Soft top care

[Babsman]

Put the hard top on for the winter today, but prior to puting the soft top down my wife suggested I brush it with a stiff bristle brush (dry) and vacuum it with the shop vac. It turned out beautiful. You would not believe the dust and sand that came out. I've scrubbed it with soap and soft-top cleaners but never got these results. It looks (almost) brand new. Just passing it along for info.
Merry Christmas.......

[Sealy]

Re: Soft top care

We tend to run out to buy the best and most recommended for our Birds - it has to be good if the manufacturer says so. We also tend to forget the simple basics that, often, will do just as good a job. Thanks for the reminder.

[Leroy]

Re: Soft top care

When I was shopping for a TBird I thought I wanted a Merlot with the Sand package. The first one I looked at was just what I wanted untill I made them take the hard top off so I could check out the soft top. It had black stains in the folds. The Salesman was even surprised, they told me not to worry they would have it shampooed and it would be as good as new. A couple days later the salesman called me and said they couldn't get the stains out and asked if I would take it at a lower price. I desided that the sand top required too much maintanence for me. They are nice when they're clean. Leroy

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[Sealy]

Re: Soft top care

They are nice when they're clean.

Same can be said of cats, dogs, and most people. My sand top has a couple of stains on it - but, if the top is up, it's under cover. If it is out and about, the top is down. No one really gets to see it.

[MerlotBlue]

Re: Soft top care

When I was shopping for a TBird I thought I wanted a Merlot with the Sand package. The first one I looked at was just what I wanted until I made them take the hard top off so I could check out the soft top. It had black stains in the folds. The Salesman was even surprised, they told me not to worry they would have it shampooed and it would be as good as new. A couple days later the salesman called me and said they couldn't get the stains out and asked if I would take it at a lower price. I decided that the sand top required too much maintenance for me. They are nice when they're clean. Leroy

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I'm living that sad story on the '04.

I can clean it and it'll come out "OK" but I've accepted that perfect will never happen.....not even close.

Mean-while, the black top on the '02 has the same marks, in the same places....... requires virtually no care beyond simple cleaning and protectant. Unless you are looking really closely you can't see the marks at all. 8 years on, I won't say it looks brand new but what is embedded in the fabric is nothing I can't live with.

I only wish I could say the same for the sand top.
If I keep the Merlot long enough to need a new top, despite how WRONG it'd be......... I'll really consider BLACK as a replacement.

[kwkelli]

Re: Soft top care

I bought my '04 Bird used and it already had the stains. I found Simple Green helped but I think my stains were caused by mildew and nothing was going to fix that. I now have a new canvas top courtesy of a heavy palm frond falling on it after several days of rain. I chose to replace it with the same sand color so keeping it clean will be a challenge. Thanks for the tip to brush and vacuum!

[lasuvidaboy]

Re: Soft top care

I hand wash my car and the top weekly. After the top is completely air-dried, I vacuum it. It looks almost new after 8-years.

[Guest]

Re: Soft top care

I changed my soft top this past Spring with a white vinyl roof, mainly because I wanted white, but also I find the vinyl easier to maintain. The fit is perfect and I love the look.

[Ediron]

Re: Soft top care

With no garage I have to cover the Bird with a car cover.Even with the cover the sand top get's mildew stains in S.Fl. and I must do a 50/50 water ,bleach cleaning. About 3months ago I started using a plastic table cloth on the top before covering the car.It's helped a great deal as the moisture doesn't get through even after a week of being covered.

[Leroy]

Re: Soft top care

02bluebird, I'm assuming you had a hard top covered in vinyl. Just wondering what that cost was compared to repainting a hard top. I had a 70 Corvette Roadster a few years ago and I found a hard top for it and wanted it covered in Black vinyl but couldn't find anyone that could or would do it. I sold the car with the top primered. Leroy

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[5bird7]

Re: Soft top care

Leroy, I think he meant his softop is now made from vinyl, not cloth.

[Guest]

Re: Soft top care

Leroy, I think he meant his softop is now made from vinyl, not cloth.

That's right Dot.

I do recall there was another member who did cover their hardtop in vinyl, with beautiful results. I just don't remember who it was.

[HKS]

Re: Soft top care

I changed my soft top this past Spring with a white vinyl roof, mainly because I wanted white, but also I find the vinyl easier to maintain. The fit is perfect and I love the look.

That looks real nice.

HKS

[Sandman]

Re: Soft top care

Mark,you're correct. The member is "Tvankirk". He also has a post on installing the vinyl on the hardtop.

Ron

[Rondor]

Re: Soft top care

Our '04 has a Ash gray soft top and I don't think the previous owner ever used the hard top. The soft top obviously was down a lot and often wet. It really looked bad. I took a chance and cleaned it with a sriff brush and Clorox Clean-up. It reallyworked well but I probably shortened the life expectancy of the top.