subject: Uncovering the Mysterious Appearance of Car Abrasions and Scratches [print this page] Uncovering the Mysterious Appearance of Car Abrasions and Scratches
Many vehicle owners who use car covers often find themselves in a puzzling and annoying situation -- no matter how well they look after their car, they still find scratches and abrasions that mar the otherwise flawless finish. Chances are, too, that these minor damages show up in odd places on the car that cannot be attributed to driving mishaps or parking lot incidents. Unexpectedly, a sizable number of scratches and abrasions are unintentionally the car owner's fault. By understanding some of the more common reasons for these surface damages, though, a car owner can keep many of them from happening in the first place through a few easy, preventative steps.
Covering a Dirty Vehicle
Even if drivers use car covers to protect their vehicles, washing vehicles on a regular basis is still important to keep the surface of the car clean. Debris, leaves, or dirt that are present on a car when the car cover is placed on top can actually damage the finish. When the car cover rubs against the dirt or debris on the car's exterior, the dirt behaves like an abrasive that creates scratches and other surface damage. Visiting the car wash regularly is an easy solution that can help prevent dirt from building up and creating problems.
Using a Dirty Car Cover
Keeping car covers clean is just as important as keeping a vehicle's exterior clean. Many car owners, particularly when pushed for time, have a tendency to wad up the cover and toss it in the trunk or on the floor of a garage when it's time to get on the road. Drivers should avoid this impulse, though. Any dirt or debris in the trunk or on the garage floor can be easily picked up by the cover and then transferred to the car's surface when the cover is replaced. Just as with a dirty car, a dirty car cover can rub against the finish and create scratches and abrasions. When not in use, car covers should be stored neatly in a bag to keep them clean.
Improper Covering Technique
It's a natural impulse to cover and uncover a vehicle by sliding the car cover across the vehicle's surface. Sliding a cover on and off is an efficient way to do it, but it's also a potential cause for some of the unexplained surface damages that car owners may find on the vehicle. Once again, the presence of dirt or debris is to blame. Any dirt or debris on the car's exterior or on the car cover itself can produce surface abrasions as the cover slides across the finish. Rather than sliding car covers on and off, drivers should roll or fold them as they go. Doing so can prevent damage from occurring.
Preventing all car scratches and abrasions from happening is probably not possible. Making an extra effort, though, to keep a vehicle clean, to stow car covers more carefully, and to use better techniques when covering and uncovering a vehicle can go a long way in preventing some of the mysterious surface damages that appear on a car's exterior.
