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!

During this time of year, old man winter always gives us the harsh reminder that getting into our car and on the to the road is hard work. If you’re sick of shoveling snow, then this ski car would be a great investment!  Set on two giant wheels in the back and a ski in the front, this contraption allows you to drive over any kind of terrain, especially snow.  No need to shovel your self out of your driveway, just hope in a go!

Last Tuesday, Empirecovers.com went to the Philadelphia Auto show to check out the latest and greatest the auto industry has to offer in 2010.  The following blogs are going to highlight some of the different vehicles that were on display.  Overall, the car show had many different cars in all shapes, sizes, and MPGs.  Yes, MPGs  seems to be the top priority of the Auto companies, according to the concept cars and new models on the floor.  Some of the new models were electric cars, which require a plug in for electricity.  Others were hybrids that a more sophisticated than their predecessors.  Some of the most impressive cars included Dodge’s new Challenger and the Corvette Sting Ray.

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!

Check out this unique ride. The body is all fiberglass and it’s all fully customized and ready to ride. The paint is hand rubbed which gives it an amazing shine. If this was my ride I’d be sure to protect it with a car cover. I’m sure they get a ton of attention while driving around town.