Dirty Canvas Top

[sp80bird]

Can anyone recommend a great cleaner for the Sand-colored canvas convertible top? I've got dirt in the folds of the canvas that resists my best efforts, and a couple of bird-dropping stains I'd like to remove, if possible.

Thanks in advance!

Sp80Bird

[Icebluebird]

Re: Dirty Canvas Top

There are several products that seem to be in general use here on our tops. The attached should get you started and you can search for top cleaning and find several posts.

Remember, you can not put a wet cloth top down as this will cause it to mildew.

Good Luck.

Originally Posted by Bradford
I have a Cashmere with the Light Stone top. I had the same thing on mine. Drove me crazy, I tried everything, I tried the carwash with presoak, Raggtop Cleaner, 303, even tried Woolite. Seems like I could get some of it, dried looking nice but still visible when wet. Not long after, the spots that showed wet would start to get darker again.

I started researching, found a website of Haartz, one of the leading
makers of the cloth / canvas top material. I was able to ask the question and get help with cleaning mine. Seems it was actually mildew, all my claening was taking care of the surface mildew, but not killing it's growth in the weave of the canvas, and more visible when wet. Soon all I had killed was growing back due to not killing it down in the weave.

Their solution freaked me out. But I decided to try it because I had reached the point of replacing the top. Their soltution was mix 1/4 cup of Raggtop Cleaner, 1/2 cup of bleach, yes bleach, and 1 gallon of water. The bleach is what freaked me out. They assured me, wet the top first, sponge the cleaning solution all over, let stand for minium of 20 minutes, don't let it dry, if you need, keep sponging on to keep wet. Then rinse it throughly. It worked, I had to do a few spots a second time. My top looks like new, it even cleaned up the areas where the creases are from folding. I followed it with a good washing with the ragtop cleaner to make sure there was no beach residue left.

After it dried good, I was amazed the difference, didn't beach or change the color at all. I put several applications of the water proofing / sealant on. It looks like it did three years ago when I bought the car.

It's nerve racking to put bleach on the top, but I trusted Haartz and tried it. I would do it again if needed. I'm tryingh to be more diligent cleaning and putting on the sealent.

[Lonestar]

Re: Dirty Canvas Top

Lot of opinions will be made and you can search on this topic for tons of info. Be all that as it may, the maker of you top recommends Ragg Topp cleaner and protectant. It is available from several places online. If your top has ground in grim or mold it will take more than one cleaning. You can also search on bleach and find a mixture of bleach and Ragg Topp to clean really dirty tops.

I find it beneficial to use a powerful shop to vacuum on the creases after cleaning the top with Ragg Topp or after simply washing the car. This aids in pulling the grim out of the creases. It is also recommended to never drop a dirty light color top.

[CVCashmere]

Re: Dirty Canvas Top

[quote=Icebluebird;360118]There are several products that seem to be in general use here on our tops. The attached should get you started and Their solution freaked me out. But I decided to try it because I had reached the point of replacing the top. Their soltution was mix 1/4 cup of Raggtop Cleaner, 1/2 cup of bleach, yes bleach, and 1 gallon of water. The bleach is what freaked me out. They assured me, wet the top first, sponge the cleaning solution all over, let stand for minium of 20 minutes, don't let it dry, if you need, keep sponging on to keep wet. Then rinse it throughly. It worked, I had to do a few spots a second time. My top looks like new, it even cleaned up the areas where the creases are from folding. I followed it with a good washing with the ragtop cleaner to make sure there was no beach residue left.

I followed this advice 3 weeks ago on my sand top.

IMPORTANT: BE SURE YOU RINSE OUT THE BLEACH WITH MORE THAN JUST A GARDEN HOSE. I did not, and there was a light drying line on each side bottom of the top where bleach wasn't fully rinsed.. even after my persistent hosing and scrubbing. USE RAGGTOP or some type of detergent to get any bleach out after the treatment.

Then use the raggtop sealant to protect it.

It does work.

thanks

CVCashmere