Cleaning the tan soft-top
red...@southeast.net
Does anyone have any proven ideas on how to clean the tan soft top on
the Miata? Mine keeps getting black marks and ?mildew? on it.
reddog
Ancient Earthling
In article <5av72d$r...@ns2.southeast.net>, red...@southeast.net says...
>
>Does anyone have any proven ideas on how to clean the tan soft top on
>the Miata? Mine keeps getting black marks and ?mildew? on it.
> reddog
>
Red,
I hope you don't mine me calling you by your first name. There are many
products made for cleaning your top. I am sure you will get lots of
advise on high price cleaners. I use just plain old "409" spray and wipe.
You must be very careful not to get it on your paint! It is great at
cleaning off your wax as well.:-( Rinse the top with water after. I
know the directions say that you don't have to, but you must on your top.
Then put a good heavy coat of Lemon Pledge on the top and the back window.
Don't try to save on the Pledge and get some other spray wax! I have
tried many and NOTHING works like it. I have used this procedure for over
30 years on convertible tops. I have never had a top or rear window
crack. I have never had a rear window turn yellow! You must be VERY
careful in cleaning the window of course. I am starting on the fifth year
with my Miata (Black&Tan). The top is great and the window looks like
new. I drive it every day and it sits in the Georgia Sun all day.
Lots of luck! Keep the Rev's up and the Top down!
The Ancient Earthling
dek...@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
The black marks will come out with soap, water, a good brush, and lots of
elbow grease. The mildew may be coming from putting the top down while wet.
You can use Meguiar's #40 vinyl/rubber cleaner/conditioner on the top once
clean to protect it. Never use anything like armorall, as it's a sealant
which will cause your top to age and crack much quicker.
Regards,
Richard Dekker, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, M-CLUB #90, MCofA #41997
Founder & President, Wild Rose Chapter - Miata Club of America
1990 MX-5 Miata - Mariner Blue with double white stripes
Mark Wold
dek...@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca wrote:
>
> The black marks will come out with soap, water, a good brush, and lots of
> elbow grease. The mildew may be coming from putting the top down while wet.
>
> You can use Meguiar's #40 vinyl/rubber cleaner/conditioner on the top once
> clean to protect it. Never use anything like armorall, as it's a sealant
> which will cause your top to age and crack much quicker.
I've never used anything but Meguiar's #40 for protection yet I still
can't get all the black marks off the top. I've tried water, water with
a mild soap, water with a not-so-mild soap, 409, elbow grease, brushes.
I still have not found a 100% cure for the black marks.
As much as I love my Merlot/Tan combo, there are times when cleaning
when I wish I still had one of my previous Miatas with the black top!
--
Mark Wold -- ma...@elnet.com
St. Charles, Illinois
'95M
Enigma
red...@southeast.net wrote:
>
> Does anyone have any proven ideas on how to clean the tan soft top on
> the Miata? Mine keeps getting black marks and ?mildew? on it.
> reddog
water(not steaming) and a stiff bristle brush. He tell me that in the
spring and summer he has to use this treatment about twice a month, Fall
and Winter juat once..
The ratio he uses is 2 parts Simple Green, 1 part Lysol mildew remover
and 4 parts water.
Hope this helps.
Tom
Red '91
Adam Groth
> I've never used anything but Meguiar's #40 for protection yet I still
> can't get all the black marks off the top. I've tried water, water with
> a mild soap, water with a not-so-mild soap, 409, elbow grease, brushes.
> I still have not found a 100% cure for the black marks.
I have heard that Meguiar's #39 is the best *cleaner* for the tan top.
From what I understand it works very well in removing the black marks and
then should be followed by #40 to protect the top.
I have never found #39 in any local auto parts stores, but I have found
listings for the product in mail order companies.
Adam & "Reflex" '94 Balck & Tan
Adam Groth
CAUTION!!!
Simple Green is very concentrated so if you use it, you may want to dilute
it even more than the above recipe! I don't use the stuff anymore since
(on my last car) I noticed the rubber deteriorating much faster than it
should have. I was told by a friend who worked at a detail shop that
Simple Green will do this to rubber if it's not diluted! My symptoms were
dry/cracking rubber (especially on the "squeegies" that seal the top of
the door against the window). *Nothing* could be done to rejuvinate the
rubber.
Just thought I'd share my experience with the stuff. Others may have had
better luck.
red...@southeast.net
Mark Wold <ma...@elnet.com> wrote:
>dek...@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca wrote:
>>
>> The black marks will come out with soap, water, a good brush, and lots of
>> elbow grease. The mildew may be coming from putting the top down while wet.
>>
>> You can use Meguiar's #40 vinyl/rubber cleaner/conditioner on the top once
>> clean to protect it. Never use anything like armorall, as it's a sealant
>> which will cause your top to age and crack much quicker.
>I've never used anything but Meguiar's #40 for protection yet I still
>can't get all the black marks off the top. I've tried water, water with
>a mild soap, water with a not-so-mild soap, 409, elbow grease, brushes.
>I still have not found a 100% cure for the black marks.
I don't know which is worse, cleaning the marks off of the tan top or
cleaning the leather seats after the dog gets out. Mine is the 95 M
Edition (Merlot/Tan)