Cleaning
When planning to wash your convertible top, it is best to choose a day that is warm and park your vehicle in a shady area. The warmth helps to dry the fabric more quickly but the sun will cause the cleaning supplies to dry on the cloth and cause an undesirable effect.
Wet the top thoroughly with clean water. Apply a shampoo made especially for convertible tops with a soft bristle brush and allow the shampoo to sit for about 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. Repeat if necessary, paying special attention to heavily soiled areas.
After thoroughly rinsing the fabric top, spray a protective solution completely over it and allow the top to dry for about 10 minutes then buff with a clean soft cloth to eliminate any streaks.
If your convertible top is already clean, all that is needed to maintain it is a strong spray of clean water once a month. Vacuuming dust and debris from the top on a regular basis is a good practice regimen for the care of your convertible top. Using a lint roller on your fabric top is a great way to improve the appearance quickly.
By taking good care of your convertible top, you will save thousands of dollars on a replacement and you will find satisfaction and appreciation in the beauty of your convertible for many years. The average cost for replacing a convertible top is between $1500 – $3000 and will take approx 3 – 5 days to complete.
Caution
Common household cleaning products can be very harmful to your soft convertible top. Chemicals you should not use on or near your convertible top include ammonia, bleach, detergent, alcohol and vinegar. Detergents, bleach and harsh acids will quickly deteriorate fabric or vinyl, whereas ammonia and alcohol will dry the fabric and cloud the vinyl. Using the wrong cleaners can be a costly mistake. Use only products specifically made for cleaning your type of convertible top.
Many car wash shampoos contain gloss-enhancers. If a car wash shampoo contains gloss enhancers, the convertible top will absorb them and become a dust magnet.
Always wash the entire convertible top since spot cleaning will create rings and discoloured areas.
Protecting Your Convertible Top
Start with a clean, completely dry convertible top.
If possible avoid applying protectant on windy days or bring your car inside a garage. Even a light breeze will cause overspray and will also stir up dirt and dust that will be attracted to your convertible top before the protectant has a chance to dry.
Shake fabric convertible top protectant well before use and several times during application.
Hold can or bottle upright and spray evenly 16-18 inches from material and use a gentle sweeping motion. DO NOT SATURATE!
Allow to completely dry 10 minutes or longer between coats, preferably in the sun. Artificial heat can be used to speed drying time. Drying time may vary depending on weather conditions. Your convertible top MUST BE COMPLETELY DRY before applying the next coat of protectant.
Spray three, light even coats of fabric convertible top protectant allowing protectant to completely dry between coats.
Use a clean microfiber towel to wipe off any excess over spray on paint, trim or glass.
Following the manufacturer instructions of all products you will be using is extremely important for the care of your convertible.
