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Post by racingteatray on May 13, 2019 12:53:38 GMT
Anyone know what best to do as regards cleaning a car cover?
After two and a half year's use and sustained scrabbling by the local fox population, the GC's car cover has seen distinctly better days.
Not only does it have a large hole where the sharkfin aerial is (courtesy of an inquisitive fox) but it is also covered all over in hundreds of tiny rips and tears from fox claws and absolutely filthy. The beasts have also chewed off both the retaining straps.
What happens is that it's one of those breathable covers with micropores; the foxes traipse mud all over it and then while the rain washes this off periodically, the finer particles (and just atmospheric pollution) manage to filter through the fabric via the rips and the pores. So every time it rains, a very fine pale sandy dust gets washed through and liberally dribbled all over the car itself. After drying out after a heavy week of rain, it can look like one of those barn-find cars under the cover.
I got it from here (or rather my sister did as a 40th birthday present): www.cover-zone.com/products/car-covers/stormforce/
I don't really want to have to buy another one. They are quite pricey. Unless I can find a much more scratch-resistant one.
Equally I tried washing it with a hose and sponge on the car - wash outside, then turn inside out, fit to car and do other side, but that made sweet FA difference. It's much too big to fit in a washing machine and the very idea would anyway give my wife a heart attack.
Any thoughts? |
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Post by michael on May 13, 2019 13:12:57 GMT
I don't know is the short answer but I suspect an email to the supplier is the way to go. In terms of maintenance you'd have to ask them a similar question but you'd think something like a soft-top cleaner might have a preservative effect on the material?
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Post by bryan on May 13, 2019 14:26:09 GMT
What about jetwashing it to blast the dirt through?
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Post by racingteatray on May 13, 2019 15:31:11 GMT
I don't know is the short answer but I suspect an email to the supplier is the way to go. In terms of maintenance you'd have to ask them a similar question but you'd think something like a soft-top cleaner might have a preservative effect on the material? On reflection, I think it's so ripped to b*ggery that it's not going to help much to clean it, apart from making it less stinky of fox.
I did some research on line and then rang back the manufacturer of my existing cover, who offered to send me a free sample of their latest Teflon-coated cover material to try and destroy - it's supposed to both water (and presumably pee) repellent and be claw-proof. They don't yet do a fitted cover for the F36 in this new material but might be prepared to use mine to create the template.
Let's see - it did occur to me that, seen in the round, the cover is much cheaper than having to deal with a car all of whose horizontal surfaces are covered in scratches.
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Post by Tim on May 13, 2019 15:41:00 GMT
Can I be cheeky and ask what sort of price you'd be paying for one of these?
I think its time I treated my 2 garage queens to an extra layer of protection!
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Post by michael on May 13, 2019 15:49:52 GMT
I did some research on line and then rang back the manufacturer of my existing cover, who offered to send me a free sample of their latest Teflon-coated cover material to try and destroy - it's supposed to both water (and presumably pee) repellent and be claw-proof. They don't yet do a fitted cover for the F36 in this new material but might be prepared to use mine to create the template.
Let's see - it did occur to me that, seen in the round, the cover is much cheaper than having to deal with a car all of whose horizontal surfaces are covered in scratches.
That's quite good service. you can't be the only person suffering this kind of problem if they're developing such a hardy material. |
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Post by racingteatray on May 13, 2019 15:50:12 GMT
Can I be cheeky and ask what sort of price you'd be paying for one of these? I think its time I treated my 2 garage queens to an extra layer of protection! Well the first one was a present, but I recall it was £200-ish. That was for the premium fitted outdoor version. |
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Post by racingteatray on May 13, 2019 15:56:00 GMT
This is the current cover (when it was new):  |
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Post by Tim on May 13, 2019 15:57:51 GMT
Ta. Looks like a purchase will be in the offing. I don't like to rush these things  |
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Post by johnc on May 13, 2019 16:23:34 GMT
Make sure whatever the cover, it is soft with no exposed stitching - I made the mistake once of towing a race car with a cover on. The cover was only ever used in a garage but when used on the road, it caused all sorts of marring on the paint due to the stitching and the slightly course material as it blew about in the wind (similar I would think to having a cover on a car in the driveway, if not as severe). Took me two days with a machine polisher to correct it!
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Post by racingteatray on Aug 2, 2019 16:11:02 GMT
Just took this photo from the study balcony showing the damage - each dark mark is where the claws have removed a section of the outer layer of the cover...  |
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Post by ChrisM on Aug 2, 2019 17:45:05 GMT
Have you found a fox repellant that works?
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Post by racingteatray on Aug 2, 2019 17:46:01 GMT
No! I don’t think such a thing exists.
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Post by ChrisM on Aug 2, 2019 17:47:38 GMT
It does, we have had to use it in the back garden recently after a spate of "digging for victory" holes appeared. From B&Q, need to apply it and then re-apply every 2 or 3 days for a week or two. Fingers crossed, appears to then keep them away for a few more weeks at least........
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Post by racingteatray on Aug 2, 2019 17:57:01 GMT
What is it called?
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Post by Roadrunner on Aug 2, 2019 18:01:10 GMT
This method works well  |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Aug 2, 2019 18:59:27 GMT
That’s ridiculous. Where’s he going to stable a horse in the centre of London?
