Soft top roof cleaner / protection

[AlteredMode]

Hi, just picked up an Abarth 124 Spider that I'm collecting tomorrow Just wondering what the best products are for cleaning and protecting the soft top roof? I've not owned a convertible before so not sure what the best thing is to do here to protect it from the somewhat unpredictable Scottish weather. Any help greatly appreciated

[Pikeyboy]

Hey I live in Aberdeenshire and I recently refurbished my roof of my 500 C depending on what level you want to go down i used the renovo  three stage process see link but found I needed a little bit more of their dye & waterproofer than what they suggested but all in all it turned out well but still if you just want to protect a good roof I've heard quite a few good reviews about autoglyms convertible soft top clean and protect complete kit

https://www.renovointernational.com
https://www.autoglym.com/convertible-soft-top-clean-protect-complete-kit

happy cleaning!!

[Geoffxb]

If the car is new then it will be ok for a long time as long as you keep it clean my spider is nearly 2 years old and the roof is still like new but it is kept in a garage.

[137699]

I know very well a guy that restores/rebuilds soft tops - and his advice is NEVER use any protective layer on a soft top.

Hartz, (the manufacturer of the fabric) say the cloth is specifically designed to absorb water and wick it away. This ensures the cloth stays supple and in shape. Water won't enter the car as there is an impervious membrane within the fabric.

It's fine to clean the fabric using specialist cleaners, however it is NOT fine to "treat" the fabric with anything that is water repellent or which cases water beading on the surface. Why? Well because this causes the fabric to dry and go hard - when this happens you create the conditions for the fabric to shrink, the fibres prematurely age and start to get damaged, and the lack of suppleness to the fabric then creates issues on the runner, motor & mechanics of the roof.

Of all the soft-top products you can use, he tells me Renovo is the worst -  its effectively a swear word as he says it creates and almost bitumen style coating on the fabric which cracks and causes untold damage to the roof itself. Actually it's great for his line of work - he makes money replacing roofs that have had such products used on them, but he'd never recommend use of any such product.

[buckwits]

Ooops! Just cleaned my 2 year old Spider with Auto Glym 2 stage cleaner and protector. Seemed to work a treat, looks like new.

[rsk289]

It's like leather seats - professional trimmers have always advised me to clean both leather trim and hoods of any kind with warm, soapy water, using a very mild detergent.

[Geoffxb]

I agree especially with newish cars

[rsk289]

I agree especially with newish cars

Works for my '55, too!

I like a car the same age as me

[AlteredMode]

If the car is new then it will be ok for a long time as long as you keep it clean my spider is nearly 2 years old and the roof is still like new but it is kept in a garage.

Sadly I've no garage to keep it in where I am just now hence trying to keep on top of cleaning and protection for it.

[AlteredMode]

I know very well a guy that restores/rebuilds soft tops - and his advice is NEVER use any protective layer on a soft top.

Hartz, (the manufacturer of the fabric) say the cloth is specifically designed to absorb water and wick it away. This ensures the cloth stays supple and in shape. Water won't enter the car as there is an impervious membrane within the fabric.

It's fine to clean the fabric using specialist cleaners, however it is NOT fine to "treat" the fabric with anything that is water repellent or which cases water beading on the surface. Why? Well because this causes the fabric to dry and go hard - when this happens you create the conditions for the fabric to shrink, the fibres prematurely age and start to get damaged, and the lack of suppleness to the fabric then creates issues on the runner, motor & mechanics of the roof.

Of all the soft-top products you can use, he tells me Renovo is the worst -  its effectively a swear word as he says it creates and almost bitumen style coating on the fabric which cracks and causes untold damage to the roof itself. Actually it's great for his line of work - he makes money replacing roofs that have had such products used on them, but he'd never recommend use of any such product.

Thanks for this. I had wondered when dealer sold me it and told me to get protection for the roof but its wasn't something they offered.

[KP61]

Ooops! Just cleaned my 2 year old Spider with Auto Glym 2 stage cleaner and protector. Seemed to work a treat, looks like new.

Me too!! Better go and scrub it all off!! 

[Geoffxb]

All it needs is a wipe over