How to Take Care of your Convertible

If you want to learn more about convertibles, there are typically two kinds, a soft top or a cabriolet. Most of the American and Japanese manufactured vehicles use a vinyl coated fabric while European cars use a non-coated fabric.

Here are some tips on how to take care of both.

1. Non-coated fabric top

You should clean your convertible top at least once or twice a year. The most recommended time to clean this is at the start of spring and fall season. This allows you to prepare your convertible top in time for the heat in summer and the cold weather during winter.

Make sure you thoroughly clean your top and keep it protected from external elements and conditions. To identify the current condition of your top protection, try the water bead test. If the water beads are even then this means the protectant is still in good shape. On the other hand, if the water beads are uneven and soak into the fabric, you should start re-applying a protectant.

When cleaning your fabric top, always use a fabric top cleaner. Before applying it, park your car in a shaded area and away from direct sunlight. Use a soft brush to get rid of dirt.

2. Vinyl top

To clean a vinyl top, wash it carefully and if it doesn’t get rid of the dirt entirely, use an extra layer of vinyl top cleaner. Avoid using powder cleaners because it will only clean your top for a maximum of two weeks before it gets dirty again. Chlorine cleaners, on the other hand, eliminate the essential particles and reduce the UV protection of the vinyl top.

Similar to a fabric top, you should also park your car in a shaded area and avoid applying the cleaner and protectant while your car is directly exposed to the sun. We suggest you use a spray bottle and spray the cleaner evenly on the top surface.

Do not wet the top and use a sponge or a soft cloth instead. You can add another layer of cleaner to eliminate tough stains and leave it for at least an hour before rinsing it with a wet sponge. However, make sure the brush you are using doesn’t come in contact with the plastic window to avoid scratching it. After cleaning the top, apply a layer of vinyl conditioner to protect it.

For the best results, use our KevianClean Quick Wax to polish your car exterior.