Covercraft Car Covers how to use and clean.
HOW TO CLEAN YOUR COVER ON THE VEHICLE (for 380 Series)
1 - Install your cover inside-out on the vehicle.
2 - Mix one ounce (1oz) of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner per quart of WARM water.
3 - Spray or sponge the mixture onto the cover.
4 - Rinse with plain water until there are no suds on the cover.
5 - Air dry the cover.
Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner is available in most automotive and home improvement stores. If you have questions about Simple Green, 1-800-228-0709, or visit their web-site Simplegreen.com
OPTIONAL SECURITY DEVICE Your new cover is equipped with plastic (non-scratch) grommets, reinforced into the bottom edge on both sides
of the cover. A plastic-coated, steel cable with padlock and keys is available to lock through the grommets and secure the cover to the vehicle. Consult your
dealer for availability. Gust Guard® is an option for use in areas where wind may lift and/or blow a cover off a vehicle. The kit includes two sets of hem
clamps and two 7 foot lengths of cord. The clamps are placed on both sides of the vehicle in front of the front tires and behind the rear tires. The cord
is then affixed to a clamp on one side of the vehicle and secured to the clamp on the opposite side to help reduce movement of the cover. Please see WARNING
FOR USE IN HIGH WIND AREAS for more information.An added theft deterrent is the application of large letters on the sides of the cover. Print your name
or license number on the cover to make it uninviting to a prospective thief. * (Note - see warning for use of ink and markers).
Covercraft Factory Warranty Covers are warranted from date of purchase to the original purchaser. Save your receipt! Warranty coverage
protects against defects in material and workmanship, as well as the fabric becoming unserviceable during normal use. After factory inspection, we will
repair or replace the cover or specific panels judged to be unusable. Covers are not warranted against fading, which occurs naturally on all products used
outdoors. These fabrics are not waterproof - all are breathable to allow moisture, condensation and heat to escape from under the fabric. To process a warranty
claim, first contact the authorized dealer where you purchased your cover.
Fabric Warranty
Poly cotton 90 Days
Flannel 90 Days
Form-Fit® 4 Years
Reflec’tect® 3-Years
WeatherShield®HP 4 Years
Ultra’tect® 5 Years
Sunbrella® 6 Years
WeatherShield®HD 6 Years
Covercraft Car Cover Applications
COVER CARE & USE INSTRUCTIONS Your new cover is manufactured with a quality fabric, selected for its performance characteristics. Depending
on the material you chose, it can provide protection against most natural elements and can be used for storing vehicles outside, and indoors as well. Some fabrics
are designed to be UV resistant, some have special finishes to help shed moisture, dust, dirt, birddroppings, tree sap and grime. Indoor fabrics provide good breathability
and varying degreesof softness and dust resistance. “Covercraftsmanship” is put into every cover we make!
If your vehicle has an outside radio antenna which will not retract flush with thevehicle body, you will have to provide an opening in the cover.
We have included a noncorrosive plastic grommet set to reinforce the antenna opening.
1) To make the most accurate antenna grommet opening, remove the antenna and install the coveron the vehicle, making sure it is properly
aligned and positioned. Using a sharp pencil, puncha hole through the fabric at the antenna location. Be careful to avoid hitting the vehicle finishwith
the pencil. If the antenna is not easily removed, see procedure #2.
2) Place the cover on the vehicle except for the fender or body panel where the antenna is located. For example, if the antenna is located on the front passenger side fender,
roll or foldthe cover away from the antenna and cover the remainder of the vehicle. (Do not attempt toplace the cover over the top of the antenna.) Center the cover,
align both seams with the roofedges and be sure the cover is pulled down evenly over the front and rear bumpers. Carefully unfold the portion of the cover that is next to the antenna and position it next to the base of
theantenna. Recheck the overall positioning of the cover to be certain it has not moved on the vehicle. Make sure the cover lies flat over the hood and roof
areas of the vehicle. Mark the cover withthe location of the antenna base and make a hole with a sharp pencil. Use sharp scissors to make the hole opening 3/4
inch in diameter and install the grommet as shown in the diagram to the right. The outsidegrommet ring fit is very tight. Place the cover on a CLEAN hard surface,
position the insidegrommet through the opening you made and then secure the outside grommet snap-ring inplace using a rubber mallet. Do NOT use excessive
force or the ring can be damaged. Do NOT install the grommet with the cover on the vehicle.
IMPORTANT - When installing the cover, remember to place it over the antenna before putting the mirror pockets over the mirrors.
INSTALLATION The front of the cover is marked with a pattern number and/or logo and the word “front” to helpin positioning the cover on the
vehicle. If your cover is equipped with mirror pockets (most late modelcustom-fit patterns only), it is very important that the mirror pockets be placed overthe
side mirrors before the ends of the cover are stretched over the front and rear bumpers.(see drawing at right)
Some vehicles have very sharp bumpers, hood ornaments, moldings, etc. We recommend thatyou reinforce the inside of the cover at areas exposed to severe
abrasion, using cloth-reinforcedduct tape or vinyl tape which may be purchased at hardware, plumbing or automotive stores.This will help extend the life of
your cover.
