To Cover or Not to Cover?... That is the Question
Discussion
I thought it best to consult the oracle that is PH regarding this matter; For those of us not fortunate enough to own a garage and tuck ones pride and joy away each night/week how is the best way to keep the bloody thing clean?
I have read innumerable threads about how to wash a car; claying,snowfoam,57 buckets,Leprechaun’s earwax etc and can confirm that its well within my abilities to wash a car. However once washed how do you keep it clean? One slight rain shower and there's watermarks everywhere.. or one night out in the open and there's general detritus, pollen, dust, pollution and crap everywhere. what methods to people have to a) prevent this and b) rectify this issue?
Some may vouch for car covers. I have a supposedly decent one but it still traps moisture in (even worse for a fiberglass car!) and will act like sandpaper unless perfectly clean. What are peoples respective views and how do you go about keeping your car in great shape? any thoughts?!?!?
I have read innumerable threads about how to wash a car; claying,snowfoam,57 buckets,Leprechaun’s earwax etc and can confirm that its well within my abilities to wash a car. However once washed how do you keep it clean? One slight rain shower and there's watermarks everywhere.. or one night out in the open and there's general detritus, pollen, dust, pollution and crap everywhere. what methods to people have to a) prevent this and b) rectify this issue?
Some may vouch for car covers. I have a supposedly decent one but it still traps moisture in (even worse for a fiberglass car!) and will act like sandpaper unless perfectly clean. What are peoples respective views and how do you go about keeping your car in great shape? any thoughts?!?!?
Well I always keep in mind that with a polished / waxed car, the dirt is sitting on the layer of polish / wax. When it rains, the water helps to rinse it off...being a hydrophobic (water repellant) surface it's also a sort of easy-clean surface
A car cover would be good, something lined on the inside with a material which is soft, and the outside should be hard-wearing and ideally waterproof. However, when the cover is wet or damp and you want to take it off it puts a downer on the whole process, especially if you want to use the car daily...i speak from owning motorcycles and keeping them outside under covers
A car cover would be good, something lined on the inside with a material which is soft, and the outside should be hard-wearing and ideally waterproof. However, when the cover is wet or damp and you want to take it off it puts a downer on the whole process, especially if you want to use the car daily...i speak from owning motorcycles and keeping them outside under covers
Junglehop said:
One slight rain shower and there's watermarks everywhere.. or one night out in the open and there's general detritus, pollen, dust, pollution and crap everywhere. what methods to people have to a) prevent this and b) rectify this issue?
Build a garage 
My car has gone to s
t after being outside for only 12 months. Take a clay bar to anything that has been outside to the elements & you will be surprised (for that matter do it to a spanky new car!!).Fall out eats into the paint, one reason new cars have plastic wrap on them (bird s
t, iron filings from railways etc etc).I guess the next best thing would be a cover but with modern soft paint would one cause more hassle than it's worth?
Thanks for the reply folks...
Im afraid building a garage aint an option. the car is parked on off st parking infornt of my flat in west London! I have never clayed it, to scared. its a 1981 Turbo Esprit with metallic paint that has lasted since 1981 with only a few stone ships/blemishes, I wouldn't want to take some clay to it and destroy it!
Im afraid building a garage aint an option. the car is parked on off st parking infornt of my flat in west London! I have never clayed it, to scared. its a 1981 Turbo Esprit with metallic paint that has lasted since 1981 with only a few stone ships/blemishes, I wouldn't want to take some clay to it and destroy it!
'81? Proper paint I would guess, not like modern st that marks if you fart on it. I'd just keep it clean & cover it. Bird st & baking hot day are the things that really mark it. Claying is easy, even I did it without scratching the st out of it! & afterwards it's oh so smooth 
Or move to a place with a garage or space to build one
t that marks if you fart on it. I'd just keep it clean & cover it. Bird st & baking hot day are the things that really mark it. Claying is easy, even I did it without scratching the st out of it! & afterwards it's oh so smooth Or move to a place with a garage or space to build one
Working right inbetween 2 major ports in the south west my car gets exposed to all numbers of ste throughout the week. Bird st, dust from Lorry's, the fumes from the boats etc.. so at the end of the week it's generally filthy.
