Protect Your Soft Top in Winter Months

Image Source: JD Power

Some convertible owners find it impossible to resist driving their beloved cars in the bitter cold of winter. The cold and the elements can take a toll on your soft top, especially if you do not have an enclosed garage. Today, we are sharing a few tips for how to properly maintain your convertible roof to keep it looking its best as long as possible.

The importance of properly cleaning and conditioning your vinyl or fabric soft top must not be understated! Many soft top owners are especially sure to condition their roof toward the end of fall to protect it against the ravages of winter. The best test to determine the current condition is with a simple water bead test: if the top beads easily when wet, then the existing protectant is still in good condition. If the water begins to soak into the fabric, it is time to condition. First, clean any dirt and grime away with a brush like our RAGGTOPP Natural Horse Hair Brush and then use protectant to prevent against wear, tear, and scratches.

When your soft top is parked outside during a snow storm, be careful not to let more than a few inches of snow build up at once. The added weight can stretch the fabric or vinyl of the soft top over time. This means that you will be left with a flappy top once the weather improves. As unappealing as it may sound to venture out in the middle of a snowstorm to your office parking lot to clear to car, you will not regret it when you are cruising again in July.

If your car has a soft top with plastic windows attached, be sure not to use an ice scraper on plastic windows, which may cause the plastic to crack and require replacement. Finally, never attempt to roll up your vinyl windows (or even loosen them!) while they are frozen in the winter. They might shatter like real glass!

A word to the wise: do not neglect your vinyl soft top during the winter months. You’ll be glad when you are throwing back the roof and speeding away on a warm summer drive!