How to clean and protect vinyl top?

Blitzkrieger

After waiting through five ice ages for parts, my convertible is finally going on the road next week……..fingers crossed. Of course the first thing I'll have to do is clean it

Can anyone recommend some products for cleaning and protecting vinyl tops? Preferably ones that are easy to find. I must go into halfords to see if they have
POR-15 next week anyway. I've gotten really lazy about washing my car *myself lately too so if anyone knows a valeting service in the Cork area that could do it for me that'd be good too





*It's not all laziness. Every time I wash the thing there seems to be a new stone-chip or scrath or dent on it. It's soul-destroying.

TomMc

Use a degreaser to clean the dirt, grease and grime from the vinyl hood. Let the solution sit for a few minutes, but not long enough that it starts to dry on the surface. Then rinse it off with fresh water. Next shampoo wash it to remove any leftover solution, rinse off again and dry fully. Make sure it is bone dry. Then protect it with an exterior vinyl protectant. Autoglym do a kit, one for fabric, not sure if they do one for vinyl roofs, but knowing Halfords they probably will not have it in stock. Turtle wax might do one too, I recall seeing one once. The best stuff quality wise and so much longer lasting is 303 aerospace protectant as it contains special UV filters, but it is only available online. What most valeting crowds use on your car will be some yellow-pack silicone based crap. Better to do the job yourself.

http://www.turtlewaxuk.com/results.asp?txtrange=Soft%20Top#

http://www.303products.com/tech/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=430

ianobrien

I've got an Escort with the original factory vinyl roof. What I use is Autoglym Shampoo to wash the roof, dried with cotton cloths, followed by Autoglym vinyl & rubber care.

I found it better that the meguiars natural shine vinyl & rubber protectant, as it ran onto the paint when it rained, leaving dark streaks (easily removed with water). Also, the Meguiars left it looking too shiny and glossy for my tastes.

1300e mk1

Hi I use Mer vinal cleaner and protector its brilliant on the vinal foor on my mk1 1300e
Irish Vintage Scene

Blitzkrieger

I'll have a sconse for the autoglm or the mer on Sunday or something so, thanks. Now I just have to google rustproofing the under-body........