Convertible top care
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Belleville, Illinois
Convertible top care
The 2012 mini I just bought is the first convertible i have ever owned. I imagine this car will be hand washed more frequently than my other cars so I am wondering what special care I should use on it? Is normal car wash solution okay for the top? Are there conditioners out there (like leather lotions I will use on the leather trim in the interior) that are made for convertible tops? Thanks in advance for any ideas.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh, PA
If you really want to care for your top, you will want to use specialized products. I personally like 303 Products for convertible tops.
First use 303 Convertible Top Cleaner as your cleaner. Reason being the 303 CTC completely rinses away. That last thing you want is any soap residue to be left in the fabric that could lead to premature drying out of your stitching. Using a horsehair brush works very well to clean your fabric top. With light pressure it helps to lift the dirt out of the fabric, yet the horsehair bristles are soft enough that they do not pull at the stitching or fabric.
Once the top is completely dried, apply 303 High Tech Fabric Guard to protect it. It will restore/maintain the water repellency of the fabric and will increase its stain repellency.
Once treated with the Fabric Guard, you can wash it 3-4 times with the Convertible Top Cleaner before you will need to re-apply the Fabric Guard.
The other leading convertible top brand is RaggTopp, but I've found it attracts more dust than 303 products do.
First use 303 Convertible Top Cleaner as your cleaner. Reason being the 303 CTC completely rinses away. That last thing you want is any soap residue to be left in the fabric that could lead to premature drying out of your stitching. Using a horsehair brush works very well to clean your fabric top. With light pressure it helps to lift the dirt out of the fabric, yet the horsehair bristles are soft enough that they do not pull at the stitching or fabric.
Once the top is completely dried, apply 303 High Tech Fabric Guard to protect it. It will restore/maintain the water repellency of the fabric and will increase its stain repellency.
Once treated with the Fabric Guard, you can wash it 3-4 times with the Convertible Top Cleaner before you will need to re-apply the Fabric Guard.
The other leading convertible top brand is RaggTopp, but I've found it attracts more dust than 303 products do.
6th Gear
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,964
Likes: 393
From: In the here and now, for now.
Sage advice from TEA. 
In addition: Don't run it down after nasty weather until you can get it clean. Dust, dirt, grit will eventually cut the fabric. Alternatively, don't run it up unless you absolutely have to. A reputation for hard core topless motoring is a good thing. People all over town ask on the coldest days, I just smile and nod. Back in the olden days I never put the top up on my old TR so I just drilled a couple of holes in the floor board.
PS: Instead of the $80.00 or $90.00 for driving gloves, stop by your local pro shop and pick up a pair of Foot Joy winter golf gloves for around $20.00. Also, a pub or driver's cap works way better than a baseball cap.
In addition: Don't run it down after nasty weather until you can get it clean. Dust, dirt, grit will eventually cut the fabric. Alternatively, don't run it up unless you absolutely have to. A reputation for hard core topless motoring is a good thing. People all over town ask on the coldest days, I just smile and nod. Back in the olden days I never put the top up on my old TR so I just drilled a couple of holes in the floor board.
PS: Instead of the $80.00 or $90.00 for driving gloves, stop by your local pro shop and pick up a pair of Foot Joy winter golf gloves for around $20.00. Also, a pub or driver's cap works way better than a baseball cap.
Last edited by Fly'n Brick; Feb 28, 2013 at 10:09 AM.
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
From: Lake Saint Louis, MO
If you really want to care for your top, you will want to use specialized products. I personally like 303 Products for convertible tops.
First use 303 Convertible Top Cleaner as your cleaner. Reason being the 303 CTC completely rinses away. That last thing you want is any soap residue to be left in the fabric that could lead to premature drying out of your stitching. Using a horsehair brush works very well to clean your fabric top. With light pressure it helps to lift the dirt out of the fabric, yet the horsehair bristles are soft enough that they do not pull at the stitching or fabric.
Once the top is completely dried, apply 303 High Tech Fabric Guard to protect it. It will restore/maintain the water repellency of the fabric and will increase its stain repellency.
Once treated with the Fabric Guard, you can wash it 3-4 times with the Convertible Top Cleaner before you will need to re-apply the Fabric Guard.
The other leading convertible top brand is RaggTopp, but I've found it attracts more dust than 303 products do.
First use 303 Convertible Top Cleaner as your cleaner. Reason being the 303 CTC completely rinses away. That last thing you want is any soap residue to be left in the fabric that could lead to premature drying out of your stitching. Using a horsehair brush works very well to clean your fabric top. With light pressure it helps to lift the dirt out of the fabric, yet the horsehair bristles are soft enough that they do not pull at the stitching or fabric.
Once the top is completely dried, apply 303 High Tech Fabric Guard to protect it. It will restore/maintain the water repellency of the fabric and will increase its stain repellency.
Once treated with the Fabric Guard, you can wash it 3-4 times with the Convertible Top Cleaner before you will need to re-apply the Fabric Guard.
The other leading convertible top brand is RaggTopp, but I've found it attracts more dust than 303 products do.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
squawSkiBum
Tires, Wheels, & Brakes
27
Nov 19, 2024 10:26 AM
2011cooperSconvertible
R57 :: Cabrio Talk (2009+)
13
Apr 1, 2019 06:03 AM
ECSTuning
Vendor Announcements
0
Aug 19, 2015 12:51 PM
Powershift
MINIs & Minis for Sale
1
Aug 16, 2015 05:14 PM