I'm looking outside and it's cloudy, raining and the leaves on the trees are starting to change colors. Tomorrow we're supposed to have a break in the weather and then another day or two of the wet stuff. I guess that's my signal that it's time to get the vehicles ready to make it through another winter.

I don't know about you, but this tough economy has brought a lot of changes into my neighborhood. I see a lot more cars parked on the street and I'm see families consolidating homes or simply moving out all together. Perhaps they are going to an apartment or moving away for a job. I guess we all do what we must to make it. In these troubled times, don't forget to give a little car to your car. Just a few hours of basic cleaning and protecting will make a lot of difference in how it looks and how long it lasts.

Most people think that summer is the worst season for cars, but winter is the most damaging. If your vehicle is parked outside it gets full exposure 24/7. Snow, hail, freezing rain, road salts and falling debris from trees all chip away at your car's fine finish. Let's not forget the cold, dry air. It quickly dries out plastic, rubber, leather and your paint. It's brutal!

There are some basic steps you can take to help your vehicle make it through the next few months intact. It all starts with cleaning and conditioning.

If it's not already too cold, I recommend a thorough washing followed by detailing clay. If you're not familiar with the detailing clay bar, it's a cleaning tool that quickly and easily removes all of the bonded contamination and junk that built up on your paint and glass over the summer. Simply soap up the paint (or spray with a quick detailer) and gently rub with the clay bar. Your paint will be super slick in a matter of minutes.

You're going to be amazed at the dirt and filth that comes off of your paint. Plus, it's really fast. An average size vehicle can be clayed in about twenty minutes. The result is a super slick surface that ready for your favorite wax. The best part is that your wax will glide on and wipe off easier than ever.

If you're not already using one, you might want to think about upgrading your traditional car wax with a paint sealant. Have you seen the latest clear sealant products? All you do is wipe it on and walk away. That's right, wipe-on and let it dry without buffing or heavy rubbing. The product I recommend is Opti-Seal by Optimum Polymer Technology's. It runs about $24 for a small bottle, but don't let the size fool you. All you need to do a full-size vehicle is about a quarter of an ounce, so it's very thrifty.

Don't forget the tires and trim, too. The cold, dry air is brutal. In winter I suggest a gel because the coating will last longer than regular protectants. Meguiar's Endurance is a good option, and it's available just about everywhere car care products are sold.

After you get the exterior clean and pretty, don't forget to do the same for the interior. You might think it's protected from what's going on outside, but the cold, dry air is brutal. Plus, during the winter months the sun's UV rays have less ozone filtration so cold, clear days are very damaging to the dashboard and upholstery. The easy answer is a quick treatment with 303 Aerospace Protectant. Simply spray and wipe to protect and beautify all of the plastic, leather and vinyl. It works great and no other product is as highly recommended.

The basic winter car care precautions help a lot, but the protectants can only do so much. Car wax and dressings don't offer the same level of protection as a garage or other covered parking. There is another option.

For me the next best thing is keeping my car under wraps with a winter car cover. I ordered the Covercraft Noah because it has the best reputation for being nearly 100% waterproof. It holds its own in rain, snow and icy conditions. All the while your vehicle is safe and dry. Granted, it's not as easy as a garage with an automatic door opener, but the winter car cover is a close second.

Choosing the best car cover for outdoor use can be confusing. You might believe that a cover made for outdoor use would be waterproof, but that's not always the case. To people in the business, "outdoor" really means that it will protect a vehicle in light weather conditions. Waterproof means something completely different. A "waterproof" cover is what you look for when you need protection in all-weather conditions.

This article explains the difference between the many different types of fabrics used to make outdoor and waterproof car covers. With more than twenty different fabric names in common use, it is not only difficult to remember what is what, it is also challenging to determine what is best for your particular situation.

We'll use the top two factories in the USA, Coverking and Covercraft, and point out the major differences between waterproof fabrics and those that are merely for outdoor use. Other factories offer some decent materials, but these are the top names in the business. For ease of evaluation, you'll discover that both companies use a 1-5 star rating system to evaluate the capability of each material for a particular condition.

As mentioned above, an outdoor cover fabric is really only designed to offer fair weather protection. It's definitely not for heavy, wet weather, and it may not provide full UV protection. As a basic example, Coverking's Triguard material has three layers of protection, but it's only effective against partial exposure. That means it works pretty well if you garage your automobile most of the time and simply want to be covered when you park around town. It's also a pretty good fabric for full-time use outside if you have shelter from a carport, because it can't take a daily pounding from the sun.

By contrast, the Silverguard material is a UV tolerant material that's perfect for everyday on the street or in the driveway, because the fabric can withstand constant exposure to the sun. This makes it ideal for use in warm, sunny climates, but again, not for long periods of exposure to precipitation. The Sunbrella fabric offers similar qualities.

