My 87 560SL has not been washed by conventional means for almost two years. Once I got the car cleaned up and polished after purchase, I’ve kept it clean by using quick-detail sprays. I don’t drive it in the rain/snow, so aside from the periodic clay / seal / wax routine, there is no need for the two bucket method.

That said, the canvass top still gets dusty at times and being blue, it’s noticeable when it gets that way. Despite using a soft top cover when it’s in the garage, the dust will always prevail. My normal routine on the top is to vacuum off as much dust as I can, and then wipe the top with damp microfiber towels. Over time though, I’m concerned about dust/dirt build-up in the fabric, which is the main cause of soft top deterioration. I want to clean it really well before putting it down for the summer.

I was hoping to find a way to clean the top a little deeper, so to speak, without getting out the hose. I really want to keep the car body dry, since I had some rust repaired two years ago. I have the 303 soft top cleaner and the 303 protectant, but this top is still relatively new (3 yrs) and still beads water when I hit it with a spray bottle of water before using the microfiber cloth to wipe the dust.

I’m thinking about using a foaming cleaner such as Tuff Stuff, along with a soft scrub brush to work it into the fabric, then following with wet microfiber cloths to remove the cleaner and any residue. Would a foaming cleaner leave too much residue? I thought that wiping the top down several times with wet microfibers and then blotting up any excess rinse water with dry microfibers would clean the top without having to soak it down with a hose.

Any and all suggestions and feedback are welcome. Thanks for your time and input.

 

What about ONR? I apply it with a soft brush to clean my Boxster soft top. Then do a more thorough 303 clean/protect every year or so.

 

Or you could use a product that is made specifically for cleaning tops like Raggtopp.

 

Use Raggtopp as it's a product specifically formulated to clean / protect fabric tops

 

All familiar products, but I don't think that even Raggtop can be used without washing it all off with a hose, which I was trying to avoid. Maybe my wet microfiber idea will work - I just want to make sure I get all of the 303 soft top cleaner out. It sounds like no one has tried or considered cleaning a soft top without hosing the hell out of it afterwards. Too out-of-the-box? I'll do it my way and let you know how it works.

 

Just a question, why are you so averse to getting the top wet? I clean my '84 Mercedes380SL by rinsing the top with water first, then using Raggtopp.

 

+1...I'd think it would do more harm not using water.

 

OK...one more time. I am not averse to using water on the top, I was hoping to avoid washing down the body of the car as I have spent $$$$ on rust repair on the doors, rocker panels, etc. The shop recommended getting it wet as little as possible. That said, I will take precautions to spray only the soft top whilst cleaning, then use my compressor to blow out the water from the doors, soft top cover, and every other nook and cranny that water collects to cause RUST. I only wash this car as a last resort. It's not a daily driver.

I don't think anyone really understood what my motives were, but thanks for your responses anyway. I had always planned to use water and a cleaner, just not the torrents of pressurized water that most of you use.