Can't find a cleaner that works

chromebumpers

solid fixture here in the forum
Staff member
My white top convertible is a vinyl top. It's not new but it doesn't have any cracks, holes or rips. What it does have is a uniform light dirtiness look. I tried convertible top cleaner (I think it works as good as Windex would) and I tried a mixture of bleach and dish soap in a spray bottle and rubbed with a clean white rag, nothing, not even anything on the rag and the top looks no different. I didn't try my favorite cleaner called Krud Kutter yet, but I'm not holding much hope that that stuff will do anything better.

Any ideas? Steam cleaning? Abrasive cleaners like something that has some grit to it?
 
My white top convertible is a vinyl top. It's not new but it doesn't have any cracks, holes or rips. What it does have is a uniform light dirtiness look. I tried convertible top cleaner (I think it works as good as Windex would) and I tried a mixture of bleach and dish soap in a spray bottle and rubbed with a clean white rag, nothing, not even anything on the rag and the top looks no different. I didn't try my favorite cleaner called Krud Kutter yet, but I'm not holding much hope that that stuff will do anything better.

Any ideas? Steam cleaning? Abrasive cleaners like something that has some grit to it?
Don't ever use an abrasive cleaner on a convertible top Richard .

Try simple Green cleaner.

Or Tide laundry detergent added to car wash soap in a Bucket.
 
the first thing youll want to know is the reason or source of the dis-coloration,
water stain, mildew,oily dirt?
very clear detailed color pictures would help

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Greased-...pose-Cleaner-and-Degreaser-30101GRL/202820675
6bf6c59e-22a0-4a1f-96be-56ad6ca23527_400.jpg

http://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-32-oz-Mold-Stain-and-Mildew-Stain-Remover-Case-of-4-ZUMILDEW324/204590498?cm_mmc=Shopping|Base&gclid=CLr2jP-V2McCFYU6aQodRoQNVA&gclsrc=aw.ds

fa530a9b-9122-4857-84a1-45fe3ee895ee_400.jpg


http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lime-A-Way-32-oz-Hard-Water-Stain-Cleaner-51700-87104/204786097

82dced78-81e8-4811-b68e-fdf11b800178_400.jpg
 
It can't be mold or mildew or my bleach solution would have cleaned it. Not sure it would show up in a photo, it's just an all over discoloration. My guess is hard water rain, pollution or just dirt settling from the air as I don't know how old the top is or if the car was kept outside. I want to try Lime-a-way next.
 
well? did you find a solvent grease remover,oxygen bleach, soap or detergent that got the car roof clean?
if so what did you use?
pictures might be helpful?
 
I haven't found anything, but I didn't try the CLR product either. I think the discoloration won't be picked up unless I put a contrasting white next to it like a a paper towel (not too white, but white that wouldn't blind you and look wrong, does that make any sense?)
It could be acid etched by rain and if that's the case there's nothing short of dying or replacing the top.
Ames sent me material samples for the interior seats and other surfaces and carpet. I was blown away that one of the samples was dead on right with the dark red seats and so I ordered a boot cover for when the top is down from that sample. I bought their matching interior dye for some interior parts that are a different red and to my surprise it's dead on correct too! Big Jim at Ames says Pontiac would always have different hues and shades of the same colors in their interiors - says it's normal. I don't like the arm rest brighter red and that same red is on the lower dash panel that spans the entire length and when I remove that fugly surface mounted stereo that someone tie strapped to the ashtray door I might have some touch-up to do. I'm sure this dye will be undetectable when I'm done. Aside from a short hairline crack in the glovebox pad cover, the interior is absolutely flawless (only the carpet is a bit old and shows its age) otherwise I'm astounded I got this lucky.
 
Eastwood has a kit that works well if you want to fix the crack.

You may be able to vinyl dye the top. SEM sells vinyl dye in bulk at local retailers mixed to color that might be used to dye the top. I've used it for vinyl tops but never a convertible. Used car dealers use it to make cars easier to sell when they have a top color that doesn't look good with the body and interior colors as a combination even though the car could be ordered that way.
 
I would try that for any other color but white. I use to dye vinyl tops until I found how easy it is just to install them with new materials.
I just can't believe any dye could stay looking uniform in color on a surface that folds, is subject to extreme cold and heat, harsh sun, pollution, dust & dirt settlement and acid rain - is that enough? Lol
 
Ya, dye certainly wouldn't last a long time especially if used on a daily driven vert. That is IF it could even be done at al;l. Suppose it depends on the material. I just replace vinyl tops too on my own cars. After I finish my Firebird I've gotta put a new Landau top on my 81 Malibu.
 
Richard dumped a ton of cash into his 1971 Corvette and is still unhappy 5 years later.
Thats all.
The 1968 Catalina Convertible is way faster as is with a 400 ci 2bbl Pontiac V8 and he knows it.
 
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