Empire Covers Blog

With the summer approaching (only 35 more days!!!) mother nature will indeed be throwing a mixture of nasty weather conditions our way.  Protecting your vehicle from these conditions is a must to help prolong the longevity of your car, truck, SUV or RV.

Summertime is a notorious season with variations in weather. Sunny days, rain, and thunderstorms are all common, and can easily damage your car, particularly the bodywork and paint.  The sun and its UV rays commonly fade paint, while rain and thunderstorms can lead to rust and discoloration.

No one wants their vehicle to look less than 100 percent.  If you do not have a garage or somewhere to protect your vehicle, it is important to invest in a quality cover to prevent damage and deterioration.  To help prevent fading, make sure the material of the cover features UV protection to restrict damage from those dangerous rays.  To prevent rusting and discoloration, invest in a cover that is either a 100% waterproof cover or one that is water resistant and breathable.

Now you might be thinking, what is the difference between a 100% waterproof cover and a water resistant breathable cover?  A 100% waterproof cover prevents all types of moisture from entering; while a water resistant breathable cover may let some moisture in, however the breathable features allows the water to evaporate and helps avoid mold and mildew growth.

Also important is to make sure your cover features non-abrasive material.  This will prevent any scratches appearing on your car from using a cover.

You may be thinking, “Taking a cover on and off my vehicle is such a hassle! I do not have the time nor energy to do it!”  However, using a car cover is actually simple, quick, and safe.  Watch the following video, made by Empire Covers, to show how easy it really is to use a car cover.

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-Stephanie

Fall is a time of year that creates picturesque images of trees changing, leaves falling, and a cleansing break in the summer heat that it just seems mandatory to have a smile permanently painted on your face. However, while you are basking in the bliss of this beautiful oasis your car is not as happy.

A single leaf contains many different elements our hypnotized eyes can not spot. When leaves are left on cars and when wet or dampened the saps of the leaves, along with other chemicals, are stamped onto the car. This then creates a sappy mess on the body of your car. In which case it is necessary to go out and buy the proper wax and cleaning supplies to correct the situation or worst a professional will need to examine the situation with a trained eye. Either way, the hassle, annoyance, and cost to repair leaf damage or any other fall season elements is enough to rip your hair out.

What if there was a way to prevent the foreseeable problem? Car covers are a perfect solution to preventing a weather induced nuance and maintaining your cars natural glow. A protective barrier like a car cover can improve the quality of the cars appearance and create a low maintenance plan for the protection and safety of your vehicle. By using water proof and non-abrasive car covers the quality and life of your paint job could last beyond expectations. Your car could weather any season not just fall.

So by creating a solution before a problem you are allowing less time spent on car repair and more time enjoying the scenery this fall season. Enjoy the leaves falling or take a deep breathe of fresh, crisp air because you know your car is protected. This security will comfort you so that all you have to worry about is the upcoming holiday rush.

This past weekend was a scorcher! Personally, I think one of the most uncomfortable feelings ever is driving is a stuffy overheated car. I was walking around the streets of New York City, and the times I had to take a taxi to where I needed to go, I wanted nothing more than to just fly down the street in a convertible. As a Nancy Drew reader when I was younger, I’ve always wanted a convertible, but at the same time, I’ve been a little bit nervous from all those stereotypical scenes you see in movies when it’s pouring rain and the character can’t get the roof up. Even through this fear though, I think it would be worth it to have a convertible because I don’t think the chances are high of my roof not going up. Besides, now there are things like car covers to help protect your car when not in use! So, even if I can’t afford my dream convertible right now, at least a cover will help my car from getting so hot!

This past Memorial Day day was memorable indeed with great weather! Hopefully we  will also have great weather for other upcoming holidays as well. To keep you car or vehicle protected from sun damage or heat during these times, get a quality cover from empirecovers.com today!

With spring here and summer around the corner, spring cleaning is at it’s prime. This is especially true for garage and storage cleaning. After a long winter, there’s bound to be dust and particles flying around while you’re cleaning, landing on even more of your possessions. Why add another thing to the list? Get a car cover for when you store your car in the garage so you can avoid having to wash dust from the outside of your car, or spending money on the car wash!

The rain as arrived, and with it the hope of turning barren branches into lush green foliage. Although we all love the arrival of spring flowers, we must first endure the pain of spring showers. Rain can do damage to roads and limit visibility, making it difficult to drive during storms. It can also cause damage to the exterior of your car and lead to rust. A little paint chipping here, a dent there exposes the metal to the elements of nature and what initially show up as tiny bits of rusting soon eats into the metal. Considering the ease with which the car rust could be prevented, this just seems unpardonable. Covering it with waterproof car covers is an easy and effective way to prevent rust damage, but there are a few other things you can do to protect your car during spring showers.

Make sure the exterior of your car is clean. Salt speeds the spread of rust, so make sure you clean your car of any salt left from the winter. Other debris such as mud and sand can break down your car’s finish, so make sure anything that’s been picked up from the road while driving is cleaned off. Once you have cleaned your car, it’s a good idea to wax it to protect the paint. Wax helps rain from building up on your car and damaging the finish. Rain-X products are also something that you can use to prevent water from pooling on your car.

