Convertible-Washing?

aa21 · 10-17-2021, 03:39 PM

I have a question for all the convertible owners here, how do you wash your convertible? I know you all wash your cars yourself, but where I live (a condo) there is no place for me to wash my car myself. I was thinking of going to those car washes where you can wash your car yourself, but I don’t have a whole lot of them around my area and some of them are a bit sketchy or a couple miles from where I live. So how would a convertible fair with going through an automated car wash but one that is touch less? Let me know what y’all think.

Yang N’ Bang · 10-17-2021, 03:56 PM

So honestly when I had my 5th gen vert I had a guy that would come to me and wash it, had a whole setup in his truck, water tank and all, touch-less washes, and was only like 40 for a wash.This was 5 years ago too, I know it’s a pretty common service these days so you shouldn't have trouble finding someone.

BlakeR · 10-17-2021, 05:17 PM

Check out some videos online about “waterless wash” and “rinseless wash.” Two different things but one may work for you if your car doesn't get too dirty. ONR rinseless wash Is one brand.

Aragorn · 10-17-2021, 06:05 PM

I live in a house but use coin car washes. They have a ton of water pressure and even have a touch less stall if you don’t want to wash by hose.

aa21 · 10-17-2021, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlakeR

Check out some videos online about “waterless wash” and “rinseless wash.” Two different things but one may work for you if your car doesn't get too dirty. ONR rinseless wash Is one brand.

I was thinking of this one too, because it wouldn’t get me into trouble with the condo management lol. How about the top itself, what is the best way to wash it.

GroundhogSS · 10-17-2021, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aa21

I was thinking of this one too, because it wouldn’t get me into trouble with the condo management lol. How about the top itself, what is the best way to wash it.

For the top, check out RaggTopp or 303. They make cleaners and protectants. I know there are some others, I just don't remember any now.

Spaceme1117 · 10-18-2021, 05:45 AM

Touchless car washes can be fine for convertible cars. But I would not do it as frequently as a hard top.

I used to have a Saturn Sky Redline and I would go through touchless car washes every now and then. When the sprayer passed over the windows, I would get a few drops of water through the seals. I just dried the areas with a towel afterwards.

I have been using Meguair's waterless carwash for the last few years and it is great. And for the top, 303 protectant is excellent.

Speak99 · 10-18-2021, 11:56 AM

Rinseless is the way to go. In the summer I keep the top down all the time. I do not need to clean it. Rinseless allows me to keep the top down and wash with a soft MF towel. Drying is a challenge when the car is warm and the outdoor temp is high.

So I spray some wax or detailer on the car or soak the drying rag.

Gunkk · 10-18-2021, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aa21

how do you wash your convertible?

My car is PPFd and coated, and isn't daily driven, so it doesn't really get that dirty. But before shows and meets, she gets a two bucket wash with a blow dry. Adams car shampoo & a Chemical Guys Chenille wash mitt. Chemical Guys gerbil brush for the grille & wheels. Half-dozen low-pile cheapo microfibers for the parts of the spokes the gerbil brush can't get, as well as the exhaust, and undersides of the splitter/rockers. Wheel woolies for the wheel barrels.

For the top I use a sticky tear-off lint roller (which has 2 coats of 303 Fabric Guard installed at 2017 and still beads wter). I don't think I've wet washed the top in 2 years because it hasn't needed it. Lint roller gets 99% of what gets on the top. And the top is never up when the car is being driven. It's just a dust cover for the interior when she's parked in the garage.

I have a foam cannon and gas pressure washer. Haven't needed it for a couple years (car hasn't been that dusty/gritty/sandy to the point where wet-wiping would risk swirls).

Quote:

So how would a convertible fair with going through an automated car wash but one that is touch less?

That's a negative, ghost rider. I wouldn't want that high pressure washer blasting the fabric.

My preferences would be:

Use a hose at your condo (most have them), or
Go to a coin-op place with my two bucket wash kit and use the hose there.
Relocate to a more car-guy friendly residence.

Mark114 · 10-18-2021, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aa21

How about the top itself, what is the best way to wash it.

If a lint roller won't remove the dirt then I wash the canvas top with a soft microfiber towel and scrub very gently. GM says brushes can damage the canvas so I don't recommend them (even soft brushes).

craigss50 · 10-18-2021, 06:26 PM

I used a small paint roller to apply 303 convertible top protectorate. I use plain water and a clean small terry cloth towel to wash the top when I wash the car. I also use a lint roller to clean the dust or lint off. Car wash soap will diminish the 303 protectorate. It still looks new. I made the mistake of using a power washer on our last car and it damaged the threads of the cloth top.

aa21 · 10-18-2021, 10:28 PM

I took a look at the 303 cleaner and I think that would work great for when the top is actually dirty. I also think the lint roller would work for those times where it isn’t “dirty”. And I think the best way to get the car washed is to go to a hand car wash and save the thought of getting the convertible top damaged.

Chutzpah · 10-18-2021, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aa21

I took a look at the 303 cleaner and I think that would work great for when the top is actually dirty. I also think the lint roller would work for those times where it isn’t “dirty”. And I think the best way to get the car washed is to go to a hand car wash and save the thought of getting the convertible top damaged.

