A lot of people think that caring for convertible tops is an easy task, but they really aren’t. You have the tops themselves to be concerned with as well as whether your convertible has glass or plastic window.
There are two main types of cloth used in convertible tops today, Haartz cloth and Cambria. Both of these use two layers of cloth with rubber sandwiched between them which actually gives the waterproofing effect. The main issue is to keep the tops clean and out of the weather as much as possible.
The following tips are good guidelines to follow when caring for your convertible:
After washing your vehicle, always be sure that the top is completely dry before you lower it to keep from staining the interior materials or mildew damage on the rear window.
Mildew will develop more rapidly if the top is kept lowered for long periods of time under damp conditions. Mildew will appear brownish in color and often gives off an unpleasing odor. If a window becomes mildewed, no cleaning will reverse it and the window will have to be replaced.
Never use hard brushes or automatic car washes on your convertible top, they can scratch the window as well as harming the top and the threads of the seams.
Always use a soft cotton towel saturated with water to clean a plastic rear window and wipe gently with a horizontal and vertical motion. Never use a dry towel to clean the rear window.
If you live in an environment where the weather includes snow and ice do not use scrapers or de-icing chemicals to remove snow and ice from the rear window. In an emergency you may use warm water, but never hot water which can harm the window material.
Never use solvents such as alcohol, nail polish remover, or paint thinner on the back window or top. Furthermore, do not use bleach, ammonia, window cleaner or all-purpose cleaners on the rear window or top.
Don’t use surface protectants, cleaners, polishes, waxes, or any other compound or solution that contains silicone.
Never apply advertising stickers or adhesive tape to the rear window. These things can damage the window.
Following these tips will go a long way to keeping your convertible top looking good for years to come.
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