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4 Minute Read

Ready your vehicle for spring with tips from Windrush’s indoor car storage team

Posted by - Tim Earnshaw on 18 March 2024
Categories: Advice, Tips & Tricks
Windrush-supercar-storage

Just as there’s an essential checklist when putting your vehicle into covered car storage for winter, so there’s an art to reintroducing your pride and joy onto the road. Read on for Windrush’s expert advice on preparing your car for spring.

It’s always a glorious moment when the first rays of spring sunshine puncture the gloom of winter – and especially so for car enthusiasts with withdrawal symptoms from their pride and joy. We trust you’ve followed our advice on bedding down your car for winter – or, even better, enlisted Windrush’s indoor car storage service. But as the days grow longer and warmer, there’s also a right way to return your car to the road. Here’s a checklist from the experts at Windrush car storage in London.

Check the tyres

optimise-your-tyre-pressure-main-large-1663337250

As we’ve said before, when putting a car into storage, it’s wise to increase the tyre pressure by as much as 50%. Naturally, you’ll want to correct this before taking to the roads, returning the levels to the manufacturer-recommended PSI. While you’re focused on the tyres, quickly measure the tread to ensure you’re still safe and legal.

Check all fluid levels

windrush_london_oct2019_060_9206-1.jpg?w=1024&h=683&scale

Don’t even start the engine until you’ve checked all fluid levels. Of course, you’ll want to make sure your awakening car has sufficient oil – but depending on what you’re driving, also establish the status of your antifreeze, power steering fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid (in an automatic) and windscreen washer fluid.

Check battery health

what-happens-if-you-dont-trickle-charge-your-battery-2

At Windrush, we keep a close eye on each client’s battery during long term car storage, using professional battery conditioners to keep the heart of your vehicle healthy. If you’re returning to your car after a long spell off the road, be sure to check the status of your own battery, giving it a slow charge if necessary.

Check cockpit controls

exceptions-to-the-rule-main-large

You don’t want to be travelling at 60mph when you discover that some of your vital cockpit controls aren’t working. Turn the key for the first time in a safe environment like your driveway and run through the core functionalities like horn, headlights and indicators. Treat the process almost as if the car was going for an MOT.

Scan the dashboard lights

Ancillary Systems

When you start the engine after a long time off the road, look out for any alert icons that appear on the instrument display – especially the engine management light that warns of anything from a faulty sensor to a misfire. As a finishing touch, set the clock to Daylight Saving Time – there’s nothing more annoying than having to mentally add an hour whenever you’re in the car.  

Add fresh fuel

full-tank-of-fuel-for-long-term-car-storage

Petrol degrades when a vehicle lies idle, and if you followed our advice last winter, you’ll hopefully have introduced high octane rated fuel and a quality fuel stabiliser. As an added measure, when you bring the vehicle back to the land of the living, top it up with fresh fuel (ideally E5) to avoid the frustrating lack of power associated with cars that have spent a long period off the road.

Gently wash the car

Car-wash-classic-car-storage

A vital step in Windrush’s indoor car storage service is giving your car a professional wash and dry before the big sleep. The quality car covers we use mean each client’s car is still gleaming months later, and it’s a good idea to use car covers at home too. But if you’re storing your car in a domestic garage, you’ll want to give it a thorough clean before taking the road to remove any built-up dust.

Check the paperwork

Maintain_windrush_Check

For many owners, out of sight means out of mind, and it’s easy to overlook your vehicle’s documentation. Before you blow off the cobwebs, be sure to check the big three – tax, insurance and MOT – have been taken care of. Alternatively, simply enlist Windrush’s indoor car storage and let us fill in the forms so you don’t have to.

Indoor car storage that goes the extra mile

Windrush_London-9771.jpg?w=1024&h=683&scale

The checklist above will give you a good steer on preparing your car for spring – but the easiest option is always to choose Windrush’s indoor car storage. We’re famous for our induction programme (which includes everything from a professional wash to luxurious covered car storage) and renowned for the ongoing maintenance schedule that keeps your vehicle on point throughout its stay – you can read more about the benefits of indoor car storage versus outdoor car storage in our blog.

