A car cover is essential to any car owner. It protects your vehicle and prevents it from getting dusty. Car covers protect your vehicle from bird droppings. However, most car owners think that putting on car covers is a somewhat daunting task. And thus, choose not to have one at all, leaving their car vulnerable to damage. Here are a few simple steps to follow that make installing car covers a piece of cake.
1. Check for the ‘Front’ tag
Car covers usually come with a tag attached to them that determines which is the front and which is the rear end of the cover. While putting on car covers the right way first is a seemingly straightforward task, it’s easy to make mistakes in this stage.
2. Bumper first!
Once you find the front-end of the cover, wrap it around the bumper, working your way to the rear end of the car. There are pockets in the cover that go over protrusions such as the side mirrors or the hitch. Make sure to gently tuck these in as you wrap the cover around the car.
Depending on the type of car, you may need to secure the cover first in the driver’s side and then the passenger’s side, to prevent it from bunching up. Finish off by pulling the cover all the way to the back and secure it to the rear-end of the vehicle.
3. Make way for the antenna
Some car covers are not designed to accommodate the antenna of the car if one exists. If the antenna of your car is not retractable then it creates difficulties while putting on car covers. This issue, however, is easily solved — all you need to do is mark the exact spot on the car cover where the antenna is and create a hole to fix a grommet. The antenna now fits through this orifice.
4. Tie it down
If you live in areas that are prone to be windy, it is better to invest in car covers you can tie down. These come with a set of four clamps that weigh down the four ends of the car cover, and two adjustable cords that run between these clamps securing them. Tie downs for car covers are also recommended in case you have a regular car cover instead of one that fits snugly on to the vehicle, as it offers better protection.
5. Maintaining car covers
Car covers are bound to get dirty as their main job is to protect cars from dirt and debris. Regular maintenance is necessary to keep them in good condition for longer periods. You can use a garden hose and laundry detergent to wash the car covers. Putting them in a washer and dryer is not recommended as this may cancel any warranty on the car cover and also damage the material.
Car covers are necessary so that your car does not get damaged and soiled, and it is easy to learn how to install a car cover properly. Investing in car covers and learning how to put them on is a far better option than to risk damaging your vehicle.