One of the best ways to protect your vehicle from the elements is to cover it. Automobile covers will offer protection against dirt, pollution, bird poop, sun rays and tree sap. Your vehicle remains hidden from thieves, leaving them to speculate as opposed to knowing. It will also guard the vehicle against debris and dirt when parked outside.
However, covering your car could be both protective and possibly harmful. If it doesn't fit properly, it may be worse than leaving your vehicle bare. A loose one could also be excessively flapped against the body due to draughts, leaving conspicuous scratches. It is advisable to purchase one that matches your car type and model. Though the "one size fits all" types are cheaper, they may not fit properly.
Using a dirty cover could also be detrimental as well. This is because grit trapped between the cover and paint will cause scratches when being installed or removed, or when the wind moves it around. A good way to avert such problems is to use a canopy that fits properly on a clean vehicle. The best types come with a bottom locking mechanism which allows a plastic coated cable to closely hold the bottom of the vehicle to prevent wind movements.
The best way to remove a canopy is to fold it on and off the body. First place it in position without hooking under the vehicle. Take a third of the canopy on the driver's side and fold it over the roof towards the other side. Do this in such a way that leaves the fold to run along the edge of the hood, top and trunk.
You'll find that the roof takes a third while each of the sides take the remaining portion equally. Fold the passenger side third over the other section so that you have 3 layers over the entire car length. Start rolling the cover at one of the ends and proceed upwards up without moving it. Do this while walking along the vehicle. This reduces the chance of scratching the body due to movement. To install the cover, reverse this process by unrolling along the vehicle and folding down the sides.
A car cover should only be used on a clean vehicle. If it collects dirt while on the vehicle, clean it off before removing it. You should also shake it out to remove grit and dirt if it touches the ground.