The following are some additional steps you can take during every day use of your car:

• Avoid parking direct sunlight, but rather park in the shade or under a tree.
• Wash your car at least twice a month and leave the doors open to ensure proper draining.
• Check for holes, tarnishes, and scrapes that can become a target for rust.
• Use gentle, car specific, cleaners that will not harm your paint.
• Jet-wash your car once a month with a hose or sprinkler.
• When in humid or coastal areas, wash your car frequently.

Although it rains all year around, April can bring some of the most rain of the year. It’s a good idea to take the time now to prevent damaging instead of paying for your car to be refinished later. At empirecovers.com, we have a number of covers that protect against rain including a 100% waterproof cover. All of our covers are breathable and non-abrasive so you can be sure your car is being taken care of when using one.

Daylights savings time is almost over, which means it will be lighter out later in the morning and into the evening. Although this time can bring some of the best weather of year for us, your car can become damaged by the sun’s harmful UV rays caused by extended hours of sunlight. Over a period of about six months, usually March-September, your car’s exterior and paint can corrode over this time due to the long periods of sunlight it is exposed to.

Your car’s paint finish breathes and even has pores. In the hot sun the paint’s pores expand and can absorb more dirt and moisture. Imagine having to stay outside all day in the beating sun without any sunscreen or shade. Our skin burns, dries out, and takes days or weeks to heal. Similar to skin, over time the exterior of a car can wear down, fade, peel, and rust when exposed to water. There are preventative steps you can take however, to ensure your paint and exterior lasts to its potential.

There are a many products on the market that you can use to both prevent and treat sun damage. One of the most popular products is a rubbing compound used to polish out blemishes. It’s used to remove fine scratches, oxidation, coarse swirl marks, and water spots. There are also polishes and waxes you can use on a regular basis to prevent sun damage from happening to your car. In the case of extreme sun damage, you can re-paint your car, which costs thousands of dollars.

The interior of your car can also be greatly affected by the sun. The sun is attracted to dark material and can severely damage materials like leather. Collapsible sun shades are the most popular type of interior sun protection. They can significantly decrease the temperature of your car and block harmful sunlight. Car window shades are also popular and can be used while driving.

If your car spends a significant amount of time outside, no matter what climate it’s in, you should consider protecting it with a car cover. Not only will a cover protect your car from sun, it will protect it from rain, bird droppings, dust, and mold. By covering your car, you can prevent all kinds of damage at a fraction of the cost it would be to fix it. At Empirecovers.com, our best covers for sun protection are the Max and the Premier. They are both UV treated and will protect against sun for many years. The max comes with a lifetime warranty and the Premier is covered for 5 years. Buy one at Empirecovers.com today and take advantage of our Sun Covers Sale!

As February comes to an end and rolls into March, winter will soon become spring, bringing green leaves, warmer weather, and puddles of melted snow. This is a long awaited event anticipated by those sick of icy roads and snow shoveling all winter long. For some however, the end of winter means reluctantly packing up the snow gear and preparing for the long haul until the next winter’s first snow. Although often overlooked, storing snowmobiles improperly can lead to an unpleasant surprise the following winter.

Tree sap, bird droppings, dirt, sun, rain, and dust can ruin the exterior as well as the engine of a snowmobile. Most of these things can be very hard to clean off, especially if it has been on the snowmobile for multiple months. You can also scratch the finished if you do try to clean it off the snowmobile. If you wait to wash your snowmobile the following winter, ice can build up on the exterior and damage the paint. If the snowmobile is exposed to water, rust can eat away at the finish and do damage to the engine. The sun’s UV rays are harmful to the snowmobile as well because it can break down the softer areas such as the seat. Leave your snowmobile indoors? Mold and mildew can grow, which can be harmful to both the snowmobile, and the air you are storing it in.

An easy way to remedy this is to store it with a cover. Covers can prevent indoor and outdoor toxins from damaging your snowmobile. At Empirecovers.com, we have two durable 100% waterproof covers made out of high quality nylon to keep out dust and other debris. They are also breathable to keep out water, mold, and mildew. Each cover comes with a full elastic hem for a secure fit. The trailerable covers come with 8 straps to secure the cover while towing. And because we stand behind all of our products, our snowmobile covers come with a 2 year warranty. Don’t have a snowmobile? Our covers make great gifts!

Although most winter storms don’t produce this much ice, it is still a hassle getting ice off your car, especially early in the morning when it’s the coldest outside.  There are ways, however, to help make this process a little easier for you.  First, turn your car on and your defroster on low but high heat.   Then, clear the car of any snow.  After that, spray a defrosting solution on the surface of the car.  Lastly, scrape the ice off with a scraper or a credit card.

If scraping is not for you, there are other easier and less time consuming alternatives to this.  A car cover is a great way to prevent ice from building up on your car.  At EmpireCovers.com, we sell covers that will protect specifically from water and snow.  If a layer of ice does build up on the car, you can pour some hot water on your car to melt it.  Check out our selection of covers at Empirecovers.com and end your ice problem today!

Although this is dirty car is being turned into a work of art, most filthy cars don’t make it out so well.  If you are concerned about your car getting dirty, or if want to make sure your paint stays in good condition, then a car covercar cove is for you.  Protect your car in all kinds of weather, whether you need it from snow, rain, or dust like this car, we’ve got you covered.