take care of and clean your car cover no matter what type you buy, but when you choose a high-quality car cover from The Cover Shop, you’ll already have a head start. 

With our commitment to quality and our exceptional customer service, you can rely on The Cover Shop to help you choose the ideal car cover for your needs; check out our website today.