How to keep hood in good condition?

[Magicarcher]

When I bought my car the previous owner had pretty much garaged it for 9 years, averaging only 1,000 miles per year. The hood looked like a new hood.

That is no longer the case. When I drive it I always have the hood down, so any return trip means hood goes down-up twice. I do around 150 journeys a year I guess.

My hood is now horribly shiny in places and some of the fold points are showing frayed piping. I am coming to the conclusion my constant up down isn't doing the hood any good.

Is this normal? Can anything be done to keep the hood looking good?

 

[ben g]

Fold marks are a nightmare for any fabric roof. You can clean them, but they always come back. However, it is perfectly normal.

Even my red one (new in October 2016) gets them.

I usually give it a clean with autoglym fabric hood cleaner and a nail/shoe brush. Seems to do a good job and brings the vibrant red colour out nicely.

 

[buzyg]

Another who uses the Autoglym kit here.

 

[RickRob]

And another Autoglym user here!

 

[Beatman]

One more for the list, Autoglym as well.

 

[Phoenixboy]

just done mine with Autoglym, seems to do the trick.