Here’s How to Clean Your Car Cover Unless You Really Like Mold – Jalopnik

Car covers keep your car relatively clean and looking great. Covers are essential if you have cars in storage, if you regularly park outside, or if you’re a fan of glossy paint and want to keep it that way. High-quality car covers aren’t cheap (although Costco may be able to save you a few bucks on Coverking car covers), but no cover is foolproof. They all become dirty through repeated exposure to sun, wind, rain and dust, and through layers of contaminants. At that point, dirty covers are no different than sandpaper coming into contact with the paint of your precious car. Meanwhile, excessive dirt can significantly affect the breathability and water-repellent properties of the car cover, creating the perfect breeding ground for mold and rust.

Unless you like mold, you should clean your car covers every one to three months. Most inner and outer covers are machine washable, but be sure to double check the label before throwing it in the washing machine. On the other hand, covers should ideally be washed in a commercial laundromat using a front-loading machine, as top-loading domestic machines can spin too hard and tear the material.

Other important things to remember are to use warm or cold water (never hot) and to use a mild detergent (for example, avoid harsh laundry soaps with bleach). Choose a delicate wash cycle, rinse several times if necessary and allow the cover to air dry only. Under no circumstances should you machine dry a car cover unless the care label states so, as heat can damage or shrink the material.

If it cannot be machine washed, carefully remove it from your car, shake off any excess dirt, leaves and debris and lay it flat on a clean surface. You can also hang it on a clothesline. Rinse the cover with clean water using a hose and remove the dirt with a soft sponge dipped in a bucket of mild soapy detergent. Gently wipe or scrub off the dirt and rinse thoroughly with clean water. Repeat the process on the other side of the cover before hanging it to dry. Avoid storing a wet cover to prevent mold and mildew, and don’t put a wet cover over a wet vehicle unless you want to deal with mold growth or rust problems later.