But did you know that Windrush can also take care of every last detail when you’re ready to stretch your car’s legs? Whenever the fancy takes you, just let the team know and we’ll attend to everything your vehicle needs before departure – right down to setting the time on the dashboard clock. It’s all part of the service.

Email the Windrush team to ask about our covered car storage in London and the Cotswolds. We’re ready to help you on info@windrushcarstorage.co.uk.

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Once you have thoroughly washed your vehicle it is important to consider how to dry it in the correct manner. Drying options: Allow the vehicle to air dry. Downside of this is that the finish can be poor due to smears and water spots left behind on the bodywork when in an area of hard water. To get around this water filters can be fitted to the water you use to rinse the vehicle with. Results of this method are usually pretty poor. Use a ‘rubber blade’ to remove excess water. This can be a fast way of removing excess water from a vehicle by ‘squeegeeing’, however very dangerous too. Any grit left on the paintwork post wash and rinse, can be dragged across the bodywork scratching it in the process. This can be avoided by rinsing the vehicle thoroughly post wash and then after each gentle ‘sweep’ of the blade, running the rubber blade between your finger and thumb to clean the working edge before placing back onto the bodywork. This drying method is not recommended due to the high risk of scratching. Leather dry. Either with a genuine leather chamois or with a modern man made synthetic alternatively. At Windrush Car Storage we have found that the synthetic type can hold more water and therefore produce a better finish than the more traditional natural leather chamois. Drawback of using leathers is that if not enough time has been spent thoroughly washing and rinsing the vehicle dirt and grit can me smeared across the vehicle body scratching the paintwork. Leathers can also become water laden very quickly and therefore require wringing out several times when drying even one vehicle. Microfibre dry. Many professional detailers will insist on using microfibre towels to ‘pat dry’ the bodywork. This can be time consuming. However it is very gentle to the paintwork and produces excellent results. Forced air dry. Not generally available for all due to the cost of the specialist equipment. A machine blows air through a nozzle (essentially reverse of a vacuum cleaner). Good results but can be slow and expensive to buy. Used by professional detailers. The Windrush Car Storage recommended drying method: At Windrush Car Storage we have found like most things it is usually the methods which take the longest which produce the best results. Our preferred drying method is by using specialist microfibre drying towels to pat dry the bodywork after thoroughly washing and rinsing a vehicle. These specialist microfibre towels are soft, have an ultra-deep pile and are capable of absorbing many times their own weight in water. The large size of these towels mean that you can dry most cars without needing to wring it out even once. The ultra-soft fibres significantly reduce the risk of causing surface marring when the towel is drawn across painted surfaces. A feature of good quality drying towels is that they are seamless and tag-free, which further reduces the risk of marking the paint. The Windrush drying method: This is best done in a panel-by-panel basis to systematically dry the vehicle and produce excellent, streak free results. Vehicle panel drying order (top down method): Roof Windows Mirrors Bonnet Boot Doors Bumpers Door-shuts Wheels Now that the vehicle is dry you need to decide if that is enough for now or if you would like to go on and condition and nourish the vehicle.
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On or off-street, multi-storey car parking or those fortunate enough with private garaging cater for many of the many cars in London. Whether classic, prestige or an everyday car you don’t use everyday, all cars need to be cared for when you’re not using them. Living in London can create time, space and security concerns when it comes to looking after your pride and joy in London. Professional car storage companies provide services catering for all areas, especially London, offering affordable and easy solutions. Here are some of the reasons why it’s important to consider professional car storage in and around London. Security One of the main concerns of car ownership in London I would say is the security of your car for both theft and damage. We’ve all seen cars keyed; number plates torn off or cabriolet roofs torn parked at the side of the street and winced. What can you do? Private Garaging Whilst a private garage in London might protect your pride and joy from vandalism, the elements including tree sap, leaves and bird droppings, it will only keep it dry and out of direct sunlight. There is a lot more to maintaining a vehicle in tiptop condition than simply parking indoors, especially when considering classic car storage. We need to consider the environment, flat batteries and time to manage these. Flat Batteries When you’re not using your car in London another aspect to consider is how well your car ages whilst not is use, as bizarre as it might sound; cars are designed to be used. Long term car storage at your home may create some unwanted, and frustrating problems if you leave the car unattended and unused for a long period of time. A lack of use can create problems with batteries going flat, tyres developing flat spots and the cars ancillary systems developing faults, including air conditioning systems developing funny smells. Time vs. care Living in London also has its time