25th October 2022

As autumn settles in with its shorter days and cold nights we see a noticeable increase in the number of customers looking to protect their vehicles from falling leaves. Most of us enjoyed freshly fallen leaves as children and the fun of ploughing through them on the way to school or the nearest conker tree….. but now as proud car owners they are less desirable!

Besides the danger of sliding on leaves, which can cause your car to slip when driving, leaves do and can scratch paintwork as well as causing some really annoying and preventable damage deep inside your car. Falling leaves can end up on your parked car and settle in drainage points causing blockages and water pools that can be damaging if not cleared quickly. Leaves will also cause damage to the paint if you leave them adhered for a long time. The material found in the fallen leaf includes sap, pollen and acid which are all harmful to paint and may cause permanent damage.

It can be surprisingly difficult to clean leaves and windblown debris from your car and they cause more damage the longer they are left. Chemicals from decaying leaves can cause spots, discolouration and permanent discolouration on your paintwork.  Leaves that are left in air intakes can reduce airflow through the air filter and cause damage. They can also block drainage points that stop surface water from collecting on your vehicle. One of the most annoying things that can result is old, dried out leaves finding their way to your heater blower or A/C unit. Once stuck, they dramatically increase the noise level of the blower and may be very difficult to remove.

To prevent damage to your vehicle it’s incredibly important to make sure that you keep leaves off your car. Here are some of our top tips for car maintenance through the autumn months.

1) Park under cover

If you have access to a garage spot, use it. It will save you cleaning time and will keep the car in much better condition. If your garage space is used for other things and is too full for your car, take some time to clean it out. If you have no garage at all, consider storing your car under a carport or in a sheltered position.

2) Park your car away from trees

We are always vigilant with where we park our vehicles. When the leaves start to drop in your area, try to avoid parking your car under or near trees. This will help to prevent damage and additional car cleaning.

3) Remove leaves and debris regularly

You should make it part of your weekly vehicle checks to remove the leaves and debris from your car. Be sure to lift the bonnet and clean water channels and air intakes regularly. The points where debris gathers invariably remains damp or wet and eventually corrosion will take hold, causing permanent damage. The air intakes are protected by mesh to prevent foreign objects entering the interior. A weekly check to make sure they are not obstructed will keep everything in good order.

4) Wash your car frequently and don't forget to wax

Thorough washing of your car will help remove most of the residues that leaves bring to your car. Therefore regular car washing should help to keep your paintwork in good order. If you don’t enjoy car cleaning, consider visiting the local hand car wash in a nearby supermarket car park. You should also start waxing your car now as the chill of winter is coming. Autumn leaves can stick to a car and ruin it. Waxing will help prevent this.

Autumn is here and this often means your car will collect leaves whilst out and about, even if you do not live near wooded areas. But don't worry! We have car maintenance tips to help you to protect your car and prevent long term damage. We provide several different options for tailored winter car covers that can deal with the colder months. Strong and durable covers are key to car protection during this time of year. If your car is stored outside, the cover should be fully waterproof and breathable or vented.

Our Stormforce covers have a 4-layer construction that is both waterproof and breathable, suitable for frequent and long-term use. The all-season protection offered by the Stormforce cover is one of many reasons that this is our most popular range.

If you are looking for a little more protection, our Apollo range are ultra-robust, fully waterproof covers that are ideal for long-term storage. Apollo covers are Teflon coated allowing water droplets to run freely off the cover.

If you do choose to use a cover, ensure that it is a fully tailored, branded item and that you read the instructions carefully. Car covers appear to be a simple product but actually, thousands of hours of research and development have been undertaken to ensure that your car receives the maximum protection. They offer the next best protection to a permanent garage and will save you hundreds of valuable hours of washing, polishing, dusting and de-icing as well as protecting from paint fade and general wear and tear.  

Coverzone specialise in the design and manufacture of bespoke vehicle covers. We have 1000’s of fully tailored patterns & over 20,000 covers in stock for immediate despatch. Our range caters for most popular vehicles from the 1930’s to date & includes, motorbikes, sports cars, classic cars, city cars, hatchbacks, saloons, estates, limousines, suv’s, 4x4’s, vans and campers.

If you would like more information visit www.cover-zone.com or call us on 01903 764 689.