Words by Perry Mack
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 obviously take a good beating compared to 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.
Perry Mack
After some time on the trails, our rig usually looks like this
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 and 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).
Perry Mack
A touchless wash will get the worst of the dirt off
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. Drying time is reduced in warm temperatures and you can often dry them in the sun.
- Use a soft microfibre cloth to wipe any overspray off your paint or trim.
Vinyl Tops
However, for all of the above, rather than spray the protector directly on the roof, spray it on a cloth and rub it on the top – it’s your choice. Spraying it on a cloth will reduce overspray and prevent excessive pooling on the top, which will just run off.
Perry Mack
Following the soft top maintenance suggestions will keep your top in ‘top’ shape
Windows
We’ve all seen scratched, yellowed, vinyl convertible windows. Plasticizers are used in the construction of flexible vinyl windows to keep them, well, flexible. Heat and sun cause the plasticizers to evaporate from the vinyl making them more prone to cracking. Vinyl also has the ability to absorb foreign materials like water, acids, hydrocarbons, and even UV light that leave your windows yellowed.
Follow the directions using a quality plastic cleaner and apply it inside and out to keep your windows clear and flexible and to prevent hazing or cracking. A microfibre towel or chamois works best as paper towels or other fabrics and brushes can scratch the window.
Zippers
The same dust and dirt that can wreck you soft top will also make your zippers harder to open and close. Naturally you’ll apply more power to your pull, which works but you risk breaking a zipper or the material around it. Zipper lubricants and cleaners cost under $20. You can’t say the same for a zipper or panel replacement.
This is where I could say something cheesy like “if you protect your roof it will protect you”. But I won’t…