Care for Convertible Tops
Your convertible top is made from either vinyl or canvas fabric, and it sure can get dirty. Although car manufacturers design convertible tops using tough, heavy-gauge materials, pollution, bird droppings, acid rain, ultraviolet rays, smog, salt, tar, grease and other contaminants all contribute to an unsightly buildup every time you take your convertible out for a spin. Just as you wash and wax your car regularly, a convertible top also needs care so that it'll last a long time.
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Things You'll Need
- Vacuum with duster brush attachment
- Damp cloth
- Interior car cleaner
- Glass cleaner
- Chamois
- 100 percent cotton cloth
- Car wax
- All-purpose cleaner
- Scrub brush
- Garden hose
Instructions
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Look inside your convertible top to see if there's any dust buildup, especially in the corners and the folds near the back. Vacuum dust using a duster brush attachment. Rub dirty areas with a damp cloth sprayed with an adequate amount of interior car cleaner. Wipe down the rods and rails that hold the frame together using a cloth sprayed with the same interior car cleaner.
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Clean rear glass windows with a commercial glass cleaner. Clean plastic rear windows with a chamois cloth lightly dampened with water. Dry your plastic windows using a 100 percent cotton cloth, preferably flannel.
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Open your convertible top and clean the rear window deck and any plastic and vinyl panels that you can't see when the convertible top is up with a commercial interior car cleaner sprayed liberally on a soft cloth. Rub car wax onto and polish any areas that are painted.
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Close your convertible top to clean the outside. Vacuum the top first to remove loose debris.
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For vinyl tops, mix water and an all-purpose cleaner containing an ultraviolet protection agent together to get a medium-strength solution. Spray the cleaning solution on the top and rub it vigorously with a scrub brush. Rinse it clean with a garden hose.
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Wash canvas or fabric convertible tops with a mitt soaked with a commercial car washing soap containing a fluorocarbon repellent to protect your top from ultraviolet rays and resist dirt and liquid. Rinse clean with a garden hose.
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Tips & Warnings
Read the owner's manual to learn the manufacturer's recommendations for caring for your convertible top.
Clean overly grimy plastic windows with a cleaner specially made for clear plastic.
Use a soft brush and a mild all-purpose cleaner to remove bird droppings from canvas tops.
Clean and treat vinyl tops every four to six weeks, and fabric tops every three to six months.
Plastic windows are easily scratched so care should be taken when cleaning them.
Terry cloth towels should not be used to clean plastic windows.
Harsh chemicals and solvents shouldn't be used to clean your convertible top.
Avoid products that contain silicone, Freon, petroleum solvents, or chlorofluorocarbons.
Stay away from car washes that use barrel brushes.
References
- Photo Credit side of convertible image by Christopher Nolan from Fotolia.com