constraints and can limit how we maintain and care for our cars. We are all very busy with our own lives and often overlook when our car may need a service, MOT, taxing or repairs undertaken. Whilst some garages offer a collection and delivery service, this still requires our input to monitor and manage these intervals and take time out to make appointments with the relevant supplier. The Solution; Professional Car Storage Companies A viable alternative would be to keep your car with a professional car storage company. These companies often have secure, locked and alarmed facilities, and offer a wide range of expertise when catering for clients of all needs from short term to long term car storage and everyday to classic car storage. Storage areas are often climate controlled to prevent rust forming without drying tyres and leather excessively. Batteries can be connected to automatic battery conditioners and regular exercise programs to counter potential lack of use problems, which can occur often with long term car storage at home without the appropriate attention. Exercising the car creates similar conditions to using the car but within a safe environment using an indoor rolling road. Wheel bearings and tyres are rotated with brakes used and air conditioning systems turned on lubricating themselves avoiding the nasty smell linked to a lack of use. Trusted car storage companies can be given a spare key for the car so even after a weekend of fun with your pride and joy they can collect from your chosen location with their transporter, return to their facilities and take care of everything from routine services through to full restorations without eating into your time. Photographic updates of progress can be emailed to clients without the hassle of chasing contractors and arranging work yourself. Summary With many car storage companies based within a two hour drive of central London they make for a fantastic excuse for a trip out of the capital and a pub lunch in glorious surroundings. With secure, climate controlled facilities, exercise programs and an array of services caring for your car on offer its easy to see why people are increasingly trusting their pride and joy with the professionals. If you’re pressed for time many companies offer collection and delivery services to suit you. A professional car storage company can save you valuable time and maintain your pride and joy with the utmost care and attention. Windrush Car Storage look after many clients who are from London. Based in the heart of London and the Cotswolds, we specialise in the storage of all types of prestige, classic and everyday cars, from short term to long term car storage.
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Whilst everyone will most likely be keen to keep their pride and joy in pristine shape, not everyone has access to a custom made indoor car storage solution. Some of us have plenty of external space but little indoor space, or for those of us with indoor space it can often be affected by several factors from humidity to light. With that being said, what options are there for outdoor vs indoor car storage, and which is ultimately superior? Outdoor Car Storage Let’s begin at the most common starting point – outdoor car covers. Characterised by harder wearing, thicker materials and anchoring points to keep your car under cover in all weathers, these are available at a variety of price points and as with most products in the car world you do get what you pay for. The most important feature of all in an outdoor car cover is its physical composition, a point far more important than aesthetics. Multilayer fabrics are crucial as they allow air to circulate and prevent trapped air and moisture beneath the cover. Although it may sound slightly counter intuitive at first, a 100% water resistant cover will not allow any circulation. Look for a well fitting, highly UV and water resistant outdoor cover with multilayer fabrics and properly considered straps to prevent material movement and scratching of your paintwork beneath. For those with a bit more space, or seeking a more permanent solution, outdoor tents or gazebos often referred to as ‘carports’ are now very commonly available even at high street DIY stores. These semi-permanent structures use metal frames and a choice of various roof materials from plastic to metal and even wood, either mounted off the ground of using a wall for support. The main advantage of these is ease of use – simply drive in and drive out and your car is under cover without any hassle or removal of covers and such like. Realistically these do not offer a whole lot of real world protection, often with exposed side sections which do not entirely protect your vehicle from the elements, and are therefore aimed more at daily drivers than cherished classics. But for such cherished classics there is the option of the outdoor Carcoon, or ‘bubble’, which are variants of the popular indoor AirChambers used by Windrush. The pros to this are clean, filtered air surrounding your car, with nothing touching the paintwork, as well as superior protection from UV and moisture deterioration. These are however a more expensive option, and also rely on a nearby power source to run them as well as suitable outdoor space for them. Indoor Car Storage For indoor car storage, a standard Air Chambers is easy to erect, economical to run (typically around 20 pounds per year) and simple to use. Twin fans force up to 50,000 litres of clean, filtered air across every surface of your vehicle evaporating moisture and banishing condensation. Free standing with an internal supporting frame allows you to easily access your pride and joy by opening zipped access panels at the front or side of the AirChamber. Absolutely nothing