Soft top cleaning

[Carhoods Direct]

You don't need to buy any of the so-called cleaning products. Warm soapy water is all you need and a soft brush (a nail brush can easily damage your roof). Another method is to use very hot water and a flannel. Just wet the flannel and place on the roof, it will lift out the dirt (especially dried bird pooh) and kill the mould. You can use a steam cleaner (I have used one hundreds of times when fitting soft-tops on various vehicles); the trick is never to scrub your roof or, like your favourite Xmas jumper, it will bobble and look scratched.

Now for my major bugbare with people who "proof" their soft-tops: WHY?

The material of a soft-top is made from three layers:

1. The outer woven acryllic layer that you see
2. A middle rubberised waterproof layer
3. The woven backing material that you see on the underside of the soft-top

If you had an ancient canvas tent that you cut up and put on your car then yes you need to proof the material. There is zero point in putting this proofing stuff onto a car soft-top. The only thing it will 100% guarantee to do is seal in the grime that you cannot get out of the woven fibres of the outer material layer thereby providing a nice medium for the mould to grow. Once your soft-top has gone green you will never get rid of it on a permanent basis.

If your soft-top leaks then you have a hole in it, it is not fitting properly or is so old the material has worn through. Proofing will not solve these problems.

Finally whilst ranting. Do yourself a favour and never dye a soft-top.

 

[andyglym]

Good info. Ta. When I had my new window fitted the chap said never to dye to roof.

 

[Geoff Crispin]

Hi Car Hoods
Thanks for you email, I have passed it on to me nephew who has said very good information

 

[One Spanner Frank]

I googled 'How to refurbish soft tops.'It included cleaning, dying and waterproofing a soft top.' That was three different bottles plus a fourth for polishing the rear plastic window.
I tried it and am very pleased with the result. The hood looks new. It is clean, black and waterproof. The polish for the rear screen was not successful at all.

 

[Geoff Crispin]

HAVE A GOOD CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

[hard top]

You don't need to buy any of the so-called cleaning products. Warm soapy water is all you need and a soft brush

Spot on, been telling people that for years but it seems like they just want to spend their money....
The material contracts when it gets wet to make it water tight,

 

[abh29]

I have been cleaning the general muck and the green mould off the soft top,yet again. I commented on this back in Dec 2015,but this time instead of using Autoglym or Meguiars I followed the advice from CarhoodsDirect above and used very hot wet towels. I did it twice ,very quick and easy ,and its fantastic. Thank you CarhoodDirect.
My only remaining trouble now it the few inch's of stitching (100mm )thats undone. The only guy I can find is asking £300 as he maintains its a full days job. Anyone know anyone who can do it.