vert material cleaner
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
vert material cleaner
Hey all you vert owners please let me know what product you have found works the best to clean the top. Especially if you get black on the material 
. I have a cashmere colored top. Also does anyone put any UV protection on there top?
. I have a cashmere colored top. Also does anyone put any UV protection on there top?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,565
Likes: 71
From: Mooresville NC
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I had a white top on my '98 Torch Red vert. I used Hartz Faric Roof Cleaner followed by 303 Fabric Guard. The top looked like new when I sold my car a few months ago.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,488
Likes: 27
From: Long Island NY
Though this method may not be super effective with lighter colored tops, what I've done since day one with a black colored top on my wife's Mustang:
Simply brushed it with a super soft bristle brush and WATER only... never applied any soaps or cleaners at all. After close to 5 years now of daily driver use year round, severe summers and winters, the top still looks like brand new, holding up beautifully.
Though black hides a certain amount of dirt, we tend to collect a lot of bird droppings, sap, etc... the soft bristle brush with just water, plus a little patience and good wrist technique
gets the top looking like new. The trick is repetitive gentle sweeping of the brush in all directions, no hard scrubbing.
But I can understand how a light colored top might pose an extra challenge in terms of getting all dirty "dark spots" out. I've heard some folks with very light colored tops say that, in some cases, it's impossible to remove all dark spots, especially on tops that have seen a good deal of use. Based on such reports, I have decided to only buy black tops. Perhaps the more modern tops are more resistant to darkening.
Simply brushed it with a super soft bristle brush and WATER only... never applied any soaps or cleaners at all. After close to 5 years now of daily driver use year round, severe summers and winters, the top still looks like brand new, holding up beautifully.
Though black hides a certain amount of dirt, we tend to collect a lot of bird droppings, sap, etc... the soft bristle brush with just water, plus a little patience and good wrist technique
gets the top looking like new. The trick is repetitive gentle sweeping of the brush in all directions, no hard scrubbing.But I can understand how a light colored top might pose an extra challenge in terms of getting all dirty "dark spots" out. I've heard some folks with very light colored tops say that, in some cases, it's impossible to remove all dark spots, especially on tops that have seen a good deal of use. Based on such reports, I have decided to only buy black tops. Perhaps the more modern tops are more resistant to darkening.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Hoschton Georgia
I agree with everyone else, Raggtop Cleaner is the best to use. Even the guys in the detail shop at the Corvette Museum suggested it. So before we left the museum we picked up some. Haven't needed it yet, but have a friend who has told us the same thing. That this product is the best.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
I ruined the tan top on my c5 using Raggtop religously every 6 months.
Small spots on the lower edge soon grew until I had a leopard skin top, Nothing, but nothing, including straight bleach would take off those leopard spots. I had to replace the top after 3 years. Met with the Raggtop reps at SEMA with pics and they said they'd never seen that. Dealer would not warranty it.
The woman who owned the top shop took one look at it and told me what I'd done - I didn't wait long enough for the top to be REALLY dry before putting on the protectant. She pointed to a black top on a vette in the shop that the owner had done the same thing. His mildew spots were purple. She said it happened all the time to guys that thought they were taking good care of their tops, they seal in moisture and cause the mildew spots.
SHE SAID WAIT A FULL DAY AFTER WASHING THE TOP BEFORE APPLYING SEALANT. I had waited a couple of hours and it felt dry, but wasn't down at the edges and the mildew grew up.
On my new black top on my C6 I just wash it with car washing soap and let it dry. I've neer used any chemical on it and will not seal it, and it looks like new.
Hope this helps somebody to avoid my mistake.
Small spots on the lower edge soon grew until I had a leopard skin top, Nothing, but nothing, including straight bleach would take off those leopard spots. I had to replace the top after 3 years. Met with the Raggtop reps at SEMA with pics and they said they'd never seen that. Dealer would not warranty it.
The woman who owned the top shop took one look at it and told me what I'd done - I didn't wait long enough for the top to be REALLY dry before putting on the protectant. She pointed to a black top on a vette in the shop that the owner had done the same thing. His mildew spots were purple. She said it happened all the time to guys that thought they were taking good care of their tops, they seal in moisture and cause the mildew spots.
SHE SAID WAIT A FULL DAY AFTER WASHING THE TOP BEFORE APPLYING SEALANT. I had waited a couple of hours and it felt dry, but wasn't down at the edges and the mildew grew up.
On my new black top on my C6 I just wash it with car washing soap and let it dry. I've neer used any chemical on it and will not seal it, and it looks like new.
Hope this helps somebody to avoid my mistake.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,610
Likes: 12
I ruined the tan top on my c5 using Raggtop religously every 6 months.
Small spots on the lower edge soon grew until I had a leopard skin top, Nothing, but nothing, including straight bleach would take off those leopard spots. I had to replace the top after 3 years. Met with the Raggtop reps at SEMA with pics and they said they'd never seen that. Dealer would not warranty it.
The woman who owned the top shop took one look at it and told me what I'd done - I didn't wait long enough for the top to be REALLY dry before putting on the protectant. She pointed to a black top on a vette in the shop that the owner had done the same thing. His mildew spots were purple. She said it happened all the time to guys that thought they were taking good care of their tops, they seal in moisture and cause the mildew spots.
SHE SAID WAIT A FULL DAY AFTER WASHING THE TOP BEFORE APPLYING SEALANT. I had waited a couple of hours and it felt dry, but wasn't down at the edges and the mildew grew up.
On my new black top on my C6 I just wash it with car washing soap and let it dry. I've neer used any chemical on it and will not seal it, and it looks like new.
Hope this helps somebody to avoid my mistake.
Small spots on the lower edge soon grew until I had a leopard skin top, Nothing, but nothing, including straight bleach would take off those leopard spots. I had to replace the top after 3 years. Met with the Raggtop reps at SEMA with pics and they said they'd never seen that. Dealer would not warranty it.
The woman who owned the top shop took one look at it and told me what I'd done - I didn't wait long enough for the top to be REALLY dry before putting on the protectant. She pointed to a black top on a vette in the shop that the owner had done the same thing. His mildew spots were purple. She said it happened all the time to guys that thought they were taking good care of their tops, they seal in moisture and cause the mildew spots.
SHE SAID WAIT A FULL DAY AFTER WASHING THE TOP BEFORE APPLYING SEALANT. I had waited a couple of hours and it felt dry, but wasn't down at the edges and the mildew grew up.
On my new black top on my C6 I just wash it with car washing soap and let it dry. I've neer used any chemical on it and will not seal it, and it looks like new.
Hope this helps somebody to avoid my mistake.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Very helpful advice, Joe. Thank you.
I just bought the Ragg stuff at the Museum but haven't used it yet (who wants to wash a car when it's 32 degrees outside?).
I just bought the Ragg stuff at the Museum but haven't used it yet (who wants to wash a car when it's 32 degrees outside?).
Thread Starter
8th Gear
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Thanks for all the feed back it is great to have these forums to bounce ideas of of other people. I just ordered my Ragg Topp products but will follow the advice and let it dry for 24 hours before sealing
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,950
Likes: 264
From: St. Louis, MO
St. Jude Donor '08
Happy to help guys. I was so mad after I ruined a top.
In case you missed what I said....I don't use anything but car wash soap and water on my new top...looks perfect like brand new....the top shop owner was a smart lady.
In case you missed what I said....I don't use anything but car wash soap and water on my new top...looks perfect like brand new....the top shop owner was a smart lady.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,656
Likes: 823
From: FORT LAUDERDALE FL