Cleaning the hood

[Fatmancox]

Hi,

Does anyone have any recommendations of what I can use to give my (standard) softop a scrub up?
 Also anything to put on it afterwards to keep it in good condition?

(if this is not the correct place for this post please let me know as this is my first time posting so please be kind!)

Thanks!

[jvanzyl]

Wynns bumper gel... but be honest with yourself, would you rather not just get a new hood in the colour of your choice? :-) I spent a couple of years toiling over my roof trying to make it softer etc and in the end I just replaced it.

[Call the midlife!]

If it's particularly grubby then a gentle scrub with a fairly stiff brush with some dilute all purpose cleaner. A good rinse with fresh water and let it fully dry.
Then a coating of any proprietary vinyl treatment you please really.
Myself, like many others, it's Autoglym bumper and trim gel but wear gloves and don't over apply it as it has a tendency to smear onto windows.
Some people swear by Kiwi boot polish to bring up the colour but that has no UV protection built in.
Just make sure whatever you use is for external use if you want to maximise UV protection, I sometimes use Autoglym interior trim spray if I've run out of the gel and want it shiny.

[Petrus]

I find simple water and shampoo sufficient. Then use chamais to wipe dry. Few times/year bumper/dashboard stuff, dry microcloth, presto.

If it would get scruffy I´d go look for a tonneau again. Still cannot believe nobody has done that yet. I mean súch a British thing and só many Spyders in the UK yet.... nothing.

[SV-3]

Hi,

Does anyone have any recommendations of what I can use to give my (standard) softop a scrub up?
 Also anything to put on it afterwards to keep it in good condition?

(if this is not the correct place for this post please let me know as this is my first time posting so please be kind!)

Thanks!

Have a look at Ardent's recent post on Nikwax (Cleaner and UV protection).

[Call the midlife!]

Hi,

Does anyone have any recommendations of what I can use to give my (standard) softop a scrub up?
 Also anything to put on it afterwards to keep it in good condition?

(if this is not the correct place for this post please let me know as this is my first time posting so please be kind!)

Thanks!

Have a look at Ardent's recent post on Nikwax (Cleaner and UV protection).

Ardent's is a fabric roof if I remember right, not standard original vinyl, Nikwax isn't suitable for standard vinyl roofs..

[Petrus]

Ardent's is a fabric roof if I remember right, not standard original vinyl, Nikwax isn't suitable for standard vinyl roofs..

Wotwotwotwóaóaóat??? He has a modded hood?!!!  ;-)

[SV-3]

I sit corrected

[Ardent]

Wotwotwotwóaóaóat??? He has a modded hood?!!!  ;-)

Roof was on car when I bought it.

[Petrus]

Wotwotwotwóaóaóat??? He has a modded hood?!!!  ;-)

Roof was on car when I bought it.

Ok, that saves you penalty points but a mod is a mod is a mod so your car has a mod :-O 

one that makes is actually béttah!

Over here it is not too much of a faff but I can imagine that up north the cold making the vinyl hard is not fun.

[s12vea]

I use Meguiars convertible top cleaner and maintain with autoglym Bumper and trim gel.

The meguiars stuff worked really well to bring my roof back to black again and the amount of dirt that came out was surprising

[Joesson]

@Fatmancox
After washing the top with soap and water and rinsing well, as the handbook, I use
Aerospace Protectant, a 16 oz bottle from Cleanyourcar.co.uk  cost me £15.90 delivered.
Claimed to be developed for protecting vinyl products fro the sun and weather.
I found it easy to apply, dried evenly, and subsequent rain / washing seems to bead well. As my car is garaged I can't comment on long term UV protection but reviews  are positive.

[Ardent]

Aerospace. 303. Great stuff.

[Ardent]

Wotwotwotwóaóaóat??? He has a modded hood?!!!  ;-)

Roof was on car when I bought it.

Ok, that saves you penalty points but a mod is a mod is a mod so your car has a mod :-O 

one that makes is actually béttah!

Over here it is not too much of a faff but I can imagine that up north the cold making the vinyl hard is not fun.

Trying to justify as a replacement, but have to concede by the definition I posted somewhere else it is a modification. On the basis it is not a like-for-like replacement.
That said, I'm glad I have it, as it does make raising and lowering (in that order) a piece of cake at any temperature.
Just wasn't me that fitted. So null n void.

[Zxrob]

Wynns bumper gel... but be honest with yourself, would you rather not just get a new hood in the colour of your choice? :-) I spent a couple of years toiling over my roof trying to make it softer etc and in the end I just replaced it.

Oi, stop trying to spend someone else's   money, he hasn't said what condition the roof is

Rob

[steveash]

@Fatmancox
After washing the top with soap and water and rinsing well, as the handbook, I use
Aerospace Protectant, a 16 oz bottle

Developed especially for the BAe/Austin Princess Aero-Jet the only plane to come with a vinyl roof as standard.

[Joesson]

@Fatmancox
After washing the top with soap and water and rinsing well, as the handbook, I use
Aerospace Protectant, a 16 oz bottle

Developed especially for the BAe/Austin Princess Aero-Jet the only plane to come with a vinyl roof as standard.

Is that a folding roof!? 😉

[Chilli Girl]

Foxy

Aerospace. 303. Great stuff.
[/quote

Foxy has this, brilliant.

[steveash]

@Fatmancox
After washing the top with soap and water and rinsing well, as the handbook, I use
Aerospace Protectant, a 16 oz bottle

Developed especially for the BAe/Austin Princess Aero-Jet the only plane to come with a vinyl roof as standard.

Is that a folding roof!? 😉

You must be thinking of the DC10 Convertible. A nice idea but it didn't take off.

I'll get my coat.

[Ozzy]

When I got my MR2, it was parked up for 10 years so roof was filthy and has green moss stuff all over it. I used some cheap shampoo and sponge to scrub it clean and used a soft brushed toothbrush for the stitching and edges where it was in deep.

Since then, I've used Autoglym Vinyl Rubber Care on my roof and never had any problems. Works great in giving it a deep shiny black look... Not sure if this is what you guys are calling bumper and trim gel?

Even though its for the body, recently I applied Meguires Hybrid Ceramix Wax on the roof instead as I was running low of Autoglym and it seems to be awesome at keeping dirt off. Had some bird crap all over it and normally needs a little effort with a brush or something to remove but since applying the Hybrid wax, bird crap and other heavy dirt comes straight off with a simple water jetwash and still adds a slight sheen to the vinyl.

[Davred]

I always used Renovo vinyl cleaner and after cleaning, then their proofer, which also gives uv protection.
They do products for both vinyl and fabric roofs.
Brilliant products and about £10 a bottle.
Must add, no connection with them.

[Ardent]

Renovo

Recommended by many on here.

[H1GRM]

Steve gave me some Renovo when I bought the Goddess. Only used it once but it is good stuff and seems to bring the colour back as well.