This is an updated video on how to clean and protect those cloth convertible tops. This simple process can last for years! Water will just dance off your top. Check it out! 303 Fabric Guard: amzn.to/3sAZFa6 SOLO Sprayer: amzn.to/3gjO7Tv Adam's Polishes All-Purpose Cleaner: amzn.to/3gdZs7C Adam's Polishes Car Shampoo: amzn.to/3mhWKSz Adam's Polishes Soft Red Brush: amzn.to/3AXnjR6
@@matthewernst2318 Thanks. That is the one I used (looks like they changed the photo of the boat). I'm assuming Marine would be more robust. I'm guessing the formulas aren't really all that different ;) f
The before and after conditions clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of the recommended way to clean and protect a convertible car top. Thank you very much for showing the procedures and the used products.
Thanks for updating. For those of us who don't have a garage you can also add a cap cover which only covers the roof and windows of the car. It also keeps debris that falls from trees out of the cowlings and drains. With any car cover you have to balance the protection it provides to the effects it might have on the paint. I have to park my 997 cab outside under trees, so it's a great compromise for my situation.
Delightful as always you two! So educational and I don't even own a rag top. I love your neighborhood and have figured it out from thousands of miles away. Hard to believe you get 2ft or more of snow there in the winter. Cheers from a cold New Zealand, David
Franny you have shamed me into cleaning and preserving the top on my vw golf cabrio with your great vid I have owned the golf 15 years cleaned but never put the preserver on thanks keep up the great vids mark from nz
Thank you for the great video. While I’ve used (and like) 303 UV protectant, I didn’t know they had a fabric guard version. Thank you for the tip and I ordered some using your links. Speaking of which, your Amazon link goes to the regular 303 UV protectant and not the fabric guard. Might want to fix that.
I have a E350 Mercedes Cabriolet n My Car is Impeccably Clean, I've been thinking about WATERPROOFING My Top, This product n the way u did it LOOKS REALLY COOL, The ONLY thing that I have second thoughts about is Ruining my PAINT n the taping off, What looks like to be the Whole Car, BUT I think🤔 that um goin 2do it. (WISH ME LUCK)😃😀. P.S. BIG THANX 4 THE VIDEO!!!
It's interesting that you actually saturated the top when the instructions say the opposite. I used about 1/5th bottle on my car and it did nothing. I guess I'll give your method a go, but the results look good!
The real caveat is if you have a car that is 15 or 20 years old and your soft top has glued seams, your top could shrink enough after soaking to cause seams to separate. My experience is thoroughly dry brushing with a stiff brush and vacuuming on high suction first. Next, wring out a wet towel and give it a final going over. Then use your lint roller before applying fabric sealer.
I might suggest trying a product from Superior products called fire power, it's a APC cleaner that is perfect for cleaning a convertible top. It's also very low foaming.
I did 3 coats of the 303 fabric guard on my 1 year old Miata fabric top (basically almost the whole 16oz bottle). It rained 2 days later and it "barely" water beaded. Most of it soaked in like it always does. Extremely unhappy. Going to be switching over and trying the Adams protectant instead. The 303 cleaner seems ok, but also my top was already pretty clean in the first place.
@@HeidiandFranny Sunny and 80-84ish. Applied it in full sun. Little to no wind. Beautiful day for doing it. I see a "little" bit of beading when there is dew or mist on the top. But once the water gets heavier than that it just soaks in like before. It's like product is just sitting on the tops of the raised portion of the grain of the fabric but didn't penetrate or get the low spots of the fabric grain. After reading the MX-5 forums a lot of people recommend applying it with a foam roller or brush. That would definitely get a much heavier wetter coat than misting it with spray. I bought another bottle and I'm going to give that a try again. We'll see how it goes, otherwise I'll clean it again and switch to Raggtop's product.
Superb vlog Franny very interesting as always hope you are well just a thought you may be able to use that chemical to re waterproof a jacket 🧥 best regards to you Mark from Billericay in the U.K. 🇬🇧😃👍
@@HeidiandFranny I jest of course. At least when we do find some sunshine it’s never “too hot” to drive with the roof down. That’s why have a Fiat 500e cabriolet on order to go with my 993 cabrio, like yours.😎
I need to do this. But can't get my top rinsed off. Don't know what was used on it. I just purchased the car. Spray water on it. Slightest agitation, you get foam. I've tried several times. Doesn't even seem to lessen at all. I can pretty much wash the whole car without using soap. Tried cold and warm water. Tried agitation with cloth and brush. Tried just running water over it. Don't know what to do. Any suggestions what to do with this?
Just a little fabric cleaner. Or diluted car shampoo. Not a 40.00 bottle !! Thank you! And Soft little brush. Rapid dry towel. + Sun = BONE DRY !! Lint Roller. 303. With foam sprayer and foam brush for edges!!
great video, but the description link to the protectant shows an aerospace protectant but when i look up 303 fabric protectant (as said in video), i get a different bottle. is the link correct and you can use either product or is the link outdated? just making sure i buy the correct protectant for a convertible soft top.
Hi franny..i like your car! I have a question? Would you recommend applying a convertible top dye to restore a faded black top before applying a waterproofing agent?
Oh, gosh... I don't see why that wouldn't work. Just protect the paint well. Make sure it is completely dry and set before you treat it. Let me know how it goes!
Less than a year ago I had the top on my 06 Mustang replaced. Due to mostly simple laziness I failed to maintain the new top and while it was originally a golden/tan...now it is nut brown, almost black. A pretty extensive search for any 303 brand products in stores in my area have turned up nothing. Even here in "sunny" Florida products to clean and/or maintain convertible tops are pretty much nonexistent. I try to shop local/avoid internet purchases, but it looks like I have no other choice.
just curious : what is that round 'stain' on the top at 09:14 ? I have the exact same one, in more or less the same spot, on my 996.............very curious.
help! i drove through a car wash and accidentally had wax added. My canvas top is loaded with wax and I can't get it out. Any tricks? It is melting down my windows and into the door panel.
Hi Sue (that's my sister's name :) Can you follow the cleaning part of the video? A nice mild soap, warm water and a soft brush should work but it may take a few tries. I'm sure you'll get it perfect! F
@@HeidiandFranny i can order and try. So far i paid 3 pros to try. ($500) One used a cleaner that took color off. One put ice and tried to scrape wax off. The other used a cleaner i ordered off the internet. This happened 2 yrs ago. Many rains and car washes later it is still dripping wax.
Sorry about that. The marine version works as well, but I don't know about this one. I will try to fix it a bit later. Just look for the one with a green label.
Why don't they make this in a roller applied sealant such as used in many other applications. You wouldn't have to mask off the whole car and overpay while half your product blows away in the wind.
@@HeidiandFranny I leave in Uk majority of us leave our cars out so its hard to get time to do all that infact i was going to buy e class convertible but I'm scared now
Sorry, have you considered a BMW M4 Hardtop convertible? We have friends who love theirs. The downsize is the loss of trunk space. It's a thought. Good luck.
