Show Car Garage Video: How To Clean and Protect a Cloth Convertible Top

[Mike Phillips]

Show Car Garage Video: How To Clean and Protect a Cloth Convertible Top (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-videos/24317-video-how-clean-protect-cloth-convertible-top.html)


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How To Clean and Protect a Cloth Convertible Top using RaggTopp

- Mike Phillips demonstrates how to properly protect your canvas or vinyl convertible top.



Direct Link: How To Clean and Protect your Car's Convertible Top using RaggTopp (http://www.palmbeachmotoring.net/ascg-videos/raggtopp.html)


Screenshots
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/847/RaggToppSC000.jpg (http://www.palmbeachmotoring.net/ascg-videos/raggtopp.html)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/847/RaggToppSC001.jpg (http://www.palmbeachmotoring.net/ascg-videos/raggtopp.html)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/847/RaggToppSC002.jpg (http://www.palmbeachmotoring.net/ascg-videos/raggtopp.html)

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/847/RaggToppSC003.jpg (http://www.palmbeachmotoring.net/ascg-videos/raggtopp.html)


Products Showcased in Video
RaggTopp Convertible Top Care (http://www.autogeek.net/rafaca.html)
The Guzzler (http://www.autogeek.net/guzzler-microfiber-combo.html)
Metro Vac N'Blo® Portable Vacuum (http://www.autogeek.net/vacnbloporva.html)
Cobra Indigo Microfiber Polishing Cloth (http://www.autogeek.net/coinmipoclsc.html)
Autobahn Wall Mount 5.0 HP Garage Vacuum (http://www.autogeek.net/autobahn-garage-vacuum.html)
Natural Horse Hair Interior Upholstery Brush (http://www.autogeek.net/natural-horse-hair-interior-upholstery-brush.html)
Montana Original Boar’s Hair Round Wash Brush & Telescopic Handle (http://www.autogeek.net/montana-original-boars-hair-round-wash-brush-telescopic-handle.html)


Further Resources
How-To Videos (http://tinyurl.com/yhqfo26)
Articles I've Written (http://tinyurl.com/y9gcarg)

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[Shane731]

OK, so the protectant you applied is an aerosol. How would you apply something like 303 High Tech Fabric Guard to a fabric convertible top?

[Mike Phillips]

OK, so the protectant you applied is an aerosol. How would you apply something like 303 High Tech Fabric Guard to a fabric convertible top?

Great question! :props:

The product you reference is a pump spray... this is an indicator you would squeeze the trigger handle to spray it onto the fabric.


:)

[Mike Phillips]

***Update***

Convertible top video added to YouTube today and embedded to the top of this thread.


:)

[sunstealth]

so you say the vinyl top cleaning is 100% the same technique am i right ?
do you recommand using an electric leaf blower on a convertible top for drying ?

[sabrina]

Such as good demo, on how to clean and protect a cloth convertible top.

[Mike Phillips]

Such as good demo, on how to clean and protect a cloth convertible top.

I did quite a bit of research into canvas materials before making the video and found the biggest enemy to canvas or acrylic fiber cloth is what's usually referred to as acid rain but in reality, anything corrosive in the rain or anytime moister mixes with the accumulated dirt, dust and air-borne pollution that settles into the weave and stitching of canvas or cloth tops and then deteriorates it.

A good protectant seals the stitching and the weave of the cloth to help prevent water or any type of moisture from dissolving the contaminants on the surface and causing them to seep into the fabric where they can cause damage.

So the most important thing you can do to maintain a cloth or canvas top is to keep it clean and regularly re-apply a water-proofing sealant and to piggyback on this maintenance procedure, don't use any strong cleaners and don't use any coarse brushes that can abrade or rough-up the surface material.

Besides all of the above, after washing and cleaning the top, like mentioned in the video, the fabric has to be BONE DRY before applying the protectant in order for the coating to properly bond to the fibers.

Usually, cleaning and treating a canvas top should be or will be a two day project unless you take extra steps to get any water to evaporate out of and off the top, things like,

Drive the car in warm weather so the heat and the wind will speed up the drying process. This means exposing the top to any potential dirt, dust or air-borne contaminants.

Park the car in the sun after washing, again, this means exposing the top to any potential dirt, dust or air-borne contaminants. (The reason you just washed the top was to remove these things before sealing the top)

Or in my opinion, the safest way to dry it while keeping it clean would be to park the car in a closed environment with good air flow, that way it won't get dirty while it's drying. One thing a person could do would be to place some fans in the garage to blow air over the top to speed up evaporation. You could even place a fan to blow air into the car to have air moving over both the top and the inside of the fabric if you want to really get the fabric dry as fast as possible.

Then... before applying a second coat or third coat, you want each previous coat to completely dry for proper bonding of the protection ingredients. Again a fan can help speed up this process.

