How Do You Clean A Filthy Soft Top ?

[Rdster]

I recently purchased a vehicle with a very filthy soft top.

The dirt seems to be inbedded in the vinyl.

I have tried Mequires car shampoo, and fabric cleaner, but the dirt just doesn't budge.

Has anybody else every had this problem?

Any hints on how to remove the dirt would be appreciated.

[RRdstr]

Mmmmm . . . I wouldn't have called mine filthy, but to get it to its best I used warm water, pure soap (like Sunlight), a soft bristle brush, and lots of circular motion going all over the top (not just bad spots) . . . then 303 Aerospace Protectant when well rinsed and dry.

[ducktape69]

dishwashing liquid.
alot of elbow grease.
shoe polish afterwards to bring out the subtle shine.

[green_comet]

black shoe polish...!!

[vrmmmpshhh]

shoe polish for the win.. i use the watery kind that comes in the bottle.. works BRILLIANTLY.

[sirbob]

Never tried shoe polish, but i know and reccomend Mothers Vinyl and Leather Cleaner... Smells like cherry starburst, has a deep dark shine, and is not oily like meguires or armourall.

[green_comet]

armourall is a big no no on your soft top... 303 aerospace, or crc silicone spray is the go..

[ZenArcher]

sirbob,

does that mean when you put the top down and later, back up again, you don't get those oily marks all over your back window?

I have used Mequires, Autoglym and 303 and they are all good, but each time I put the top down and later back up again, my glass window has oily smudges all over it from the soft top, which is really annoying when I clean the window with glass cleaner as part of the washing regime.

If Mothers Vinyl and Leather Cleaner doesn't do this, then I am straight to Super Cheap Auto to get some after work.

[sirbob]

I The only time i used it was on my MX5 the night before i left for Melbourne. The roof was up the whole way to coffs harbour, then came down and stayed down... (I rolled the car that afternoon so cant say whether or not it smeared the rear window!)

But as a guess i would say that it shouldnt smear, or at the very least should only smear very minor amounts compared to other products. If you apply a small amount, with the roof cool, and allow the stuff to soak in a little, i cant see you having any troubles.

However, in the 6 or so hours i used it, it looked great! (Didnt wash off in the rain that morning either!)

[Benny]

The trick to cleaning ANY vinyl surface is the brushing.
Without using a brush (and make it a fairly soft one, not a steel wire brush) you won't have any chance of getting the dirt out from the grain of the material.
Just use a mild detergent with plenty of water. If you use a strong detergent, you will also remove some of the plasticiser from the vinyl and that will make it go hard and brittle (crack and rip).

After you've cleaned it, rinse it with lots of fresh water, then dry it with a lint-free cloth and don't put the top down until it is 100% dry, otherwise mould can start growing over your top.

[JBT]

Car wash shampoo won't hurt it.

[dab]

When i first got our car we had the plastic window replaced as you couldnt see out off it. The trimmer cleaned our softop for us and it came up nice and black. He said just use plain water on it if its just dirt and if its got a stain like bird droppings then use a warm mild soady water. So when i was the car i just hose it all down then was the softop with plainwater frst then wash the car. It still has a nice blackness to it even though it sits in the sun allday. Maybe ill try some shoe polish for an extra shine.