How to Protect a Convertible

As a convertible owner, you relish the time spent driving with the top down. You may even brave the road on those cooler days, or live in a climate that has hard winters that may eventually put wear on your convertible top. Whether it's hot or cold outside, it's important to protect your convertible from the elements, and there are several ways to achieve this. Begin with proper maintenance, which is the key to keeping your car in good condition, regardless of whether your top is constructed of cloth or vinyl.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning Convertible Tops

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    Wash your convertible regularly. It is recommended that you clean your convertible top at least once every 4 weeks to keep dirt from sinking into the fabric or vinyl.
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    Wet the top of the convertible with a hose. Use a gentle car shampoo or one made specifically for convertible tops, which can be found in any automotive or home improvement store. Apply the cleaner with a sponge as you would to the rest of your vehicle.
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    Allow the cleaner to sit for 15 minutes for stubborn dirt or stains.
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    Scrub the top gently with a bristled brush
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    Rinse thoroughly with water..
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Protecting Cloth Tops

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    Begin with a top that is dry and free of dirt and debris.
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    Apply a fabric convertible-top protectant. Spray the product directly onto the vehicle from a distance of approximately 16-18 inches.
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    Allow the top to dry completely.
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    Dry thoroughly with a clean, microfiber towel.
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Protecting Vinyl Tops

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    Ensure your vinyl top is clean and dry.
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    Using sweeping motions, spray a vinyl convertible-top protectant at a distance of 8-12 inches from the top, or spray the product onto a clean, microfiber cloth and wipe the convertible top.
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    Wipe the top thoroughly with a fresh cloth until it's completely dry.
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    Repeat this process up to three times if dirt or stains remain.

Warnings

  • Avoid washing your convertible top with common household cleaners such as bleach, which can cause the fabric or vinyl to deteriorate.
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Things You'll Need

  • Convertible-top cleaner
  • Vinyl convertible-top protectant
  • Fabric convertible-top protectant
  • Microfiber cleaning cloths

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References

  1. http://www.autopia-carcare.com/how-to-clean-and-protect-your-convertible-top-detailing-101.html
  2. http://www.autogeek.net/covtopplas.html

About this article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 28,052 times.
18 votes - 94%
Co-authors: 5
Updated: December 23, 2021
Views: 28,052