Car Cover Questions?

vesnyder · vesnyder's Garage

I purchased a Dustop Car cover about two years ago and have been happy with it. I use it in the garage exclusively. Lately it has been leaving a strange residue on the finish of the car - the car is black so it is really noticable! Anybody ever tried washing your car cover?

What is the preferred car cover for inside storage?

SpeedracerIndy · 06:31 AM

From the research that I did, that it the prefered car cover for inside. I have the same material in my car cover. Is it that the cover is deteriorating and leaving its remnants on the car? I hope not, because I have had mine for about a year and so far it's ok. I don't know about washing it, but is there a tag on it with washing instructions? If not, I would think contacting DuPont, who makes the fabric, or the maker of the cover would be able to give you washing instructions. I will check my cover when I get home for a washing instruction tag.

Edit: If the residue is just a dust, have you tried a car duster. (AS SEEN ON TV, California Duster!!!). I still use a duster and wipe off the car after I pull the car cover off of it. The Dustop fabrick does a good job, but it's not perfect. With at black car, you see every spec of dirt too.

scottb · 07-15-2003, 09:09 AM

California Car Covers sells the Dustop line of covers. This is from their website:

Superweave Car Covers :
Superweave car covers may be washed using most home washing machines and dryers. Use a powder-type detergent WITHOUT bleach. Wash the cover using the "Normal" or "Permanent Press" cycles in cold or warm water. DO NOT WASH IN HOT WATER! Run the cover through two rinse cycles - it is important that all the detergent be removed. The cover can be dried in most home dryers. Use the "Permanent Press" setting. DO NOT use fabric softener. If your cover becomes soiled in a few spots, light brushing with a soft rag will remove most dirt.

All Other Car Covers:
A home washer is not large enough to accommodate your car cover and provide proper cleaning. Covers should be taken to a commercial laundromat and washed in large automatic washers without agitator. Use a quarter cup of Fantastik All-Purpose Cleaner or Woolite (no soap or detergent). Wash your cover using the "Normal" or "Permanent Press" cycles in cold or warm water. DO NOT WASH IN HOT WATER! Run the cover through two rinse cycles - it is important that all the cleaner be removed in order to preserve the cover's water resistance. Air dry the cover. DO NOT put the cover in an automatic dryer (the fabric can melt). DO NOT dry clean covers. Another way to clean dust from the inside or outside of the cover is to put it on your vehicle and hose it off. To clean the inside, put the cover on inside-out, rinse off and then leave on to dry. To clean the outside, put the cover on normally, rinse and then leave on to dry.

I hope this helps.

CHILI · CHILI's Garage

Mine does the same thing. Although it doesn't seem to be just a dust residue. To the point that I don't even use it anymore becuase it's worse than just leaving the car un-covered. I've thought about washing it and even thought about using a laundromat because they have commercail grade and size washing machines. Although, I'm not sure what brand mine is (PO just gave it to me with the car), so it's good to know about the Fantastick or Woolite trick. I'll try it out. Thanks Scott!

vesnyder · vesnyder's Garage

It is not just dust residue - same as yours CHILI. I resorted to not using it as well because of the residue it leaves. I will try the inside out hosing off and if that does not work I will try the laundromat. I thought it might be a Midwest humidity thing, but not if a Californian is experiencing the same thing?

CHILI - let me know how the Fantastic or Woolite work?

tobluforu · tobluforu's Garage

Same here. Mine started to leave that funky dust well. So I cleaned it and all that did was make it worse. Mine lasted about 5 years though. Bought another one and all is well.

Argo · 07-15-2003, 12:09 PM

Same thing here - residue looks like the marks my California Duster left the first few times I used it. Don't bother taking it to a commercial laundry place - the only difference that made was a $30 porking in the wallet (who knew? - I figured about $5). I'm getting tired of using the touch up spray every time I use the car so I'm all ears to see if the fantastik works.

Argo
88 Targa

RickM · RickM's Garage

I use a cotton cover for indoor storage. However, this lets dust leach through and the more you wash it the more apt is to leave lint behind. I also use the California duster to clean.

I was going to switch to a Tyvek cover as it boasted that it would breath and not leave a residue behind. Generic Tyvek covers used to be sold at some of the Pep Boy type stores at a low cost.

I've also seen Flannel lined covers being recommeded for dry indoor storage as well.

vesnyder · vesnyder's Garage

I rinsed my cover off and also let it sit out in the rain for a day - still the same thing? I am wondering if it is something caused by the high humidity in the Summer here?

RickM · RickM's Garage

Actually humidity and any cover isn't ideal for the finish. The "flannel" lined bras would leave a permanent haze on the finish if exposed to moisture.

vesnyder · vesnyder's Garage

Started using my car cover again and I think the residue it was leaving on the finish must have something to do with the temperature and humidity - because now that it is colder it is fine?

Randy Webb · 10-02-2003, 12:19 PM

I've never seen the adv. of using a cover indoors. There is always some scratching evertime you put it on or remove it, and it is easy to dust off or rinse off what little dust gets on the car indoors.

Am I missing something?

cellison · 10-02-2003, 04:18 PM

I have used four different car covers over the past 20 years, for both indoor and outdoor use. I will put a cover on cars in the garage that will not be driven for a couple days or longer. I use a fitted cotton cover on one car and non fitted cover made with material manufactured by Kimberly-Clark on the 911. The cotton cover is 8 years old and tends to allow dust to migrate thru. The Kimberly-Clark cover is a 3 ply nonwoven laminate that is breathable and provides excellent protection against dust and objects that may hit it, as it's thick. This cover is about 17 years old and while it's a little tattered, it's still suitable for my needs. I hose both off about once a year. Another cotton cover I had for about 10 years recently became a dogs blanket. I purchased another cover made with a similar Kimberly-Clark nonwoven laminate as the 17 y/o one, to use outdoors when needed.

Charles
88 Cab

john70t · 10-02-2003, 05:00 PM

I was using a Wolf cover and washed it after it soaked up oil kicked back on the bumper (from a bad main seal) and was packed with white dust (from using Zymoel). Cover worked well indoors at first.

Used a good horizontal wash machine but made the mistake of washing it on regular with only one rinse cycle. The fabric was much softer but didn't seem to keep fine dust off it after that.

Harlan Chinn · Harlan Chinn's Garage

Dust and dirt that gets into the fibers of the car cover fabric is what will scratch your paint finish.
I wash my car cover once a year at the local laundrymat with the large capacity machines. Use a liquid detergent like ALL or Tide and dry in a dryer but remove when slightly damp, to not shrink the cover if made of cotton.