Mildew in my Rag Top
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 49
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Mildew in my Rag Top
Just bought a 98 roadster with an Oak color convertible top. The top has a significant amount of black mildew spots ingrained in the material. Tryed to get it out with typical over the counter top cleaners with no success. Any suggestions???? Hate to spring for $1,200 bucks for new top. Thx. for the help.....
AT
AT
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,571
Likes: 1
From: Hollywood Md
AT, if there's a boating supply store near you like Boater's World etc. they sell a spray mildew remover that works well. Unfortunately I can't remember it's name at the moment. If you find it, test for color fastness first in some inconspicuous place on the top. 
It's called STARBRIGHT MILDEW REMOVER.
It's called STARBRIGHT MILDEW REMOVER.
Last edited by cenzo; Jun 15, 2005 at 08:38 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,744
Likes: 9
From: FL
Cruise-In VI Veteran
My sister has a newer mustang GT and the tan top mildewed. She had someone that was a detailer do it. He used a spray, I don't remember what it was though.. supposed to be just for these kind of tops.
BTW.. that starbrite marine stuff is basically bleach. It contains chlorine. Be careful with it. It will clean mildew, but it's harsh on fabrics/stitching. I would dilute it if you use it and keep it off the paint as much as possible. But it will clean it.
BTW.. that starbrite marine stuff is basically bleach. It contains chlorine. Be careful with it. It will clean mildew, but it's harsh on fabrics/stitching. I would dilute it if you use it and keep it off the paint as much as possible. But it will clean it.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 482
Likes: 1
From: Waveland MS
I actually used very diluted bleach, and it worked very well. Of course, with bleach you have to watch how strong. I did it a while back, and I was really worried that I went too strong. Apparently not, and the top looked great. It works great, but just be careful with it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,155
Likes: 154
From: The Arid Sunny Desert
Are you sure that it is mildew and not wear spots? The oak top tends to show wear (especially the pre-2001 edition) resembling black dirt or mildew. No matter how much scrubbing you do the wear marks will only worsen.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,846
Likes: 5
From: Sandy Ego CA
Give RAGG TOPP a call, they make a cleaner and protectant kit for rag tops that been endorsed by Haartz, the MSL tops. My partner uses it on his Hot Rod and the top always looks new.
800-377-4700 or www.wolfsteins.com for a web site.
800-377-4700 or www.wolfsteins.com for a web site.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Thanks for the info guys..... It's not wear spots. It's a low mileage car and the top is in great shape except for the mildew.
I already tried the Ragg Topp product. Great stuff but it didn't touch the mildew.
As a last resort, I might try the diluted bleach. If it screws up the top (ie takes the color out) then I will spring for a new top
My biggest concern with using something like bleach or another industrial strenght cleaner is damaging my paint. That would be a double whammy.
PS How diluted should the bleach be (ie one part bleach to four parts water????)
Thanks again....
I already tried the Ragg Topp product. Great stuff but it didn't touch the mildew.
As a last resort, I might try the diluted bleach. If it screws up the top (ie takes the color out) then I will spring for a new top
My biggest concern with using something like bleach or another industrial strenght cleaner is damaging my paint. That would be a double whammy.PS How diluted should the bleach be (ie one part bleach to four parts water????)
Thanks again....
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 482
Likes: 1
From: Waveland MS
I actually did it somewhere around that, or actually stronger. I probably went too strong, but for one time, it didn't do any damage. I think at around 20% bleach you would be fine to test it out. I also didn't leave it sit longer than the time to clean it. I sprayed it off immediately afterwards to neutralize the caustic effects. Again, it helped, but I don't think it's something you would want to ever week. In my case it was mildew, and bleach seems to work in almost every application for that. It sounds like you'd be sensible with it, and that's probably the most important. I would give it a shot to try it. If you dilute it enough, you shouldn't hurt anything at all.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,522
Likes: 0
From: Sterling VA
There is a product at your grocery store called "Chlorox Cleanup" which ought to do the trick. It works great in the shower and it already has soap (surfactants) in it. Spray it on, brush it in and hose it off. Again, I wouldn't leave it on too long. I'd think that two short applications would be better than one long soak.