A nice step up from the Silverguard or Sunbrella fabric is Covercraft's Block-It. It is very capable in all-weather conditions, including extended rain. The four layer polypropylene system is not 100% waterproof, but it's darn close. What it offers is great breath-ability. That means any small amount of moisture that does make it through the fabric or past the seams will be able to evaporate without causing any issues. Plus, this is a material that works indoors, as well. Many people use it as a dust cover because of the impact protection provided by the thickness. If you have a busy house with kids and pets, it's ideal.

When you talk about needing 100% waterproofing, you have to look for a cover that claims all-weather protection. What this basically means is that it can withstand extended periods of rain fall, drizzle, fog, salt air, snow and ice. The material most commonly associated with these qualities is Noah.

Created by the Kimberly-Clark company for Covercraft, Noah was the first true waterproof system. One of the qualities making it so unique is its weight. At just 4.45 ounces per square yard, it's super light weight making it easy to handle, fold and stow. It's an all-weather champion, too. The watertight capability is enhanced by its ability to breathe and block UV light. It's a champ in the South, North, East and West. When you require serious all-weather protection, put Noah on your evaluation list.

Not to be over-looked, Stormproof by Coverking is the latest in modern microfiber technology. It uses yarn with fibers so small that water can't get past the weave, yet moisture vapors under the cove pass through with ease. Unlike older fabrics treated with water repellant chemicals, Stormproof does not need a coating so its water repelling capabilities don't wear off. Lesser fabrics will fail after a season or two unless you treat the fabric again. The big surprise is the super soft, plush feel. It's amazing!

Before you make your final selection, be sure to check off all of the boxes. There's a big difference between outdoor and waterproof car covers. Make sure you get the right material for your climate and use conditions.

While the cost of a new economy car continues to follow inflation, the prices on luxury sedans, coupes and sports cars is going through the roof. More than ever, proper car care and protection is a necessity in order to retain as much residual value as possible. Come trade-in time, every luxury car owner will face a thorough evaluation of their vehicle before the purchase or trade. If you have not taken the proper precautions you will face expensive reconditioning services or a lower resale value. Why not start protecting your vehicle from day one with a cover? Custom car covers help avoid all sorts of damage while the car is garaged or parked.

To see how using a cover will affect the resale value of your automobile you need to understand how the used car industry valuates cars. In most cases, buyers and sellers alike use the information published by Kelly Blue Book (KBB). The "Blue Book" value of any automobile is based on a condition grade of poor, fair, good or excellent. From research I've conducted on KBB, each grade your vehicle looses on its exterior condition will cost you around 5%. On a high value vehicle, that can really add up fast.

I think we can all agree that the Mercedes-Benz brand is renowned for its superior luxury and quality. It may not be your brand of choice, but indulge me while I use it as an example. Take a 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 sedan, if all other conditions are the same, a specimen in "excellent" exterior condition will bring $2,100 more than an identical car that's presented in "good" exterior condition. I discovered many other models with greater variances, including a Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG Coupe. When the vehicle is perfect all the way around it can bring $98,530. However, if the AMG's exterior condition falls to "good" the price drops by a wallet punishing $4,900. Making it hurt all the more is when you realize it's just a few door dings and parking lot scratches that made the difference.

Before you head off to your local auto parts store to look at covers, know this. All you will find are ready-fit products. The price is right, but I suggest you do your research before you even consider one. My personal experience with ready-fit car covers is that they can do more harm than good. I've had a lot of cars (thirty-two at last count) and all but my Bronco and trucks have had a Covercraft or Coverking. Let me explain why.

Not only are these the top two brands, but they are right here in the USA producing jobs. I like that. What you get for your money is quality, computer controlled construction, using only the very best fabrics. A perfect fit for your vehicle is guaranteed. A ready-fit hangs on a car like a sack. Custom-fit is pattern-perfect and snug so it shows off the beautiful lines of your vehicle. It's the snug fit that prevents the possibility of damage to the paintwork.

While your local car dealer can order a "factory original" car cover for you, I promise you that it's not the same quality. The real issue is that your dealer can only offer you one fabric choice. If one fabric was suitable to all climate conditions, I guess that would be okay, but it's not. If UV protection from the sun is your only concern, a factory cover might do the job, but it's not really the premium quality your luxury car or sports car deserves.

For your luxury car you need a custom-fit Coverking or Covercraft cover. It's the right choice and I know you will be thankful for the incredible selection of fabrics. You can choose a material for indoor, outdoor, waterproof or a mixture of conditions. And, let me tell you, the fit and good looks are second to none. If you're a car enthusiast, you might even want to color coordinate or take advantage of special features, like racing stripes. It's all possible when you go custom.

