I've not used my cover. In the past I did on another car and typically if you just roll it off the car so that the outside(dusty) part is to the inside of the roll and reverse process when you put it back on, shouldn't be a problem, in other words don't just bunch it up.

 

I never thought about washing it. It doesn't look like it would hold up well in the washer. So I get another person and shake it out really good, fold it and put it back in the bag. Haven't had an problems YET.

 

I believe it's an indoor car cover
meaning it's not designed to be exposed to the elements

 

This.

A large (apartment or office building) garage is sort of a no-man's land between indoor and outdoor. But even a private garage with more than one vehicle, will get its fair share of dust.

Problem with simply rolling the cover up, is that the dusty outside layer will roll up against the clean inner layer (that's what rolling does). So you'd be better off to remove it with two people, and then fold it in half (so inner side is against inner side) first, then roll. Or fold the two sides up to the centre of the roof, then roll it up from back to front. No way is perfect, and any movement of the cover threatens to leave a mark in the soft Alfa paint (I have used the latter technique on my other car, but haven't bothered covering the 4C yet). I don't know first hand how washer-safe this cover is.

My other car's cover is supposed to be hosed down while on the car. To me, that will completely negate the benefits of covering it in the first place. Which is why I don't cover my cars much - even in winter storage.

 

I looked online and they say to wash in a large industrial washer not does not have a center agitator - will try the shake, then fold in half then roll technique

 

Works for me at the urinal.

 

Good one.

 

So once I return at the end of the week and take the cover off...I assume it's not ok to just roll it up and re use the cover without washing it? All that dust gets caught up in the layers and I imagine would scratch the paint. So what do you guys do and how often do you wash the cover? I guess I could use a duster and take off as much of the outer layer of dust as possible before removing the cover?

If possible, a better solution than washing might be to blow the dust off the cover with compressed air?

 

Kaz, you need an outdoor cover with holes to tread rope through and prevent it from getting blown off in high wind conditions. Covercraft makes very good quality form fit covers. The stock cover is a very nice indoor cover (same company that makes it for Ferrari) and prolonged exposure to the elements can cause irreversible damage to the cover.

 

Oh it's much more "inside" than that. There's no chance of outside wind reaching the car as its quite far from the exposed area. It's just not a private 2 car garage - more issue of dust than anything nothing like rain or wind could reach it.

 

I store my car indoors for the winter, but it is in a building that does get dusty. I have the Alfa cover on my car with a cheap cover on top of it to prevent the dust from building up on the Alfa cover as quickly.

 

Mine has been on since November (Canada is awesome... albeit cold). When I started my car a few weeks ago I just folded it up on itself and left the cover on the roof as it wasn't that dusty. When I take it off for good, I plan on using a spray bottle of water and microfiber towels to wipe down the cover while it's on the car.

As an aside: when I got in my Alfa after it had spent a month under the cover, I noticed an odd stale odor in the cabin (no air filter, awesome) so I left one of those baking soda odor eater boxes on the floor of the passenger seat. If it can keep your fridge fresh why not a car, eh?

 

As an aside: when I got in my Alfa after it had spent a month under the cover, I noticed an odd stale odor in the cabin (no air filter, awesome) so I left one of those baking soda odor eater boxes on the floor of the passenger seat. If it can keep your fridge fresh why not a car, eh?

Excellent suggestion.
That's why they suggest storing any car with one or both windows cracked open a touch - also removes trapped humidity.

 

It was unseasonably warm in Toronto again yesterday, which means I couldn't possibly resist the temptation to take the 4C out for a quick run to blow some of the dust off It was wet so nothing too spirited - only a few tail wags. Love this car.

 

Wow, so I actually pulled the cover out of the bag and put it on the car today. THis is a VERY NICE cover!!

 

Car covers usually do more harm than good. Others have explained quite nicely how to use and care for the cover.

Our cover is one of the nicest covers you can find. It is best used for long term storage in a relatively clean environment to keep dust off the car.

Yes, for best results, wash and dry the car just before covering.

 

Didn't have any plan to use the car cover but it seems one our cats decided to sneak in the garage when my wife opened the door, got bored when he found himself locked in there and decided to walk on the hood (no cover). Fortunately just some very faint scratches which buffed out but, as I've done with most of my other cars I'll just lay it on top of the car for protection against another instance.

 

Today was my monthly 4C "idle in the underground." The cover was filthy, so I wiped it down on the car with wet microfiber cloths. It worked well. However, I noticed that some dust got under the cover. It's a rather porous polyester that's designed to breathe, and my underground parking is filthy with very fine dust. Overall, I think it's a good cover but you should expect to wash your car after taking it off.

In other news, my baking soda idea worked. The interior of my 4C smells great.

 

Along with the odor eliminator idea have you tried the OEM 'New Alfa smell' odour card?