Yes, hand wash. Clean the top with a sponge, soap and water (303 cleaner does work, but isn’t necessary) Let the top thoroughly dry and then coat with 303 fabric guard (twice, with a foam roller) You can use a REAL horsehair brush to clean of pollen dust etc. (sold on Amazon) Clearly, use a lint roller for lint.

Chevelle vs Camaro · 10-19-2021, 02:08 AM

Use a lint roller for the top and wash at a pay station when ever you can.

I use the RaggTop brush when I had my s550 coyote vert. Really gentle but deep cleans and didn’t pill up my top.

https://s.yimg.com/aah/autogeek/ragg...p-brush-33.gif

I used Griots convertible top cleaner as it rinses clean.

https://s.yimg.com/aah/autogeek/grio...cleaner-27.gif

As for washing car look into a rinseless over most waterless washes. To do it the safest without marring your paint, look up Gary Dean method.

Use alot of microfiber towels.

If you love your car, like to keep it as swirl free as you can and dont mind spending a little dough, check out Ammo NYC Frothe

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxRPQLh_zA

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10-17-2021, 03:39 PM	#1
aa21 Drives: 2022 Chevrolet Camaro Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Houston,TX Posts: 44	Convertible-Washing? I have a question for all the convertible owners here, how do you wash your convertible? I know you all wash your cars yourself, but where I live (a condo) there is no place for me to wash my car myself. I was thinking of going to those car washes where you can wash your car yourself, but I don’t have a whole lot of them around my area and some of them are a bit sketchy or a couple miles from where I live. So how would a convertible fair with going through an automated car wash but one that is touch less? Let me know what y’all think.

10-17-2021, 06:05 PM	#4
Aragorn Account Suspended Drives: Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Phoenix Posts: 1,538	I live in a house but use coin car washes. They have a ton of water pressure and even have a touch less stall if you don’t want to wash by hose. Last edited by Aragorn; 10-17-2021 at 08:39 PM.

10-19-2021, 02:08 AM	#14
Chevelle vs Camaro Drives: 2018 Camaro SS Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Washington Posts: 577	Convertible-Washing? Use a lint roller for the top and wash at a pay station when ever you can. I use the RaggTop brush when I had my s550 coyote vert. Really gentle but deep cleans and didn’t pill up my top. https://s.yimg.com/aah/autogeek/ragg...p-brush-33.gif I used Griots convertible top cleaner as it rinses clean. https://s.yimg.com/aah/autogeek/grio...cleaner-27.gif As for washing car look into a rinseless over most waterless washes. To do it the safest without marring your paint, look up Gary Dean method. Use alot of microfiber towels. If you love your car, like to keep it as swirl free as you can and dont mind spending a little dough, check out Ammo NYC Frothe https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxRPQLh_zA Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10-17-2021, 03:56 PM	#2
Yang N’ Bang 17’ Hyper Blue 2SS Drives: 17’ Camaro 2SS Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Phoenix Arizona Posts: 225 View My Garage	So honestly when I had my 5th gen vert I had a guy that would come to me and wash it, had a whole setup in his truck, water tank and all, touch-less washes, and was only like 40 for a wash.This was 5 years ago too, I know it’s a pretty common service these days so you shouldn't have trouble finding someone.

10-17-2021, 05:17 PM	#3
BlakeR 😁😁😁😁😁 Drives: 1ss Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Detroit Posts: 145	Check out some videos online about “waterless wash” and “rinseless wash.” Two different things but one may work for you if your car doesn't get too dirty. ONR rinseless wash Is one brand.

10-18-2021, 05:45 AM	#7
Spaceme1117 Drives: 2017 Camaro SS, 2011 Corvette GS Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Erlanger, Kentucky 41018 Posts: 815	Touchless car washes can be fine for convertible cars. But I would not do it as frequently as a hard top. I used to have a Saturn Sky Redline and I would go through touchless car washes every now and then. When the sprayer passed over the windows, I would get a few drops of water through the seals. I just dried the areas with a towel afterwards. I have been using Meguair's waterless carwash for the last few years and it is great. And for the top, 303 protectant is excellent.

10-18-2021, 11:56 AM	#8
Speak99 Drives: Camaro 2020 2SS VERT Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Ontario Posts: 223	Rinseless is the way to go. In the summer I keep the top down all the time. I do not need to clean it. Rinseless allows me to keep the top down and wash with a soft MF towel. Drying is a challenge when the car is warm and the outdoor temp is high. So I spray some wax or detailer on the car or soak the drying rag.

10-18-2021, 06:26 PM	#11
craigss50 Drives: 2017 Camaro SS Fifty Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Port St Lucie, Florida Posts: 966	I used a small paint roller to apply 303 convertible top protectorate. I use plain water and a clean small terry cloth towel to wash the top when I wash the car. I also use a lint roller to clean the dust or lint off. Car wash soap will diminish the 303 protectorate. It still looks new. I made the mistake of using a power washer on our last car and it damaged the threads of the cloth top.

10-18-2021, 10:28 PM	#12
aa21 Drives: 2022 Chevrolet Camaro Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Houston,TX Posts: 44	I took a look at the 303 cleaner and I think that would work great for when the top is actually dirty. I also think the lint roller would work for those times where it isn’t “dirty”. And I think the best way to get the car washed is to go to a hand car wash and save the thought of getting the convertible top damaged.

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