Soft Top Cleaning

[Ediron]

Re: Soft Top Cleaning

I did almost the same as Bradford.I was using a bit of Soft Scrub on the top now I use bleach and water 20/80 in a spray bottle with a wet roof.I know this sounds harsh but in S.Fl. the mildew is a killer.I cover the Bird most nights and still get spots.When I spray I stay away from any seams on the roof.Don't need thread popping loose.Keep the vehicle wet and the top wet.

[Chuckster]

Re: Soft Top Cleaning

I'll have Margaret try this method when we get back from LA next week. Gotta come up with something or we will be installing a black rag top on a PCR.

Charlie - Please post your results after you clean the ash top.
Thanks - Chuck

[ckc57tbird]

Re: Soft Top Cleaning

I use about a oz of Tide with bleach in a gallon of water- With a soft scrub brush-
Works great-

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Soft Top Cleaning

Wow, great thread. I had pretty much decided I had to live with the black marks and yeah, NEVER AGAIN......will I ever go for anything other than a Black top.

The Black top on our '02 looks brand new but the sand colored top on the '04 is almost embarrassing with the black marks that probably are mildew. After trying various mild cleaners I'm now desperate enough to try something more aggressive like bleach.

[Ediron]

Re: Soft Top Cleaning

Time to clean the top as the spots were getting heavy.Forgot to take before photo but did take them after cleaning

[Ediron]

Re: Soft Top Cleaning

I should add that the spots are from mildew.When the top gets wet some may show up but it looks a heck of a lot better when dry.I used a 60/40 solution of water and bleach.Wet the top good ,washed with soap to remove dust applied with spray bottle on one side than the other let sit for 1min.and heavy spray of water.Spots are still visible with wet top but it drys looking great.

[Borla Babe]

Re: Soft Top Cleaning

Looking sharp Ed!

[My Raven]

Re: Soft Top Cleaning

Bradford, do you mind if I share this "recipe" with my local Mustang Club? Several members with 06 and 07 cloth tops are fussing about not being able to clean their cloth parchment tops.

I guess the $100 is was it the same manufacturer?

[5bird7]

Re: Soft Top Cleaning

most likely Haartz made the fabric for the softtops.

[Bradford]

Re: Soft Top Cleaning

Hi Joe, Share the formula with anyone who can benefit. I just cleaned my top good, waxed the car for a extended road trip leaving tomorrow. Top came out looking like new again, I'm sold on this solution. BTW, like your new Mustang, my Ford dealer here had some nice ones on the floor when getting my car serviced last week. Shelby 500, couple of Roush, another looked like a Boss, had to get out of the showroom. Dangerous territory. Might make it to Savannah, if so look forward to meeting you.

[PaBlkBrd]

Re: Soft Top Cleaning

I tried this out today on my Sand soft top and I am blown away on how this works! I changed the formula just a bit, But it works better than any other fabric cleaner I have tried. That includes 303 and Ragg Topp. Now all I have to do is treatment sealer an I am good to go!.............................Thanks for the tip Bradford

[T-Bird Concepts]

Re: Soft Top Cleaning

This was some very valuable information. So valuable I had to post it on our website for the other light colored Tbird soft top owners. http://www.thunderbirdconcepts.com/raggtopp.htm

Thanks guys. You just solved a lot of future and current soft top mildew problems that other light colored soft top Tbird owners out there are facing.



............

[SixPac]

Re: Soft Top Cleaning

Margaret and I (I supervised) finally got around to cleaning our soft top with the formula in post #3.

After we followed the procedure, we were very disappointed in how the top looked while it was still wet. Our disappointment faded as the top dried. We got rid of the major dark spots, not completely, but enough that we can tell the difference.

So, before we go to Savannah Thunder July 10 -13, we'll clean it another 2 or 3 times.

[Bradford]

Re: Soft Top Cleaning

SixPac,
The first time I cleaned my top, I had to do the more severely stained areas a second time to completely clean the spots away. Being the first time to clean with that solution I was so cautious of leaving it on to long. The next time I cleaned with this solution, about 1 month ago, I was braver and left the solution on about 25 - 30 minutes. As long as you see the spots when wet, the mildew is still alive there and will continue to grw bac. I'm trying to be better about the treatment and hopefully will eliminate the need for this kind of thorough cleaning to only once a year. Now there is absolutely no spotting what so ever, even when wet. My top is the Stone color, no color change was noticed, how about with the color of your PCR top?
I look forward to meeting you in Savannah.

Bradford

[JRM]

Re: Soft Top Cleaning

I have a Cashmere t-bird and thought my top looked good. I had a few dark spots when the top was wet from day one (3 years ago). Yesterday I cleaned the top with the Ragg Topp and bleach mix and can't believe how good the top looks now!!! Thanks again to TBN and its members.