Attention ladies. Are you stumped trying to find the perfect gift for a man who has everything? A custom-fit car cover is a great gift. I speak from experience, because I still have mine. I received it as a holiday present over ten years ago and I still use it. Trust me on this suggestion. If your man is a car guy like me, he will love receiving one as a gift for his favored car.

If you're considering giving one as gift for Christmas, Valentines Day or even a Birthday, think about where and how he will use it. If your guy pampers his car and tucks it away in the garage before going to bed, what he needs is an indoor car cover. If he drives a two door coupe or sports car, remember that storage space is tight, so a heavy 4-layer cover will be an issue. If he needs protection for outdoor parking, be sure to compare fabrics that work both indoors and out.

In all cases, consider a locking cable and a storage bag. The locking cable helps with theft protection. You will sleep better at night knowing both car and cover are safe and sound.

Custom car covers are one of the few car accessories that will keep your luxury car in excellent condition. Most late model luxury cars, including Lexus, Porsche or Audi, decreases in value by 5% or more when the exterior condition falls from "excellent" to "good". With a few minor door dings or paint scratches your car will no longer be excellent. If you keep it covered while parked it will remain protected from most of the hazards that bump, scrape, fade, scratch and chip away at the fine finish.

Have you tried polishing a car by hand lately? If you have, you might think your car polish is defective when the real issue is your vehicle's paint. That's because automotive paint finishes have become much harder in the past few years, allowing them to last longer and resist scratching and chipping like never before.

The solution is a tool that's been around for nearly two decades, the Porter Cable 7424. It's a buffer polisher that car enthusiasts have known about for years, and now it's spreading to garages all across America and the world. The reason it's so loved is that it makes easy work out of most minor coat problems, even if you have one of the new high-tech ceramic finishes.

The original Porter Cable Polisher and the new 7424xp are dual-action polishers. What this means is that the polishing head rotates (free-spins on its spindle) and orbits (powered by the motor) around the center spindle. A mass counterweight mechanism on the spindle dampens vibrations. This polishing action, often referred to as "random orbital" or just "orbital," totally prevents symmetrical buffing marks, paint burns and the other types of automotive finish damage that people associate with high-speed buffing machines. That means if you use the polisher as intended it's virtually impossible to damage your car, even with no experience.

As I mentioned, the Porter Cable (or "PC") is a dual-action polisher and it works like circular hand polishing. The big difference is that works at a speed of 2,500 to 6,000 orbits every minute. That's how this machine knocks out scratches and swirl marks with ease. You'd have to have Superman waxing your car to do it better.

You might be skeptical if you have tried or owned an inexpensive car waxer. Trust me, they are not the same thing. A waxer will spread wax, sure enough, but they are not designed for polishing. They simply don't have the power or the correct type of attachments. The Porter Cable car polisher has the power you need to do the job and it's easy to handle so you won't get tired.

There is a secret to getting top results with a dual action polisher. It's very important to use the right combination of polish and foam polishing pad. For the most part, you'll find foam polishing pads in three levels of coarseness: cutting, polishing and finishing. Cutting pads are what you use to remove damage. After cutting, you use a polishing pad to restore full gloss. The finishing pad has not polishing qualities at all. It's very soft and used to apply liquid waxes and glazes.

Polishing pads do not work alone. The actual work is performed by polish and you need to match the function of each polish with the appropriate pad. Polishes have different grades of cut, just like the pads. For example, a polishing compound is a cutting polish that removes damage. A compound that can take out 2000 to 2500 grit sanding scratches will do a pretty good job on heavy swirls marks and most water spot etching problems.

If you're confused about which polish to use to remove swirl marks, fine scratches and water spots, let me recommend Meguiar's Ultimate Compound. It's probably the best consumer grade product available today, and it's easy to find at your local auto parts store.

After using Meguiar's Ultimate Compound you might be fooled into thinking you're finished. That's because your paint will look great. Trust me, though, you're not finished. If you take your car out in the sunlight you'll see a slight haze in the clear coat. You can easily finish the job with a fine polish. The car polish I recommend for this job is Klasse All-In-One. This been around for a long time and it makes cars shine like crazy.

If you have a dull paint finish caused by swirl marks, scratches and water spots, the best solution is a Porter Cable 7424. It's the best buffer polisher on the market today. Don't be fooled by the cheap buffer polisher imitations make in China. Buy American!

Do you pamper your car, truck or SUV with a car cover? It needs to be considered by every new vehicle or collector car owner. Premium covers come with full warranties. With proper care they will last four or more years with constant use. One way to look at it is the average yearly cost. With proper care it costs $40 to $100 per year, but that's insignificant compared to the amount it saves you in vehicle restoration expenses or reduced vehicle resale value.

