Best convertible top cleaner?

[Seattle Sam]

Hi folks,
I'm looking for the best way to remove black and grey marks from my white convertible top. I have tried scrubbing with various fabric cleaners, including my wife's "special quilt soap" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
but I have not had luck removing these tough stains. I have looked at a couple of products in the local automotove store, but they carry warnings about keeping their stuff away from paint - I don;t really want to use anything that can harm paint.

Anybody want to share their favorite cleaning material or method?

Thanks in advance,
-Seattle Sam

[JChlupsa]

Sam, Aloha I know your wanting to clean a Convt top but take a look at Chris's web site and how he did his Vinyl top.

go to the exterior link and scroll down and the top is like day and night.

http://www.67rs.com

http://www.camaros.net/forum/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=002724#000001

[budnate]

Hey Sam,

I checked out the link it is night and day!

We used to use at the car lot good old Comet on white tops, and we bought a scrub brush that would go on the end of the Makita buffer, I did a convert Bug once that was very dark and stained looking it turned out awesome, I have seen white tops that do not come out perfectly white after cleaning but they do look way better after the comet and scrub brush, My bro may still have the brush around I can see if he wouldnít mind you using for a couple of days. Defiantly helps do a better job plus you donít need to lean on the top you let the buffer walk out on the top. Make sure buffer is a variable speed unit! Not the low/High speed model.

I have never seen it hurt paint but it did clean some of the paint on the Bug I did it was a white / white Car but I buffed the paint after the top and it looked fine,

On you car I would get some cheap plastic from Home depot and tape it around the car on the chrome around the back window and around the side glass and windshield this will let the water run off the car without the chemicals hitting the paint, use the BLUE tape it wont stick and hurt anything.

Bud

[JoeG]

I also have a white vinyl top-----I also use a bleaching compound, but not on regular basis as it is very harsh to the material. Also a foaming type of rug cleaner would also help, I use a soft nylon rubbing pad, because you have a convertible top , you should use a terry-cloth pad when applying any type of cleaner. MOST IMPORTANT is to use a conditioner on the top afterwards.Give your car a good wax job before you start cleaning your top , this will heip protect your finish. In any event, you can always drive with the top down. : /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[KLONECO]

Westley's Bleache White,(the same stuff used to clean tires). Just don't do it in the sun, or a hot roof. Works great! STP's Tuff e nuff is pretty good also.

[John Brown]

10-4 on the Westleys. Bought a 62 Impala /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif convert w/white top, had been setting uncovered in dry but dusty barn for 15 years or so. Bleche-Wite and a nylon scrub brush made it New! Just keep water hose running on glass and paint to keep it from staining.