Halfords all seasons car cover - can I wash ?

[graeme4130]

Hi all
I've had this halfords car cover for a while, and while it's great at what it does, it's recently got pretty dirty (at the hands of my 5yr old trying to be helpful and taking it offhand dragging it across my stoned drive.
What this means is the dirt and little stones are going to make a right mess of my paintwork if I put it back on so I need to wash it. Question is, the box it came in says nothing and I can't find any paperwork that may or may not have come with it, so I've no idea if I can just wash it with anything other than just a hose to get it back to clean again
Anyone got any suggestions ?

[STE VR]

I have just bought one last week. I will have a look and post back when I'm home.

[graeme4130]

Great, cheers
Fantastic car cover btw, just needs lots of strapping down as std straps arn't up to much in my experience

[STE VR]

No info in my box either, however, Halfords site says to wash it with a sponge and detergent and hose it down. It is not suitable for machine washing.

[Goaty Bill]

That doesn't sound too good.
I give my cover a regular washing (I prefer to polish my paint with a known grade of polish ).

When my car must suffer the indignity of outdoor parking, then I make sure the cover is clean and dry before it goes on. I have heard some horror stories of what they can do to paint long term.

IMO it is better to destroy a budget cover from time to time than to let it get to your paint, and ideally get a cover that stands up to regular washing/drying.
Wash and dry on cool temperatures maybe?

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Yep - I'd wash it on a cool cycle designed for delicates and see what happens. I bet it'll be fine. Probably wouldn't tumble dry it though.

Look upon it as a new way to abuse our WAGs' kitchen appliances. We've had pictures of plenums being cleaned in dishwashers, and rocker covers being baked in ovens, so why not wash your car cover in her washing machine - what can possibly go wrong?

Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Saturday 7th January 08:11

[graeme4130]

It's in the washing machine (but really, really only just fitted with a bit of foot persuasion) now on a 20deg quick cycle with a simple soap, so lets see if it still works or whether it shrinks to the point of only fitting one of my sons toy cars

[graeme4130]

All clean and sorted, Fitted back onto the car no probs and even smells nice too. Result