Choosing the best car cover for your climate and use needs is crucial. Be prepared to do some research, because there are numerous considerations to make. As an example, if you garage your car you will most likely need an indoor cover for dust, but when you park on the street you need outdoor protection. That's not all. Climate is also important, including winter weather conditions. You need to consider all factors.

A custom car cover for an average size car starts at about $175. On very large automobiles they can cost as much as $500, so be sure to do your homework and get the right one the first time. You are well advised to investigate the type of fabric that works best for your situation.

It may be necessary for you to make a few trade-offs in the material. If you can't do that, then be prepared to buy one for indoor use and another for outdoor use. The reason I say this is because a waterproof car cover is not conducive to indoor use. They are very bulky. The trade-off here is to pick a fabric that's breathable and light enough to use inside and has the ability to hold up to outdoor use in mild weather.

Still shopping for the product that's right for you? I feel for you. The wide selection of fabrics makes it a difficult decision. Let me assure you that doing the research is well worth the effort. Taking the time to understand how each fabric works to protect your car will help you.

It's time to change the subject just a little, because I have a question for you. Do you know when you should and shouldn't be covering a vehicle? There's one mistake I see lots of folks make, and it's covering a dirty car. I'm not talking about a very fine coat of dust, either. That's no big deal. On the other hand, when the outside of the car is grungy and you cover-up, your paint will start to look like the body shop guy took sand paper to it.

There's a simple solution. Here's what works best for me, and it's really easy. I dust my car with a California Car Duster. Have you ever seen one? They are fantastic. All it takes is one or two minutes and the dust and light dirt are gone. No kidding.

The way you use the duster is just like a Swiffer in the house. Shake it out before use, start at the top and dust away. You might be thinking you're too busy to do it, but let me tell you that it's actually a time-saver. It's quick and it keeps your car clean which reduces soap and water washing. That's a good thing, right?

In case you are concerned about the duster scratching your vehicle, I can promise you that it won't. With twenty-five years of use I've never had a problem, even on my black cars. That's because the dust mop is saturated in paraffin wax at the factory. The paraffin makes the mop work like a dust magnet. It works!

Here's something else that makes me clinch my teeth. It's watching most people put a cover on. Am I the only one, or have you seen people do this, too. I'm talking about the car cover jerks. Those are the guys who grab a corner and give it a good yank. No folding, either. It gets wadded up and tossed in the trunk. Being someone who appreciates automobiles, it makes me sad to see.

A car cover is made from yards and yards of fabric. When you take the time to neatly fold it and stow it properly, there's no issue. When you don't stow and use it properly you are forced to spin it around, slide it and twirl it all over the surface of your car. All of that swirling and twirling on the paintwork make swirl marks and causes light scratches. Removing them will cost you time and money.

There is a better way to do it that's fast and easy. It starts with a simple folding technique while the cover is on the automobile. Begin at the front by flipping the front edge towards the rear in meat folds that are approximately 12" to 18" wide. When you reach the middle, go to the back end and start folding from the rear to the middle. At this point you have a run of fabric that's neatly folded and you can roll it. Begin rolling on the passenger side and avoid sliding. Finishing on the driver's side and store your neat bundle.

To put it back on the automobile again, simply toss the bundle from the driver's side across while you hold the loose end. Next, unfold to the rear, then unfold to the front and secure the elastic. All that's required is a slight adjustment; never sliding or spinning to get it in place.

This brings me to the next point, and you might already be thinking about it. I'm talking about windy weather, and it brings with it the same issues as sliding the fabric over the surface, only worse. Be sure to be uncovered in windy weather. That's not to say you should be concerned about a light breeze. That isn't an issue. What you need to concern yourself with is sustained winds in excess of 20 MPH. Winds that high can cause very bad scuffing on your clear coat. Can you imagine the damage your paintwork will have if sand or dirt gets underneath from the wind?

There are some precautions you can take for light wind. In these cases I suggest using a wind control device to make sure the edges stay snug and secure. You'll need to follow the instructions for proper use. Each of the wind control mechanisms is a bit different.

Speaking of dirt under the cover, a dirty one is no different that having a dirty automobile. The ten dollar question is how do you clean it? One thing I know for sure, and that's it takes a commercial size washer to do it. Just be sure to use a tumble washer, because an agitator could cause damage and it's not covered by warranty.

There is one other way, and it's my preferred method. Plus, it's so simple and easy. The secret is to wash it while it's on your vehicle. Just make sure you use some common sense and wash the car beforehand. Then slip it on as usual and start washing with a bucket of car wash shampoo and your wash mitt. When the outside is clean, flip it over so you can wash the inside. Rinse it well and allow it to drip-dry for a while before you put it in the dryer on medium heat.

If you use one already, I hope what you have read has helped you to be a better car cover owner. If you don't use a custom car cover yet, they are one of the few car accessories that will keep your car in pristine condition. You just have to remember to maintain it and use it properly.