KEY TIPS FOR SOFT-TOP MAINTENANCE
Keeping your top free of dirt and grime is next to impossible. So, a little TLC goes a long way to ensure it can stand up to the wear of running the trails.
The world is filled with convertibles and while I’ve had a few soft-tops, they were always on previously-owned off-road rigs. Although they take a worse beating than their hard-top counterparts on other types of vehicles, it’s been my experience that they are also more neglected when it comes to cleaning and maintenance.
Soft tops get scraped by branches, covered with trail dust, dirt and pollen, soaked in muddy water and caked in mud. The dirt that works its way into fabric tops acts like sandpaper between the fibers and slowly degrades the fabric as you drive and the wind buffets your top. Sand, dust and dirt on the surface acts the same way on the vinyl windows, which will scratch and cloud over time.
This is why there are so many Jeep Wrangler soft tops on the market like the one we recently installed and tested from Rugged Ridge for our Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited. If you have your eye on the new 2021 Ford Bronco, Gladiator, or Wrangler JL, you’ll want to take especially good care of your new adventure vehicle.
While I love installing new parts and accessories on my JKU, it just makes sense to maintain something like a soft top rather than replace it every four or five years. Keeping it clean and protected will slow deterioration, help to prevent leaks, and avoid yellowed, foggy windows.
Unfortunately, household cleaners can make your top worse, not better. For instance, typical cleaning fluids like bleach, vinegar, ammonia, detergent or alcohol can deteriorate your top and cloud the vinyl windows.
Start With These Essential
Cleaning Tips:
Wash the entire top, not just spot cleaning Wash it in the shade and not in direct sunlight Start by giving it a thorough rinse to get rid of any surface dust, dirt and mud. You don’t want to rub this into the top creating that “sandpaper action” Apply a quality convertible top cleaner over the entire roof and scrub the roof with a soft bristle brush. Tough spots may require you to let it soak for 15 minutes to let the cleaner do its job, then hit it with that soft bristle brush again. Don’t scrub your windows as they could scratch.
Avoid using a cloth, terry towel or sponge as you could end up with bits of lint or sponge all over your fabric top.
Give the roof a really thorough rinse and make sure no cleaner is left on the top.
Now that the roof is clean, you could call it a day and plan your next adventure. But in the same way you might want to wax the body to protect the paint, you should apply a protectant on the soft top. After all, the material of a soft top is not as durable as paint.
Using a protectant for your soft top starts with knowing whether you have a fabric or vinyl soft top. Keep in mind that although your rig might have come out of the factory with one type, it could have been replaced with something else. A quick way to check is to pour roughly 50 ml of water on the roof and rub it with a soft cloth. If it beads up and remains wet on the surface, it’s vinyl. If it absorbs in, it’s fabric. This is because most fabric tops are made of a tightly woven polyacrylic or polyester canvas, which are water-resistant, not waterproof (it needs to be treated to be waterproof).
Fabric, Cloth or Canvas Protectant Tips
If you’ve ever used a can of spray paint or waterproofed jackets or shoes, the same rules apply. Most protectants will have instructions on the container but here’s what to expect:
Your top must be completely dry
Avoid excessive overspray by working on a windless day or pull it into your (or a friend’s) garage.
Spray in a sweeping motion and stop spraying when you change directions to avoid applying excess protectant. Do not saturate – more is not better. Don’t spray it on the windows, it won’t help them.
You should apply two or three coats of most protectants. The key is to make sure each coat is dry before applying the next coat. Drying time is reduced in warm temperatures and you can often dry them in the sun.