Car Cover Care: How to Properly Store Your Car Cover When Not in Use

A high-quality car cover is your best defense against all sorts of threats—dust, rain, bird droppings, etc.—but what happens if the cover itself is not in great shape? Those that have been improperly stored, cleaned, or cared for can tear, wear, and thin, which will allow the aforementioned hazards to seep through, causing serious damage to the surface of your car. That’s why caring for your cover is an important part of the maintenance process.

You never want to rip off your car cover, ball it up, and toss it into the corner of your garage for the rest of the summer. We know it can be tempting, especially when it’s the first nice day of the year and you’re dying to get your warm-weather wheels back on the road, but this is definitely the wrong way to go about things. Here’s how to properly store it until it’s ready to be put back to good use.

Protect Your Vehicle with a Quality Car Cover

1. Give It a Deep Clean – At least twice a year, it’s important that you follow our guide on how to clean a car cover. We recommend giving your cover a deep clean immediately after removing it and immediately before putting it back on your car at the end of the season. The good news is, washing your cover is easy, and many covers are machine washable as long as you use a commercial-grade machine at the laundromat. You can also spot-clean by hand; just make sure to avoid using hot water, fabric softener, or aggressive detergents that may contain harsh chemicals, such as bleach or fragrances.
2. Dusty? Shake It Out – Once your car is out of reach, take your cover outside and either shake it out vigorously or use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of the dirt and dust that have settled on the surface. This will help ensure that layers of dust don’t accumulate and get permanently lodged within the fibers. Because they allow for airflow, the best car covers shouldn’t develop mold or mildew, but if yours does smell a bit musty, hang it to dry on a clothesline overnight.
3. Flatten and Roll – The most important part of storing your cover is making sure it’s neatly folded so that it’s a manageable size and doesn’t take up a ton of space in the garage or closet. The best way to do this is to remove it from your car and take it to a large, open area—preferably one where it won’t collect dirt, grass, or debris—and fold it in half longways. Press all the air out of the cover using your hands and roll tightly from top to bottom, sealing out air as you go. The process is similar to rolling a tent. Depending on the size of your cover, you may also be able to neatly fold it into a more compact, manageable shape.

1. Store It Somewhere Cool and Dry – After folding or rolling, make sure to place your cover inside the included storage bag and stash it somewhere cool, clean, and dry, preferably indoors, while it’s not in use. If you want to store it in a humid attic, basement, or garage, we recommend investing in some breathable storage containers that seal out moisture but let in airflow to deter the growth of mold and mildew. If you tend to use your cover routinely throughout the year, you may consider storing it in the trunk of your car so you have easy access when you need to throw it on.

You spend so much time cleaning and maintaining your car, it would be such a shame for it to get dirty or damaged due to an improperly stored cover. Be sure to follow these tips from CarCovers.com to keep your cover, and your car, in tip-top shape.