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Post by PG on Aug 2, 2019 19:05:56 GMT
No! I don’t think such a thing exists. A shotgun probably...... Although I did once ask what gauge of shot was recommended for foxes at a local agric merchant and he replied 7.62mm and a lot of them...... Re covers, I've just bought one for the Jag as it is not getting used as much. From these people. www.specialisedcovers.comI went for a Stormshield + outdoor cover. It is a bit of a faff to get on and take off as it is pretty heavy duty, but it look make to last as it is multi-layer. |
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Post by racingteatray on Aug 6, 2019 12:54:13 GMT
Steps I've taken so far include persuading the management company to:
(a) install heavy duty mesh fitted along the bottom half of all the perimeter railings on the estate;
(b) attach black-painted metal sheeting inside of the lower half of all the vehicle and pedestrian entrance gates on the estate (which are black-painted steel) to discourage the foxes from using them as their main point of entry and exit. That seems to be working reasonably well - they can still scrabble their way over to them but it's nowhere near as easy or quick as just scurrying under them at top speed as they used.
I've also removed some old trelliswork and creeper from the fence at the end of our garden having realised that this was enabling the foxes to walk along it (if they can balance on the top of the fencing panel without that, then there's a career in the circus for them), which hopefully gives them less reason to climb on the car because once up on the wall they can no longer progress from there along the fence.
Then last weekend, I upgraded the sonic sensors in the driveway to a more expensive version that also issues a bright strobe light when triggered. They are positioned so that they shouldn't be triggered by an animal merely walking in the driveway but only if it leaps onto the car, in which case it should get a full flash and sonic blast at close range.
Finally, I've bought some prickle strips to go along the top of the garden wall next to the car. I just have to now work out how to attach them to the capstones along the top of the brickwork. Probably drill and screw but need to make sure I don't crack the capstones in the process. |
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Post by Tim on Aug 6, 2019 13:07:37 GMT
Then last weekend, I upgraded the sonic sensors in the driveway to a more expensive version that also issues a bright strobe light when triggered. They are positioned so that they shouldn't be triggered by an animal merely walking in the driveway but only if it leaps onto the car, in which case it should get a full flash and sonic blast at close range.
Anyone else got a disturbing image of Racing dancing around on the top of his car (no Bob, he wasn't naked!) to test the proximity required to trigger the deterrent?  |
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Post by michael on Aug 6, 2019 13:13:37 GMT
Finally, I've bought some prickle strips to go along the top of the garden wall next to the car. I just have to now work out how to attach them to the capstones along the top of the brickwork. Probably drill and screw but need to make sure I don't crack the capstones in the process. I'd try priming the surface and then using something like Pink Grip to bond it in place. I'm not sure holes in the capstones are going to be a good idea even if you do manage not to crack them. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2019 13:30:55 GMT
Gorilla glue is worth putting on the list.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Aug 6, 2019 15:17:23 GMT
Finally, I've bought some prickle strips to go along the top of the garden wall next to the car. I just have to now work out how to attach them to the capstones along the top of the brickwork. Probably drill and screw but need to make sure I don't crack the capstones in the process. I'd try priming the surface and then using something like Pink Grip to bond it in place. I'm not sure holes in the capstones are going to be a good idea even if you do manage not to crack them. I think you're right about gluing. If you drill holes then they might fill with water, freeze in the winter, expand, and crack the capstones. |
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Post by racingteatray on Aug 6, 2019 15:42:16 GMT
Then last weekend, I upgraded the sonic sensors in the driveway to a more expensive version that also issues a bright strobe light when triggered. They are positioned so that they shouldn't be triggered by an animal merely walking in the driveway but only if it leaps onto the car, in which case it should get a full flash and sonic blast at close range.
Anyone else got a disturbing image of Racing dancing around on the top of his car (no Bob, he wasn't naked!) to test the proximity required to trigger the deterrent? Being taller than the roof of my car, walking past the other side of the car suffices! As does waving a hand across the roof... |
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Post by racingteatray on Aug 6, 2019 15:45:14 GMT
Finally, I've bought some prickle strips to go along the top of the garden wall next to the car. I just have to now work out how to attach them to the capstones along the top of the brickwork. Probably drill and screw but need to make sure I don't crack the capstones in the process. I'd try priming the surface and then using something like Pink Grip to bond it in place. I'm not sure holes in the capstones are going to be a good idea even if you do manage not to crack them. Yes, I thought of that, but the thought of standing up a ladder scrubbing 35yrs worth of loose surface, lichen, moss and etc from the top of a 4m length of capstone is almost entirely unappealing. And unless I do that, the glue hasn't a hope in hell. |
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Post by Martin on Aug 6, 2019 16:08:34 GMT
I'd try priming the surface and then using something like Pink Grip to bond it in place. I'm not sure holes in the capstones are going to be a good idea even if you do manage not to crack them. Yes, I thought of that, but the thought of standing up a ladder scrubbing 35yrs worth of loose surface, lichen, moss and etc from the top of a 4m length of capstone is almost entirely unappealing. And unless I do that, the glue hasn't a hope in hell. Get a local handyman/woman to do it for you. |
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Post by michael on Aug 6, 2019 16:09:22 GMT
Yes, I thought of that, but the thought of standing up a ladder scrubbing 35yrs worth of loose surface, lichen, moss and etc from the top of a 4m length of capstone is almost entirely unappealing. And unless I do that, the glue hasn't a hope in hell. Get a local handyman/woman to do it for you. Handy person, FFS. |
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Post by Martin on Aug 6, 2019 16:11:31 GMT
Get a local handyman/woman to do it for you. Handy person, FFS. Oh yes, I’d missed a few categories out.... |
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Post by michael on Aug 6, 2019 16:13:09 GMT
Handy is perhaps also problematic. Perhaps differently-abled person?
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Post by Martin on Aug 6, 2019 16:26:32 GMT
I have no idea! They insist on being called engineers at work, some are as they look after all the cooling plant, but others do odd jobs, of which there is a never ending list in our older sites.
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