Tech and Environment

Feature: Cleaning your convertible roof

May 15, 2008

Volkswagen Thing convertible. Click image to enlarge

By Glen Konoroski

Most of us know how to clean the bodies of our cars and trucks – we have all been bombarded with stories and advice from friends and family – but do any of us really know the right way to clean our convertible tops?

Cars and those SUV’s that have convertible tops are most often made of vinyl or a cloth-like material referred to as Stayfast canvas. Both these materials are very durable and will last a long time with some care.

To find out more about how to clean and protect these materials, I called on Gary Noland owner of Diamond Trim in Newmarket Ontario. Gary and his team at Diamond have been installing convertible tops on everything from run-of-the-mill older domestics, to top concours cars that compete in shows.

As vinyl tops are the most common, I will start with them. As you may or may not know, vinyl is made with petroleum-based products. When the oil evaporates from the material it starts to shrink and crack. UV (ultra violet) light from the sun, dirt, dust and chemicals in the air all contribute to the vinyl drying out.

To clean a dirty vinyl roof you first need to spray it down with water and wipe it with a soft cloth, (in the shade is better) removing any loose grime. This in most cases will get most of it off, but if that does not work, a mild soap with a soft fingernail brush will probably get the rest of the grime out of the pores of the textured vinyl. Make sure that you thoroughly rinse the roof off to get all the soap out of the vinyl.

Once you have done this you will probably notice the roof has a matte finish. It is at this point that you now add your vinyl protectant to the top. Gary says to stay away from any protectant that has silicon in the mixture. The reason for this is that the silicon adds an extra layer of coating to the vinyl that, when exposed to the sun, bakes the vinyl causing it to dry out even more.

Many of today’s newer cars, and older high-end models, have tops made of Stayfast canvas which is a cloth-like material. Despite what you might have heard, it is a very durable material that lasts a long time with some care.

Keeping this material clean is not that difficult or as time consuming as you might think: when washing your vehicle, spray down the roof with water to get any dust or dirt out of the material. This will get rid of the grime clinging to the material. In extreme cases where mud is really dug in, Gary advises using mild soap and water and a very soft brush to get any dirt out.

If you live somewhere where the car is exposed to a lot of fine dust the roof needs to be sprayed off with water then left to dry and then vacuumed. Those of you with an air compressor can also blow any of the dust off, as it too works quite well.

Unlike vinyl, Stayfast canvas does not need any protection other than a good cleaning. By getting the dirt and dust out, the top will last longer and give you many years of good service.

Finally, make sure that you remove any bird droppings as soon as possible as the chemical nature of the droppings can ruin the top. The same goes for tree sap: warm water and soap will get rid of it, if done sooner rather than later.