REMOVAL Use the following procedure to make it easier to remove and install the cover:
1) Release both ends of the cover from under the bumpers.
2) Fold up both sides onto the top of the vehicle into a long pile approximately 2 feet (60 cm) wide (see Figure "A").
3) Start at the front of the vehicle and fold the cover in three foot (1 meter) folds from the front to the back (see Figure "B"). If you use the same procedure each time, you will
find it only takes about a minute to install or to remove the cover. The elastic at each end of the cover will keep the cover in place under normal conditions.
A tie downrope is also included - secure it through the loops sewn into the hem under the driverand passenger doors if needed.
Use care in installing the cover on a car which has just been driven to be sure the material does not come in contact with hot exhaust pipes.
HAZING OF WINDOWS AND PAINT: Airborne pollutants may be deposited on the windows or paint while a vehicle is being driven or when parked uncovered.
These deposits may become smeared and create a haze when the cover is used. The haze can be wiped off with a dampcloth or washed off with water.
IMPORTANT WARNINGS - PLEASE READ BEFORE USING COVER!
WARNING TO OWNERS OF REPAINTED VEHICLES: Use of a cover on any recently-paintedsurface may cause damage to that surface! If your vehicle has been repainted, check with thepainter
or body shop on the specifics of how and when you can use this cover.
WARNING FOR USE IN HIGH WIND AREAS: In high wind areas (and for extended storage), use the loops and rope provided to securely pull the cover tight under the center of the car. Thisshould be done even if the optional lock and cable is being used.
The cover is not designed toreplace a garage and should be checked for flapping in high winds. If wind gets under the cover,it can cause it to work loose and
come off the vehicle, or damage the cover.
WARNING FOR FREEZING WEATHER: In very rare cases when a heavy rainstorm is followedby an extreme temperature drop
to below freezing, it is possible for the cover to become frozento a layer of ice created between the vehicle body and the cover. Do not attempt to removethe
cover if this happens. If it is necessary to remove the cover, we recommend pouring warmwater over the vehicle and slowly removing the cover, taking care
to inspect the surfaces of both the cover and the vehicle during the removal process. Stop immediately if you encounter resistance - the ice has not been
melted completely and you must pour more warm water overthe vehicle.
WARNING REGARDING TOWING: Vehicle covers are NOT designed for use when towing. Serious damage can occur to the cover and the paint surface of the vehicle if a cover is usedwhen a vehicle is being towed. Using a cover while towing is done at
your own risk!
PERSONALIZED MARKING INSTRUCTIONS: The application of large letters and/or numbers onthe side or front of the cover showing the vehicle's license
plate or name(s) is one of the bestmethods for protecting your cover against theft. If you choose to put identification markings onyour cover, please note
the following:- DO NOT use regular or spray paint! - DO NOT use laundry markers or “permanent” type Magic markers.- DO NOT use any type of felt-tip pen or marker.The
only type of marking paint that is acceptable for use on cover material is a permanent typefabric/T-shirt paint. This paint is readily available in a variety
of colors at most fabric and art supplystores. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Use a single coating of the fabric paint for markingthe outside of the cover
with your personalized markings.WARNING - Markers and regular paint will not adhere to the fabric and can transfer their color onto the vehicle finish.
CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS Car cover fabric performance can be severely affected by contaminants (dirt, dust, grease,etc.) that build up on and within the material, causing
the windshield and paint to become dirty and “fogged” as well as create “wicking” where the contaminants actually pull water throughthe fabric, nullifying any
water resistant properties the fabric may have had. Washing thecover will help to keep your vehicle clean and increase the service life of the cover.Follow
these steps for a successful cleaning of your cover:
1 - Place the cover in the largest washing machine available. Extra-large covers (for vehiclessuch as SUV’s
and pickup trucks), in any fabric, should always be washed in large commercial front load machines.
2 - If available, use the GENTLE cycle.
3 - Based on your cover fabric, use the chart below and wash with the appropriate cleanerand washing machine settings. NEVER...Use fabric softener.
4 - Rinse the cover TWICE (2x) with water only to remove all the cleaner.
5 - Dry according to the fabric chart.
Covercraft Custom Covers
The generic cleaning instructions noted below are intended for use with all Covercraft car covers but you should refer to the instruction sheet enclosed with the car cover for any fabric specific care instructions.
Car cover fabric performance can be severely affected by dirt that builds up on and within the material. It can cause the windshield and paint to become dirty and 'fogged' as well as create 'wicking' where it actually helps pull water through the fabric, nullifying any water resistant properties the fabric may have had. Cleaning your car cover will help to keep your vehicle clean and to increase the service life of the car cover.