:)

[Custom1970]

Ok, i know this is an old thread but i need some help. I have a new Camaro convertible with a light tan fabric top. The recent wet weather has caused some mildew spots to form on the top. How would you recommend removing and "killing" the mildew to prevent it from coming back? We cleaned it a few weeks ago and thought we'd removed it, however after a week of wet weather it has started coming back. The top had been treated with Rag top about 4 months ago. Thanks, David ('68 firebird)

[Custom1970]

The rain has finally stopped long enough today for me to get a picture of what i'm talking about. thanks again for any help offered

[ihaveacamaro]

Ok, i know this is an old thread but i need some help. I have a new Camaro convertible with a light tan fabric top. The recent wet weather has caused some mildew spots to form on the top. How would you recommend removing and "killing" the mildew to prevent it from coming back? We cleaned it a few weeks ago and thought we'd removed it, however after a week of wet weather it has started coming back. The top had been treated with Rag top about 4 months ago. Thanks, David ('68 firebird)

You might have better responses if you start a thread :props:

[Custom1970]

You might have better responses if you start a thread :props:

i was thinking about that, but not sure exactly which area to post it on. Was hoping that by posting on an existing thread it might pop to the top but apparently not since i can't even find it. Any suggestions as to where to post it?

thanks,

[Mike Phillips]

Ok, i know this is an old thread but i need some help. I have a new Camaro convertible with a light tan fabric top. The recent wet weather has caused some mildew spots to form on the top.

How would you recommend removing and "killing" the mildew to prevent it from coming back?

We cleaned it a few weeks ago and thought we'd removed it, however after a week of wet weather it has started coming back.

The top had been treated with Rag top about 4 months ago.

Thanks,

David ('68 firebird)




Hi David,

Here's your picture....

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/Mildew_in_Convertible_Top.jpg


A common recommendation from people is to use something like a weak dilution of household bleach to kill the bacteria but as everyone knows, this is only helpful if you have a white cloth top.

Let me check with a couple of people I know and see if they have a solution to the problem that is also safe for the colorfastness of the cloth top.

:xyxthumbs:

[Mike Phillips]

i was thinking about that, but not sure exactly which area to post it on. Was hoping that by posting on an existing thread it might pop to the top but apparently not since i can't even find it. Any suggestions as to where to post it?

thanks,

I don't think there's ever a problem with reviving an older thread, sometimes its a good thing.

Other times, starting a new thread with a "title" that tells people what it is you need help with will get you more and better help.


The way people use forums...

Some people click a link at the top of a forum titled,

New Posts (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/search.php?searchid=4164793) or Today's Posts (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/search.php?searchid=4164795)

I don't but some people do. This is very helpful for forums that don't have a CMPS like vBadvanced, like we do here.

When a forum has a "front page" to organize content, then the "newest threads" are listed on the forum homepage in the box for "Recent Threads". This is what I tend to scan to see what's going on.

AutogeekOnline Forum Homepage (http://www.autogeekonline.net/)--> look for the big box or section in the middle where the recent threads are displayed.



But yeah, if you really want to get attention to your topic, then starting what is called a "Dedicated Thread" with a subject title that tells everyone what it is you're working on and need help with is the best way to get the most and best answers to your specific project/thread.

Posting a question onto an existing thread is called tagging. There area also other types of tagging using "tags" on a forum but I digress...


A good general catch-all forum group to post question is the Detailing 101 forum group.



Auto Detailing 101 (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/)



:)

[Mike Phillips]

Hey David,

I contacted my buddy Rick Goldstein, the owner and CEO of RaggTopp products and here's his reply...
(Thanks Rick)





Mildew can be tricky to remove from fabric convertible topping. The HAARTZ Corporation, original equipment manufacturer of convertible topping for virtually every American and European convertible automobile manufactured throughout the world only recommends using RAGGTOPP Cleaner to safely remove stubborn mildew. Welcome to the Haartz Corporation (http://www.haartz.com)



The first cleaning should be with RAGGTOPP Cleaner only. Wet the top down with cool water, apply RAGGTOPP Cleaner and lightly brush and leave it on the top for about 15 minutes out-of-the-sun.

Tan fabric convertible topping must be throughly dry to see the results. I would repeat the procedure again and make an assessment to move onto the following solution from The Haartz Corporation.



Stubborn Mildew Stain Only That Cannot Be Removed the Traditional Method

Apply a solution of no more than 1/2 cup (4 oz) bleach and 1/4 cup (2 oz) RAGGTOPP Cleaner per gallon of water. Rinse throughly with cool to cold water.


Please note that excessive soaking with bleach solution can weaken seam threads. Rinse the entire top to remove all of the the bleach solution from the vinyl, and rinse the car body to prevent streaking on painted, chrome or other surfaces. Repeated cleanings may be necessary.


Keeping the fabric convertible topping cleaned and protected with RAGGTOPP Cleaner & RAGGTOPP Fabric Protectant adds extra layers of protection against stubborn mildew. (see attached)


Rick Goldstein

[ihaveacamaro]

Must be nice to have such contacts Mike :)