What I tend to do is once a month give it a coat of polish, and then use Autoglym Sealant and it works brilliantly. If you wash it normally, It still leaves a brilliant shine, and all of the water turns goes into little pellets. I can't recommend it enough.
te throughout the week. Bird st, dust from Lorry's, the fumes from the boats etc.. so at the end of the week it's generally filthy. What I tend to do is once a month give it a coat of polish, and then use Autoglym Sealant and it works brilliantly. If you wash it normally, It still leaves a brilliant shine, and all of the water turns goes into little pellets. I can't recommend it enough.
We only have a single garage which my motorbike and ten tons of domestic stuff fill, so I feel your pain. The question I have is where do people with car covers put their grubby wet car cover when they use their car?
Do they put it in the boot (not an option with an Esprit) and fill the car with damp or take the filthy thing into the house, what happens when you return and the car is dirty, do you cover the car and grind grit into the paint or leave it off, which defeats the purpose?
I decided a cover was more trouble than it was worth and instead try to fend off the elements with a good coat of wax.
Do they put it in the boot (not an option with an Esprit) and fill the car with damp or take the filthy thing into the house, what happens when you return and the car is dirty, do you cover the car and grind grit into the paint or leave it off, which defeats the purpose?
I decided a cover was more trouble than it was worth and instead try to fend off the elements with a good coat of wax.
Jawaman said:
I can't speak from experience but surely leaving a car parked on the street under a cover will attract unwanted attention to it?
Either from jealous knob jockeys "look at this tt covering his car" or from thieving scumbags "that must be worth something"
Correct me if I'm wrong!
yeah can well imagine that...ohh look someone taking pride in their belongings , lets kick the doors in Either from jealous knob jockeys "look at this t
t covering his car" or from thieving scumbags "that must be worth something" Correct me if I'm wrong!
I think you're going to have to accept the fact that it's going to get dirty. You can use spray on quick detailer and a microfiber between washes to remove minor dusts.
Regular waxing will help to protect the paint work and keep it clean for longer, don't be scared of claying the car.
Regular waxing will help to protect the paint work and keep it clean for longer, don't be scared of claying the car.
Junglehop said:
Thanks for the reply folks...
Im afraid building a garage aint an option. the car is parked on off st parking infornt of my flat in west London! I have never clayed it, to scared. its a 1981 Turbo Esprit with metallic paint that has lasted since 1981 with only a few stone ships/blemishes, I wouldn't want to take some clay to it and destroy it!
Claying a car doesn't do any damage to the paint. It just removes any contaminants and prepares it for polishing and waxing. Im afraid building a garage aint an option. the car is parked on off st parking infornt of my flat in west London! I have never clayed it, to scared. its a 1981 Turbo Esprit with metallic paint that has lasted since 1981 with only a few stone ships/blemishes, I wouldn't want to take some clay to it and destroy it!
I just tried the new G3 claymitt over the weekend and it makes the process so much easier.
Have a look here: http://www.g3pro.com/product/body-prep-clay-mitt/
You're going to have to accept that if the car is outside, whether day or night and used, it's going to get dirty to some degree.
The alternate is to build an air conditioned, dehumidified,, shaded and dust free showroom and never take it out.
Clean it properly, give it a decent coat of proper wax and try to enjoy it.
The alternate is to build an air conditioned, dehumidified,, shaded and dust free showroom and never take it out.
Clean it properly, give it a decent coat of proper wax and try to enjoy it.
Wash, clay, polish, wax and seal it every 3 to 6 months. And then wash it quickly with mild shampoo every 1 to 4 weeks in between. The wax and sealant are effectively a thin plastic shell.
If that is a pain, rent a garage or underground parking space nearby from someone. Should be about £100 - 1000 a month, depending on location.
An outdoor car cover / cocoon is another option, but they can scratch paint, trap moisture, or blow / flap all over the place when windy.
If that is a pain, rent a garage or underground parking space nearby from someone. Should be about £100 - 1000 a month, depending on location.
An outdoor car cover / cocoon is another option, but they can scratch paint, trap moisture, or blow / flap all over the place when windy.
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