Car Cover

Hello Audi Drivers-

For Christmas my husband got me the Audi car cover from audi's website for my 07' A4. It is currently on my car, and have yet to take it off. I live in a condo complex in CT, and our last snow storm I look out the window and there is my neighbor sweeping my car off with a broom. So ya I was like I need to get a car cover I do not want my car to get scratched! Anyways my question is, the directions state to wash the cover after every use. Do you think this is really necessary if it is not that dirty? I just have nowhere to hang dry this in our condo, but of course I do not want my car to get scratched either. I was just wondering if anyone else has used the audi car cover yet and what their thoughts are about it. Thanks!

I haven't used an Audi cover, but have used other covers that recommended washing after each use.  IMO, washing after every use isn't practical or neccessary.  Just remember not to fold the outer side of the cover into the inner side...to keep rocks and sand from getting into it and scratching up your ride.  If your cover tends to get dirty or sandy easily, then a quick wash might be warranted.

Would it be okay to roll it up? No I did not get a free toaster with it. I am going to take it off in a few days so I'll see, if it's pretty dirty I will probably just wash it, and put it on only when it snows. I am so paranoid about it though I am ridiculous. I hate when people park close to it. I got it last March and I only have 3500 miles on it, can you tell I do not go anywhere? I work from home though so that's why. My husband has an 00 Audi S4, had had to put 4,000 into it already, I hope mine never breaks! Happy New Year

I have never heard of this practice of washing a car cover after each use in my life.
If you bought a good car cover (over $200) from a company called "Coverking" and put it on and off the right way you would have to mash the cover in a comm size machine once a year.
 
Alan

If you bought the Audi car cover from Audi it is a model called Stormshield and it's an excellent car cover. But you can't wash it in a home machine. If this is what you bought let me know and l will explain what you have to do to maintain it.
 
Alan

i would like to know also, i just got one too but was only going to use it when it snows so i wouldn't scratch when clearing if of snow

Hi
 
First of all your car should have multiple layers of wax on, this will protect the clear coat. Every car cover maker makes specific car covers for every budget and purpose.
Go look up a catalog called "Mid America Corvette" and go to car covers and this should help you understand the different kinds of covers.
I have never heard of a car cover that has to be cleaned after each use.
 
The most important thing about a car cover is the proper way to put them on and take them off. You cannot put a car cover over a dirty car because this will hurt the finish more then help it. And l'm talking about real clean like just washed. And if you don't wash and dry your car with micro denier towels then you might as well let the snow come down. And l'm not talking about the Wal-mart type micro denier towels.
 
If l had to keep my car outside l would just keep a layer of wax over the car and when it snows depending on the depth of the snow l would use a rubber edged squigge instead of a plastic edge scraper and you should be fine. Also let your engine run and the heat of the engine will melt the front of your car and the interior hear of the passenger compartment will melt everything else.
 
One more thing never scrape of the snow down to the clear coat, always stop at least a 1/2 inch before the clear coat. This will protect your clear coat.
 
Good Luck
 
Alan

Yes my car cover was over 200.00 I bought it on Audi's website. It is made specifially for the a4. I think maybe they tell you to wash it just in case it scratches your car they won't be held responsible. I washed my car right before I put it on and used a soft towel. But yes I did buy it from Audi, so any information on how to maintain it would be great.

First of all the cover should be taken to a laundermat because they have larger machines. Use woolite to wash on a delicate cycle and then put into a dryer that is larger then the one that you have in your house so that it dries properly. That's it, it's not rocket science. If there is a heat setting don't put it on high because the cover is made of a some form of poly. You can spot clean it but that's all that you should do.
The most important thing to do is to not let it touch the ground when putting it on or off.
When taking the cover off the inside is slicker then the outside so start by taking the sides and folding them toward each other. Then stand by the back of the car and start rolling it up keeping the inside on the outside. When you put the top back on just reverse the procedure.
Never take off a wet or damp cover because it will never dry properly. If you have a California duster you can use this to take off light dust but that's all. Audi does not make their covers they just have their logo put on them.
Good Luck

Okay my question is ..is it really necessary to wash it after every use though? I do have kenmore elite's washer and dryer they are kind of big. Should I dry it on air dry? Thanks!

Hi
 
No you don't have to wash it everytime you use it as long as you take it off and put it back on as l outlined in my previous post.
 
I only use my car cover indoors so l only wash it once a year. But take it to a laundermat their machines are larger. They shouldhave two size machines, use the larger one.
 
Do you have a garage? Or do you leave it outside year round? When using a car cover outside all year long will probably hurt your car finish more then help it unless you handle it right.
 
Alan

Car covers are meant for storage usually and it is not necessary to cover it over night etc. You cant prevent dings and dents all the time and seeing you take of a car cover and put it on everytime you drive the car is a bit ridiculas in my opinion! If the car was being stored for winter or something u should use the car cover or for over a week not a few days or so. I can see the car cover damaging your car with the whole process of covering it all the time and than uncovering. Go to a local detail store they can put on a coating to protect your paint and re-apply it every year it costs about $200 the first time and about 40$ every year you re apply, if you are concerned so much about the shine of the paint and the paint itself from fading etc.... that would probably be a way better thing to go with than just a car cover!

Hello-

No I do not have a garage. I live in a condo complex, and my initial reasoning for getting a car cover was due to my neighbors, being nice yes, wiping off snow on my car with a push broom. So I figured when it snows I will put it on that way I do not have to worry about them scratching it. I only plan to put it on right before a snowstorm , I put it on a week ago now and am going to take it off in a few days.

I park my car outside, when it snows I only brush off the windows. I am not gonna stand outside and clean the hood and the roof and the trunk and the rest of the junk when I drive it it will fall off.