Owning a convertible car can give you a great sense of freedom as you drive in the summer with the top down and the wind in your hair, but it’s not always carefree plain-sailing when it comes to owning a convertible.
The first step to caring for your convertible car is to work out whether your top is made of fabric or vinyl, as this will affect which products can be used on it. (Top tip for determining this is to drop a small amount of water on your convertible top, and if it soaks in it is fabric, if it smears but doesn’t soak in, it’s vinyl).
Unfortunately it’s not as easy as opting for taking your convertible through a car wash, as this could lead to deterioration of your convertible top, which could lead to costly repairs as well as making it look bad!
Tips for all convertible top types
• Never wash your convertible top in direct sunlight
• Never spot clean areas of the top; always clean the whole area
• Rinse thoroughly with water to ensure that no cleaner product is left on the top
• Always make sure your top is dry before applying protectant
• Never leave a convertible top down overnight
• Use no citrus, bleach, silicone or petroleum based products. These products break down a convertible top’s resistance to water and can lead to leaks.
Tips for fabric tops
• Use a soft-medium bristle brush to rub in your fabric specific top cleaner
• Rinse your car off and allow to dry
• Check for any leaks and get these seen to as soon as possible
• Once dry, spray a fabric protectant on the top to increase water resistance
Tips for vinyl tops
• DO NOT use a medium bristle brush for vinyl tops; use a microfibre towel or feathered brush
• Use a gentle car shampoo or convertible top cleaner suitable for both fabric and vinyl tops
• After you’ve cleaned the vinyl, use a vinyl protectant to preserve the colour and texture of your convertible top
Tips for clear vinyl windows
Don’t forget that your vinyl windows need some care and attention too! Convertible car drivers might be familiar with foggy windows; this fog is created by the evaporation of plasticisers, which are used in the manufacturing of vinyl to keep it flexible. Windows can fog up and turn yellow when these plasticisers release through evaporation with the heat of the sun. For this reason, it is important to protect the windows too. Plastic cleaner, polisher and protectant should be applied using a microfibre towel, inside and out.
If you follow these simple steps, you can be sure to keep your convertible looking its best at all times. Another top tip we have for you is to keep a lint roller in your glove box – convertibles attract all sorts of lint, dust and pollen, you’ll be surprised how much better your car can look after a quick once over with this!
Now, top down and enjoy the sun!