What’s the best way to clean my Thunderbird’s Soft Top?
Every 2002-2005 Thunderbird came with a convertible soft top, and most were black. A black soft top tends to hide dirt, stains and smudges, but what if your Thunderbird came with one of the lighter colored tops such as ‘Sand,’ ‘Light Oak,’ ‘Light Ash’, or Blue? Those colors are much tougher to keep clean. Bird droppings, sap, and dust can make even dark-colored tops look dirty, and lighter-colored tops also develop dark marks and lines from the top mechanism and rubber weatherstripping.
Every Thunderbird owner has his or her own special method of keeping their soft top clean, but which is best and what’s the best product to use?
The wide selection of soft top cleaning and care products can be confusing and prices range from under $ 10 to over $ 50 for complete soft care kits.
Some Thunderbird owners prefer simple soap and water applied with a wash mitt, sponge or soft cloth. Soap and water works fine for everyday dust and dirt, but dark stains, bird droppings, tree sap and black marks from weatherstripping don’t come off so easily and can require special cleaners.
One of the most popular soft top cleaning products is ‘Ragg Topp.’ Ragg Topp is formulated especially for convertible soft tops and is a very good all around cleaner. But it won’t remove stains caused by mold, mildew and rubber weatherstripping. Some Thunderbird owners have tried a mixture of Ragg Topp and simple household bleach for deeper cleaning. But although bleach is effective at removing stubborn stains, it can damage the fragile fibers in the canvas soft top, causing them to fray and deteriorate. Also, using too strong a bleach solution can cause spots and actually discolor the soft top itself.
What can I use that’s effective at removing stubborn stains but won’t damage or discolor my soft top?
We recently discovered a great product for cleaning your Thunderbird’s convertible soft top that’s both effective and safe. Not only does it remove stubborn stains, but it also removes mold and mildew that can develop if you put your top down before it’s completely dry. This product has been used by boat owners for many years to clean canvas sail covers, dodgers, and other cloth that’s exposed to harsh, damp sea air, but you won’t find it in the car care section of your local auto parts store. In fact, most Thunderbird owners don’t even know this product exists! And unlike bleach and other chemical cleaners, it’s non-toxic, biodegradable and gentle on your soft top’s canvas material. The large, 16-ounce bottle is enough for many cleanings and will keep your soft top looking showroom-new for years.
Click here to order today:
https://www.thunderbirdspecialties.com/shop/thunderbird-convertible-soft-top-cleaner/
