How to Care for Your Car’s Convertible Top

If you have just purchased a new convertible, one of the first things you’ll need to know is how to care for its top. This is the thing, after all, that sets your car apart from the rest of the regular vehicles on the road and you’ll want to keep it looking its best for as long as you own the car. Whether you have a convertible with a vinyl or a fabric top, there are a few things that you should know in advance to help preserve it for the long run.

Fabric tops

When you first drive your shiny new convertible home from the showroom the fabric top will repel all moisture perfectly. You won’t have to worry about even the worst weather conditions like torrential rainfalls, sleet and snowstorms. Even hail will pop right off the rooftop. Like all good things, however, this too will end.

The fabric on your convertible’s top has been treated with chemicals at the factory but these will wear off over time. In order to preserve the top it’s best to keep an eye on the fabric to make sure that water isn’t puddling on it. As soon as you see any signs of puddles it is time to apply another protective coating to the fabric. There are a few quality coatings that you can use that are available at your local car-care specialty shops.

Vinyl convertible tops

Keeping your vinyl top clean is easy and it can be washed at the same time as you clean your car. Use a gentle shampoo on it and scrub lightly with a soft bristle brush to remove the dirt nestled between the cracks on the textured vinyl.

It’s a good idea to apply a protectant to the vinyl in order to avoid a cracked and faded top. Again, as with the fabric types, there are vinyl coatings that can be purchased to protect the top of your precious convertible. Some of these coatings will also help to prevent mildew from growing on your rooftop and will help repel oil, grease and dirt. These protectants provide a matte sheen so that the top continues to look natural.

Protective coatings should be applied as soon as you purchase your car, since once damage is done to the vinyl, it is irreversible. Keep your top protected by applying a new coating every month and make sure that you keep up with weekly washes to always keep it looking its finest.