touching your cars paintwork, which is a big advantage, but be conscious of the space required as well as access to power. If you have slightly less space available, or are looking for a more cost effective solution, investing in a quality indoor car cover will go a long way. As we’ve covered in our section on choosing the right car cover, the key attributes to look for are well fitting, breathable, non-hydroscopic, dust proof and non-scratch materials. For most applications, a good quality cover in an indoor space is a perfect solution for most, provided that indoor environment is correct. As to what creates the target environment for car storage, this comes down to a combination of heating, ventilation and dehumidification. In summary, there are a number of solutions for both outdoor and indoor car storage to suit your requirements. It’s no secret that an indoor setting with the target environment is the preference when storing your vehicle, but if you are going down the outdoor route there are solutions available.
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    Read Article
    On or off-street, multi-storey car parking or those fortunate enough with private garaging cater for many of the many cars in London. Whether classic, prestige or an everyday car you don’t use everyday, all cars need to be cared for when you’re not using them. Living in London can create time, space and security concerns when it comes to looking after your pride and joy in London. Professional car storage companies provide services catering for all areas, especially London, offering affordable and easy solutions. Here are some of the reasons why it’s important to consider professional car storage in and around London. Security One of the main concerns of car ownership in London I would say is the security of your car for both theft and damage. We’ve all seen cars keyed; number plates torn off or cabriolet roofs torn parked at the side of the street and winced. What can you do? Private Garaging Whilst a private garage in London might protect your pride and joy from vandalism, the elements including tree sap, leaves and bird droppings, it will only keep it dry and out of direct sunlight. There is a lot more to maintaining a vehicle in tiptop condition than simply parking indoors, especially when considering classic car storage. We need to consider the environment, flat batteries and time to manage these. Flat Batteries When you’re not using your car in London another aspect to consider is how well your car ages whilst not is use, as bizarre as it might sound; cars are designed to be used. Long term car storage at your home may create some unwanted, and frustrating problems if you leave the car unattended and unused for a long period of time. A lack of use can create problems with batteries going flat, tyres developing flat spots and the cars ancillary systems developing faults, including air conditioning systems developing funny smells. Time vs. care Living in London also has its time constraints and can limit how we maintain and care for our cars. We are all very busy with our own lives and often overlook when our car may need a service, MOT, taxing or repairs undertaken. Whilst some garages offer a collection and delivery service, this still requires our input to monitor and manage these intervals and take time out to make appointments with the relevant supplier. The Solution; Professional Car Storage Companies A viable alternative would be to keep your car with a professional car storage company. These companies often have secure, locked and alarmed facilities, and offer a wide range of expertise when catering for clients of all needs from short term to long term car storage and everyday to classic car storage. Storage areas are often climate controlled to prevent rust forming without drying tyres and leather excessively. Batteries can be connected to automatic battery conditioners and regular exercise programs to counter potential lack of use problems, which can occur often with long term car storage at home without the appropriate attention. Exercising the car creates similar conditions to using the car but within a safe environment using an indoor rolling road. Wheel bearings and tyres are rotated with brakes used and air conditioning systems turned on lubricating themselves avoiding the nasty smell linked to a lack of use. Trusted car storage companies can be given a spare key for the car so even after a weekend of fun with your pride and joy they can collect from your chosen location with their transporter, return to their facilities and take care of everything from routine services through to full restorations without eating into your time. Photographic updates of progress can be emailed to clients without the hassle of chasing contractors and arranging work yourself. Summary With many car storage companies based within a two hour drive of central London they make for a fantastic excuse for a trip out of the capital and a pub lunch in glorious surroundings. With secure, climate controlled facilities, exercise programs and an array of services caring for your car on offer its easy to see why people are increasingly trusting their pride and joy with the professionals. If you’re pressed for time many companies offer collection and delivery services to suit you. A professional car storage company can save you valuable time and maintain your pride and joy with the utmost care and attention. Windrush Car Storage look after many clients who are from London. Based in the heart of London and the Cotswolds, we specialise in the storage of all types of prestige, classic and everyday cars, from short term to long term car storage.
  • outdoor-vs-indoor-car-storage-main-original-1-scaled.jpg?w=1024&h=768&scale
    3 Minute Read

