Cleaning roof
- Thread starter Caz
- Start date
Attleborough, Norfolk
I spray strong, neat white vinegar and leave it to soak in overnight whenever mouldy patches appear.
Another spray the following day followed by a light wash with a soft wash mit. For any stubborn/deep patches you just need to let it soak a bit longer.
Pongs a bit but comes up like new every time. Been doing this over the last 6 years and it's a trick I garnered from my old man who's had ragtops his whole life.
You don't need an amoury of expensive cleaners and even light scrubbing is just going to help degrade the roof fabric over time. The white vinegar is as cheap as chips and 100% effective when used properly. The only drawback, as mentioned is that it can pong for a couple of days afterwards but it soon disappears, especially after the next wash.
Using a hardtop and/or covering the roof during the colder, wetter months also helps.
Another spray the following day followed by a light wash with a soft wash mit. For any stubborn/deep patches you just need to let it soak a bit longer.
Pongs a bit but comes up like new every time. Been doing this over the last 6 years and it's a trick I garnered from my old man who's had ragtops his whole life.
You don't need an amoury of expensive cleaners and even light scrubbing is just going to help degrade the roof fabric over time. The white vinegar is as cheap as chips and 100% effective when used properly. The only drawback, as mentioned is that it can pong for a couple of days afterwards but it soon disappears, especially after the next wash.
Using a hardtop and/or covering the roof during the colder, wetter months also helps.
I took a picture and zoomed in and then took a screen shot on my phone, must admit I am worried I have been scrubbing too hard.inkey$ said:
When I saw this a week or two back it almost looked like white paint, though more likely to be pigeon crap. My lad lost a patch of paint off his Fiesta after he left pigeon s**t on his car too long. I think this could be a similar issue and the vinegar may be the next solution to try.inkey$ said:
Finland
millview22
Member
Have a look at Car Cleaning Guru on YouTube - he recently cleaned the roof of a MX5, which was in very poor condition.
My nephew asked me about that video as he's just bought himself an MX5.millview22 said:
OMFG, major cringe with the amount of scrubbing he did on that roof!!
He's probably taken at least 10 years out of it's life! It's amazing he didn't wear holes into it!
My nephew followed my (and his granddad's) method to tackle the mould on his own roof. It took over a week of applying and re-applying white vinegar, letting it soak in and do it's own work before lightly washing and it's come up like brand new!
As an impatient Gen z'er he wanted an instant result but wisely he decided to bide his time and is now glad he did.
You can also make your own vinegar solution by mixing acetic acid with distilled or demineralised water.
It's the ONLY method you need to use unless of course, you're an impatient sod.
:lol: :evil:
One more winter and there would have been ferns and amanitas, too. yes think I have been that impatient sod!Chris_D said:
millview22
Member
There is no doubt white vinegar is a tremendous cleaning product. However, the various companies supplying bespoke cleaning products argue that vinegar or milton tablets may very well deal with the green stuff on a convertible top, but that their products also contain inhibitors to prevent regrowth. It is also interesting that these same companies all sell brushes to scrub the fabric. I tend to the view the fabric used for convertible tops is pretty tough and I have used these brushes regularly over the last few years with no apparent damage.
It's amazing though that we all have slightly different approaches to cleaning the roof...
It's amazing though that we all have slightly different approaches to cleaning the roof...