Cleaning/restoring/proofing soft top

[Dawn]

You sooo have to know what your doing with the Renovo Stuff.. what happened to the Autoglym advice ?
Trust me/us, its a miracle worker

[johnlondonw3]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dawn (original)

You sooo have to know what your doing with the Renovo Stuff.. what happened to the Autoglym advice ?
Trust me/us, its a miracle worker

Dunno,just fancied giving something else a go !
Maybe your right and I should go with whats been tried and tested on Minis ,altho if you look at the MX5 site they rave about the Renovo products........I want to get the roof looking like new,as its 4 yrs old and has just been washed with ordinary shampoo I'm assuming this and the effects of sunlight etc will have bleached some of the colour ,so I thought the renovo restorer would help get it back to looking new and then reproof it ............does the autoglym restore any colour .....would you say after using the autoglym that the hood looked like it was when you first got the car ??

[Teardrop2929]

Quote: Originally Posted by johnlondonw3 (original)

"!"
I was going to get some of the Renovo products,and then saw your post ,how did you put the restorer on,did you use a brush or a sponge ? I assume you must have let it dry in the middle before you did the other side....i.e. if you keep a wet edge then this should avoid getting a line down the middle ??
Not sure if I should give the restorer a miss

Hiya,

I completly agree with Dawn! I don't really have any car cleaning experience apart from I love cleaning my car and making it all sparkly! )

Yes I used a paint brush, you put the black liquid in a container and then paint it on. I did do from one side, and then went around and did the other side leaning over as far as I could. I did all the strokes in the same direction and everything to try and make it look good and followed the instructions really making sure the liquid was evenly applied and covered all of the surface and pile.

It proably did dry a bit in between doing sides but we are only talking 5/10 mins, maybe you should do a stroke each side and keep running around? I dont know?

Here are some after pictures but they dont really show the line, you can only very possibly slightly see it on the head on picture but its not very clear.

The Autglym is good! Really go with that first!

I know how you feel with wanting to make it look brand new again, that's exactly why I went for the renovo, just be very careful if you do decide on it as its a real pain to fix if it goes wrong! We even tried going over it again, my boyfriend is 6'5 so could reach all the way over the roof (I know I should have got him to help me first ) so no line in the middle this time but even with a second coat you could still see the original streaks through! But renovo do have good products like the rear screen stuff, this is ace so would agree with the MX5 guys there!

I would say the Autoglm did a pretty good job, I only bought mine at two years old so cant say it looked like new but when I cleaned it the first time some bits came up green with the soap suds so it really needed a clean! and it looked good after, better than the roofs of other streetka's I saw about!

I found using a soft clothes brush good too for inbetween washed as mine seemed to attract those dandylion seed floaty things in the summer! Just brushing it and getting the dust off could really bring the roof up a treat on its own without the need for washing at all

Hope this helps, let us know what you decide

[johnlondonw3]

Thanks for advice and pics,the hood does look very good when s been renovated ..probably try the Autoglym first and see how it comes up and then get the Renove later.

[slider]

Quote: Originally Posted by johnlondonw3 (original)

Thanks for advice and pics,the hood does look very good when s been renovated ..probably try the Autoglym first and see how it comes up and then get the Renove later.

i have used auto glym & 303 they are both good but the 303 waterproofing spray leaves a new look to the roof , i get mine from this link
http://www.motorgeek.co.uk/exterior-...e-c-21_30.html

[johnlondonw3]

Quote: Originally Posted by slider (original)

i have used auto glym & 303 they are both good but the 303 waterproofing spray leaves a new look to the roof , i get mine from this link
http://www.motorgeek.co.uk/exterior-...e-c-21_30.html

Thanks for this info,when you say a new look does it help to darken the fabric ,which like I said in an earlier post has probably bleached my soft top slightly in the last 4 yrs ,so Im trying to find something that will achieve this .

[slider]

Quote: Originally Posted by johnlondonw3 (original)

Thanks for this info,when you say a new look does it help to darken the fabric ,which like I said in an earlier post has probably bleached my soft top slightly in the last 4 yrs ,so Im trying to find something that will achieve this .

yes , if you apply a nice wet coat over the hood & let it fully dry it will give it a nice dark new look & the water will just bead up & run off.... I tend to buy the bigger size bottle it's about £25..

[johnlondonw3]

Quote: Originally Posted by slider (original)

yes , if you apply a nice wet coat over the hood & let it fully dry it will give it a nice dark new look & the water will just bead up & run off.... I tend to buy the bigger size bottle it's about £25..

OK ,I'll give it a go

[Purple One Conv]

I use the 303 water just runs off it. Just vacum to clean it.

[johnlondonw3]

I bought some 303 cleaner and protectant and when it arrived in post the bottle of protectant had split and was all soaked up into the cardboard packaging,Im now waiting for a replacement !

I went to Ikea the other week and bought some of their lint removing pads (60p each ) you just tear the sticky stuff off the roll when each sheet is dirty ,so Ill use this after Ive brushed the top down and before I put any 303 cleaner and then protectant on

[Sboord]

Exactly how long the factory repellent will last is dependent on usage and the environment, so it’s best to keep an eye on your top. Your regular washings should reveal a gradual reduction of water repellence. You’ll want to watch carefully for signs of water puddles or wet spots where water has clearly penetrated the fabric, its time to treat your top.

Use a moderately stiff brush [OXO Feather Tip Wash Brush] to loosen dirt from the fibers and then vacuum. The use 303 Fabric Cleaner at least twice a year followed by 303 Fabric Guard or RaggTop painted on nice and heavy. Be sure to apply protectant to a clean, dry top. Reapply the protectant as needed to maintain an optimum level of water repellency.



I haven't used autoglym...not sure I can get it over here.

[johnlondonw3]

I got the 303 cleaner and fabric gaurd today,just waiting for the wind and rain to stop to give it a try,I also got some Renovo plastic window cleaner.
Once the weather improves I'll brush it and vacume before applying the 303

[nape dog]

Hi All

i am looking to get something for my roof. based on this thread i will go for euther autglym or 303. i want to get rid of the green tinge and get it back to black. will both of these do the job? and which of these is easier to use as i am something of a clutz.

thanks

[Vandalay Industries]

I've just gone through the process of using the Autoglym roof cleaning kit.

I don't have a wireless vacuum so i didn't do that part - although the roof wasn't too dirty.

I used a brush to pre-clean the roof before applying the Autoglym roof wash with the supplied
coarse sponge. I was a bit concerned that the supplied sponge is a bit TOO coarse and might
not be doing the fabric much good! The washing stuff didn't foam much - just in some parts - though i used it generously all over.

Next day when it was fully dry i applied the protector spray.

The hood looks clean - but not really much better than it was before!!

Might give the 303 a go now.

Isn't it better NOT to scrub the fabric roof TOO much?? Especially with a sponge as coarse as the one that comes with the Autoglym kit.

[85NIXMIN]

I bought the 303 Fabric Convertible Roof Cleaning and Protector Kit... came up pretty good I think... might give it another going tomorrow ... But I'm really happy with the results and the rain has beaded on the hood when its wet!