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    Read Article
    Whilst everyone will most likely be keen to keep their pride and joy in pristine shape, not everyone has access to a custom made indoor car storage solution. Some of us have plenty of external space but little indoor space, or for those of us with indoor space it can often be affected by several factors from humidity to light. With that being said, what options are there for outdoor vs indoor car storage, and which is ultimately superior? Outdoor Car Storage Let’s begin at the most common starting point – outdoor car covers. Characterised by harder wearing, thicker materials and anchoring points to keep your car under cover in all weathers, these are available at a variety of price points and as with most products in the car world you do get what you pay for. The most important feature of all in an outdoor car cover is its physical composition, a point far more important than aesthetics. Multilayer fabrics are crucial as they allow air to circulate and prevent trapped air and moisture beneath the cover. Although it may sound slightly counter intuitive at first, a 100% water resistant cover will not allow any circulation. Look for a well fitting, highly UV and water resistant outdoor cover with multilayer fabrics and properly considered straps to prevent material movement and scratching of your paintwork beneath. For those with a bit more space, or seeking a more permanent solution, outdoor tents or gazebos often referred to as ‘carports’ are now very commonly available even at high street DIY stores. These semi-permanent structures use metal frames and a choice of various roof materials from plastic to metal and even wood, either mounted off the ground of using a wall for support. The main advantage of these is ease of use – simply drive in and drive out and your car is under cover without any hassle or removal of covers and such like. Realistically these do not offer a whole lot of real world protection, often with exposed side sections which do not entirely protect your vehicle from the elements, and are therefore aimed more at daily drivers than cherished classics. But for such cherished classics there is the option of the outdoor Carcoon, or ‘bubble’, which are variants of the popular indoor AirChambers used by Windrush. The pros to this are clean, filtered air surrounding your car, with nothing touching the paintwork, as well as superior protection from UV and moisture deterioration. These are however a more expensive option, and also rely on a nearby power source to run them as well as suitable outdoor space for them. Indoor Car Storage For indoor car storage, a standard Air Chambers is easy to erect, economical to run (typically around 20 pounds per year) and simple to use. Twin fans force up to 50,000 litres of clean, filtered air across every surface of your vehicle evaporating moisture and banishing condensation. Free standing with an internal supporting frame allows you to easily access your pride and joy by opening zipped access panels at the front or side of the AirChamber. Absolutely nothing touching your cars paintwork, which is a big advantage, but be conscious of the space required as well as access to power. If you have slightly less space available, or are looking for a more cost effective solution, investing in a quality indoor car cover will go a long way. As we’ve covered in our section on choosing the right car cover, the key attributes to look for are well fitting, breathable, non-hydroscopic, dust proof and non-scratch materials. For most applications, a good quality cover in an indoor space is a perfect solution for most, provided that indoor environment is correct. As to what creates the target environment for car storage, this comes down to a combination of heating, ventilation and dehumidification. In summary, there are a number of solutions for both outdoor and indoor car storage to suit your requirements. It’s no secret that an indoor setting with the target environment is the preference when storing your vehicle, but if you are going down the outdoor route there are solutions available.
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