06-16-2019, 06:32 PM | #1 |
Drives: None Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Diego
Posts: 19
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Convertible Black Top, how to keep clean?
Was lucky enough to pick up a 6MT vert ZL1... My first black top convertible..... The most frustrating thing is up close you can see "lint" basically ingrained in the top already and a lint roller doesn't work well. Tried a basic hand wash with my power washer and soap with a light scrub with a sponge... No real results.
How do you keep the top lint free??? |
06-16-2019, 06:46 PM | #2 |
Drives: 2019 2SS Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: WA
Posts: 67
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I vacuum mine before treating it (303, Raggtop, etc.) and then picks up less.
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06-16-2019, 07:11 PM | #3 | |
Drives: Wild Cherry LT1 Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,925
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Quote:
If your car top doesn't see a lot of sun....like mine, garaged or top down while driving, regular washing with a sponge and light rinse is the way to go. In between, if there's pollen / lint etc., I use a quality horse hair shoe brush. Pressure washing the convertible top is questionable... one little oops and Good luck with the Z... I have almost 700 miles on mine and love it. |
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06-16-2019, 07:32 PM | #4 |
Drives: 2017 Camaro SS Fifty Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Port St Lucie, Florida
Posts: 966
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303 Protectorate and a lint roller. I never use soap on my top. It will remove the 303. I use a lint free rag and water. I guess since I don't have a lint problem the 303 must kept it from adhering to the fabric?
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06-16-2019, 11:36 PM | #5 |
Drives: None Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Diego
Posts: 19
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I had a cheap vinyl brush for mix use (shoes, etc.) but the bristles seemed way too rough on the top. I'll go horse hair I think as well. I just ordered the fabric guard/sealant so will do that as well.
Top won't see much direct sun over it's life but boy do I need to get rid of the lint now, so annoying to see it. It's really baked in, like it doesn't just want to wipe away. In terms of the power washer, it's all in the nozzle, just using a wide spray nozzle designed for washing your car It's a sun joe spx3000 and one of it's primary uses is car detailing/washing. |
06-17-2019, 06:02 AM | #6 | |
Drives: Wild Cherry LT1 Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 1,925
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Quote:
I was thinking about the embedded lint... maybe some duct tape wrapped around your hand? Or maybe wet the top and carefully use a shop vacuum to pull up on fibers? I’d use fine sandpaper on the nozzle to smooth it out before touching the roof... that’s all I have for ideas!! |
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06-17-2019, 06:21 AM | #7 |
Drives: 2017 Camaro SS Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 522
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Great tips guys, thanks!
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Kevin
Luceo Non Uro |
06-17-2019, 06:37 AM | #8 | |
Drives: 2017 Camaro SS Fifty Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Port St Lucie, Florida
Posts: 966
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Quote:
I have the same Sun Joe 3000 and damaged the top of our BMW when I got to close to the top trying to get a stain out so be careful using a power washer. That said it should take the lint off, just keep it about 12" away from the fabric with the least aggressive tip. |
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06-18-2019, 05:28 PM | #9 |
Drives: Gen 6 2LT Conv Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Ivanhoe, NC
Posts: 5
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I use a lint roller that has masking tape on it. I think that duct tape would be too strong. After that I use RaggTopp to wash and treat the fabric. I may try the 303 when I runnout of the RaggTopp. How important is it that the cleaner be certified for HAARTZ? And, what is that or does it mean? 10 years ago when I got a new top put on y Geo Tracker the installer said to only use cleaners that had that certification. Does that apply to the current top material?
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06-19-2019, 08:51 AM | #10 |
Drives: Former 2016 Camaro 1LT Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Naples, FL
Posts: 760
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I also used the 303 protectant on my past 2016 Miata black cloth top and it never had an excessive lint problem. There might have been a few pieces of lint once in a great while, I simply brushed them off with a soft bristle brush.
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2006 C6 Corvette Manual, 2019 Silverado, 1997 Jeep Wrangler
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06-19-2019, 08:41 PM | #11 | |
Thank you Al Oppenheiser!
Drives: Red Hot A10 ZL1 Convertible Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 4,974
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Quote:
Just go easy on the soap or you will spend quite a while rinsing to get it out. Here's how 303 has held up after ~23 months and 6700 miles... Last edited by Gunkk; 06-19-2019 at 08:58 PM. |
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06-20-2019, 12:31 AM | #12 |
Drives: 2017 Camaro 1LT Convertible Auto V6 Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Covina
Posts: 154
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