NEVER...Clean a car cover in a washer with a center agitator (except WeatherShield fabric covers).
NEVER...Use fabric softener.
NEVER...Dry a non-woven or specialty type cover in a dryer.
(WeatherShield fabric & Form-Fit covers can be dried in a dryer with regular heat; Poly cotton, Cotton and Flannel can be dried on low heat.)
- Using a large commercial washer without agitator, wash the cover using 1/4 cup of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner (some WeatherShield covers are compact enough to be washed in a normal size washer). Put the cover in the washer and pour the cleaner in the tub after it's filled with warm water or pour it directly in the machine (some wall mounted commercial units), then put in the cover and start the machine.
- Rinse the cover twice (2X) to remove all the cleaner.
- Air dry (unless it's one of the covers noted above that can be dried in a dryer with regular or low heat).
A cover may also be cleaned by turning it inside-out on the vehicle.
- Mix one ounce Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner per quart of warm water.
- Spray or sponge onto cover.
- Rinse with plain water (until no suds) and allow to air dry.
- Can a cover help prevent my vehicle from being stolen?
Yes it certainly can. A thief wants to get into your vehicle, start it, and drive off as quickly as possible. As soon as a thief starts to make an entry, they are exposed. A car cover takes a few minutes to remove, so the thief's exposure time is increased. With so many cars uncovered, why would a thief want to increase the risk of being caught? A cover also helps protect the contents of a vehicle. When radios and other items are out of sight they are less likely to tempt a thief.
- How can I prevent my car cover from being stolen?
The lock and cable accessory kit will certainly help. You should also put your name on the front of the cover. The name works better than the license number. The instruction sheet gives details on the correct way to mark the cover.
- Is there a correct way to install a cover?
In general, always cover the front and rear bumpers as the last step. If the cover has mirror pockets, place the pockets over the mirrors first. If you have an old car you should cover the roof and windows first, and then the front and rear of the car. On some coupes and roadsters made prior to 1932, you might be unable to install the cover at all if you start with the front or the rear bumper.
- What is the best way to fold a cover when taking it off the vehicle?
The easiest way I've found is the way we picture it in our instruction sheets. Simply fold each side up onto the roof and refold it as necessary so the material ends up about 2 feet wide. Then, starting at the front of the vehicle, fold the cover towards the back in increments of about 3 feet. This way you don't drag the cover over the vehicles surface, and it's easy to reverse the process for installation.
- Can I put a wet cover on a vehicle?
If your vehicle is clean, it's actually the best way to dry the cover. If it's a Covercraft cover, as the temperature warms up, all the moisture will evaporate, since all of our fabrics are breathable.
- Any suggestions on how to keep my vehicle cooler when I use a car cover?
Other than parking in the shade, because most of our better fabrics will protect against bird droppings and tree sap, the best thing to do is to lower your side windows about two inches. Ambient temperature builds inside enclosed spaces, and if you open the windows slightly you'll allow air to circulate, just like it circulates under the cover. Some of our fabrics offer more heat insulation than others, simply because they are multi-layered and are more effective at keeping heat away from the vehicle surface, but any cover will help reduce the vehicle temperature on a hot day.
- What are UVR inhibitors?
Most fabrics are degraded by Ultra Violet Rays (UVR) from the sun. To slow down the degradation process, chemicals are added during the production of the fabric. You won't be able to see them, smell them or feel them. The chemicals are expensive so your best bet is to buy a cover from a reputable manufacturer who believes in quality. To reduce cost, one of the first things a mill will usually cut is the percentage of UVR inhibitors being used.
- How often should I wash my cover?
There is no magic number since it depends on where you live and how you use the cover. Don't be afraid to wash a car cover! Dirt particles can compromise the effectiveness of the water resistance of the fabric. Be sure to follow the washing instructions for the cover you own.
- Will treating my car cover with Scotchguard make it more water resistant?
In almost every instance, a good car cover fabric has been treated with some sort of DWR (durable water repellency) treatment during it's manufacturing process. The effectiveness of such a treatment will also depend on the construction of the fabric. If you can hold the fabric up to light and see small open areas between the yarns, no treatment will increase the fabrics water resistance. Adding additional treatments will not help and aren't worth the cost.
- My wife is about 5 feet tall and wants a cover for her car. What fabrics would you suggest?
First off, lighter is not necessarily better. A thin nylon cover or plasticized paper type cover can be very difficult to use in any kind of breeze. A heavy cover is also difficult for a person of small stature to handle. Fabrics that weigh between 4 and 7 ounces per square yard are considered ideal, and that is our target weight for most Covercraft covers. The other property that is important to consider is bulk. Bulky covers are hard to handle and hard to store.
Covercraft Care & Use Instructions
