Soft Top Cleaning

[Gwfl]

I've cleaned my tan soft top twice now and can't seem to get rid of some darker stained areas especially below the rear window. It almost looks like mildew and is accentuated when wet. Do I need a stronger cleaner, stiffer brush or do I have to live with it? Car has 15k and the top in general is looking good except for these spoty areas.

Gary

[crmpuf]

most people don't reccomend it but I take mine sand soft top to the spray car wash and have been stain free for 3 years I spray it with the pre soak the soap then rinse I have had no negetive effects

[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.

[Gwfl]

Bradford:
What you say about the meldew being deep in the threads makes sense. I went to their site and yes they do recommend using bleach. I'll give it a try. Did you test an area first?

Gary

[Bradford]

Gary, I did test a spot, I actually tested the band below the rear window. It was the worst with spots / mildew. I figured it it did discolor, at least it would be a full piece rather than a spot in the middle of another area. I believe the color of my top may be naturally lighter than yours. Now that I'm not scared of it, I probably would have left it on a little longer before rinsing and washing off.

Let me know how it turns out, I hope you have the luck I did.

Brad

[PaBlkBrd]

I wonder if this method will work on the Sand colored soft boot cover as well? I may try and report back with results

Thanks for the info!

[SixPac]

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.

[Bradford]

I was scared to death for the time it was soaking on my top. But I was over the spotty, filthy top. I figured if it didn't work, I'd put the hardtop on and have a new top put on. I'm a bit obsessive / compulsive about my cars and want them clean at all times.

[Bradford]

Mike / PaBlkBrd

Forgot to put this in my last post. Be careful with the bleach on your boot. The tops are canvas, cotton, tight twill. My '05 boot seems to be more synthetic and might be damaged by bleach. I cleaned mine with resolve carpet cleaner. Worked great, but my boot wasn't extremely dirty.

[PaBlkBrd]

Yep, I hear ya........I may knock down on the bleach amount, you can always add more.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Bradford

I'm a bit obsessive / compulsive about my cars and want them clean at all times.

I thought I was too. There are people on this site who have taken obsessive/compulsive to a whole new level.

[Johnny TBird]

Gary - I don't know what year TBIRD you have but I have a cashmere with the light stone top and it had the black marks that I could not get out and Ford Service department could not get out.....so FORD REPLACED MY TOP and I chose to replace it with a black top and I am happy with it. Good luck.
Happy Trails

[Gwfl]

Johnny: I have a 05 black w/sand. The top is tan (or sand). There's only minor mildew but before I put a sealer on I want to get it looking as good as I can, hopefully after that I won't have to deal with it again. I've only had the car for a month so I'm still in the learning stage but I like things done right.

Gary

[eboose7]

Bradford: What about the bleach residue from rinsing the top--does it damage the paint on the car body? Using bleach near painted surfaces sounds pretty scary!

[Bradford]

I kept the body flushed with water before rinsing the top down and washed the car thoroughly after. The car was still beading water good from the previous polish / waxing. I was going to do a good detailing,that's when I decided to really get after the top first. After the top was clean, I cleaned the body good with a clay bar, then Klasse polish. The bleach was really diluted as it washed down over the car. I guess time may tell if any long lasting damage was done. I hope not.

[Ediron]

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]

Originally Posted by SixPac

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]

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

[MerlotBlue]

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]

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

[Ediron]

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]

Looking sharp Ed!

[My Raven]

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]

most likely Haartz made the fabric for the softtops.

[Bradford]

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.