The best care for your customer's convertible top!! Clean and protect. 

Two thoughts on this subject: I prefer vacuuming the fabric soft top before getting it wet. Water makes some residue more sticky and difficult to remove than working in the dry (pollen .... ). With more expensive fabrics used for the tops I find protection counter-productive. Yes, water may be repelled - but there is no reason for that as there are 100% water-tight layers in an expensive top. Primitive ones with only one layer of cloth are not sold any more as far as I know. The "protection" always seems to make the fabric more adhesive for dirt - and I have gone through quite some brands. Easy to realize when vacuuming as a first step. (rule does not apply for rare vinyl tops - where I like to use Meguiar's Synthetic Spray wax) My personal convertible fabric top on a now 7 year old car is still in perfect nick without any protection ever applied. Even no discoloration which would be visible when folding is and seeing the inside touching outside parts. Easy routine: Vacuuming as often as possible. Wash the way You described it if needed (I prefer APC from Meguiar's in 1:10 dilution) and scrub thoroughly. Rinse. Let air dry and you're done. Last advice: Clean the rubber seals but do NOT use rubber protectant on the ones touching the windows. Water tightness can be badly affected as the rubber protectant avoids closest possible contact between glass and rubber seal and so allowing air to force water into the cabin when driving! Not applicable for seals touching painted areas as frame of the windshield for example.

Great video! I have found in my experience that a lint roller works great after the top is dry to pull any lint or anything of the top

I have my first convertible top customer in about 2 weeks thanks for the tip. (BMW z3 ) daily driver car sits outside 24/7 was planning on picking up some car pro pearl for the job . May re consider that choice . Didn’t think about the top when I quoted the job. Live and learn I guess

I came way back here to see how Brian takes care of convertible tops because I knew I would find the best answers here. 👍

Just did the QPON 3•0 last weekend, and it worked flawlessly! it was extremely dirty (new purchase of a 2002) and used the Tornador to to agitate vs a brush, worked great.

I was wondering what to get that would be best for my mother's RS Camero convertible top. Once I saw this guy had a video I knew it would be only one I would have to watch since this guy uses a lot of the same stuff I do for everything else

Can you post a list of the products and what they do? Can you also show the repelling effect they have?

Nice job again there Brian....got to say you never cut corners with either amount of product used or steps to get great results...i guess that's why i'm more than happy to say about your site to any other detailing site i either go on or if people ask my advice i simply point them in your direction, because even if i have not seen the video on what they want advice on...i know it would have all the correct information for them to be happy to have a go at the job.....and the very reason i look to you for the heads up on products and techniques because i know you have used and know them well...regards rich.

I use fabsil in mine in uk 🇬🇧 it’s for waterproofing tents ⛺️ and is brush on perfect results and 5 litre tin is only £23 .

All the videos I have seeing they are all do it your self . I was wondering if you can recommend it a place were I can take the car and have it done ? Also around , how much will cost ....... Thx I like your videos a lot ...................

Super helpful! Ty for sharing.

Thank you for posting this video, great tips. Going to give it a go and get my soft top looking amazing. x

Great video Brian...with me seeing this 5yrs later, would you still have the links to the big brush you used or a current link if you're using something different now?

thank you for this very informative content. Is there any product or tips you'd recommend in order to protect the vinil window? Something which can either protect from UV rays and from rubbing when it's folded once the roof is open? Thanks in advance. Kind regards

Awesome stuff as usual, love your digs Brian, understated yet very substantial. Question : I've been learning for about a year now, really starting to get into it, however, I'm not sure whether i'm actually passionate about detailing, or I'm just doing it for all the amazing tools and products you can buy. lol. Just kidding don't waste your time answering that.I already know. Thanks again for the great stuff.

Glad I'm not the only one who gets water runing down t he inside of the window :)

Awesome info, I am just curious to hear your thoughts on using a steam cleaner on a soft top? Thanks👍

I have a 2000 mercury grand marquis padded top (not sure if it's vinyl or fabric?) that makes the car looks like it is a convertible when it is really a hardtop. What should I use on this fake top? It is a light tan roof. These roof were put on Cadillacs and Lincolns also inn the 80's 90's and early 2000's

How often should you clean the convertible top?

This seems old school. You should use an extractor. It cleans and removes dirt and leaves almost no water behind so it dries in less than an hour, lint free, so youre ready to apply the protection. I just did a 13 year old Saab clothtop that was filthy. It took 45 minutes in the blazing hot sun. Customer thought I installed a new top. Save yourself time and effort and just use an extractor.

Would you have any tips for removing scratches from the top? My dog hopped on top my car and now it’s gots a couple scratches on the soft top.

Hey Brian, another nice vid. Question for you, sorry if I missed it but I didn't get if you were just "demoing" the 3 different products and how to use them or if you recommended layering all 3 of them. 2nd, if you have say a stubborn spot do you think it would be ok to use a steam on it, perhaps turned down in strength/pressure (if the machine allows). Thanks

I apologize for my ignorance. Do you use all 4 products at a wash or do you use one of the 3 sealants depending on client budget?

Thanks for another great video Brian. Quick question about the small brush that you're using to clean the seams of the convertible top. Do you cut the bristles??? Seems to be shorter. I think that sometimes they're too long to actually do any scrubbing. Thanks

I have a 2005 Cadillac DeVille with the cloth mock convertible top. It has pressure washer marks. Should I try and even them out by going over it in even strokes or do you think cleaning it like this may help even the marks out?

Where do you get your products at

I wash mine with ordinary car wash soap that you buy in the store and with a brush like he has but it was a whisk broom then after you know where they Prince it I used a Hoover SteamVac use the upholstery cleaner attachment to suck off the water then I went up to Cabela's and got Camp dry after it was decently dry the top I applied to Camp dry and it waterproof the top real nice Camp dries like 10 bucks you do have to newspaper the windows so you don't get that stuff on your windows but it's worth it as far as that 303 crap is $30

My top needs cleaning bad. But the person I bought the car off of put some kind off caulking or something on the driver's side about 2 ft. So what should I do about that

What about using scotchgard as a water repellent?

Brian, my first convertible top this weekend. Is woolite strong enough for an exterior job like this? Mustang, not well maintained.

Brian, do you recommend Spray Nine for light colored fabric tops that have green mold and/or algae? Do you prefer Angelwax Shield instead of Raggtop or 303? Thanks so much.

how to clean the inside top of a convertble

Question, why did you apply the 2.0 over the 3.0 in reverse as all other times when applying QP-ON?

Brian I was watching this video since I need to protect a soft top this week, and I have some QP ON 2.0 left from some samples I bought a few months ago, I don't have the 3.0 anymore, 2 question first I guess is ok to use the 2.0 by itself right? And second why raindrops is not selling the QP ON line anymore, where can you find them, thanks B!

I heard some people use " tampico " brush, what do you think ?

I have a white convertible top and it needs cleaning in a bad way so bad its grey what can I use to get it white again

Hello Brian I can't seem to find QP-ON QED. I have a canvas top. Any recommendations?

It’s easy to clean a black tops. No videos on cleaning white, tan, yellow, blue or red convertible tops.

The platinum pluffle I love the. Great vid as usual.

I had a windshield installed and they got adhesive on my top..... please help

Hardcore Holly

Necesito reparar mi conbertible

X

too much shit to do