Should you take a soft top into a car wash? This is a valid question that many convertible owners have. And the answer is not a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’. To do this question justice, we will need to think about a few different factors. This blog provides some information to help you think about these.
Contents:
- Should I take my convertible to the car wash?
- Car wash programmes for convertibles
- Car wash programmes to avoid
- What can I do instead?
- How to consider your hood at the car wash
- Summary: If you know what you’re doing, there’s no need to worry about car washes
Should I take my convertible to the car wash?
The first thing to say is that there are different types of convertible hood and difference types of car wash. Let’s start from your car hood: what is its structure? Is it the original hood or a high-quality replacement with a glass rear window? If yes, your convertible should be able to handle an automatic car wash with no worries, so long as you consider a few key points. High-quality convertible roofs will not be damaged by most automatic car washes. If you bought your convertible second hand and are unsure of the quality of the fabric roof, then you will need to apply extra caution.
Car washes for convertibles
Look for a car wash that offers a specific wash programme for convertibles. These programmes use a lower brush pressure. If your hood has a plastic rear window, we advise using car washes with gentler fabric or foam brushes rather than plastic ones. If a convertible with a plastic rear window goes through a car wash designed for standard cars, the rear window may get scratched by the rotating brushes.
Car wash programmes to avoid
A programme designed for convertibles is the ideal case scenario. But if that is not available, a programme for standard cars is OK. Watch out though: you should make certain that no wax will be used. It can set on the hood. You should also make sure that your programme does not use especially high pressures or temperatures. Modern hoods are very robust. Just don’t take the biscuit!
What can I do instead?
It might take longer than a trip to the car wash but if you can take the time and you want to give your convertible roof some TLC then we recommend washing it by hand. Using your own hands puts you in full control of the pressure applied to the hood and you can choose to treat it with care. Plus, you can target the areas that need more or less of a clean. The gentlest wash for your hood is one that uses just pure water and a soft brush. Depending on your needs and how your car is used, you might want to consider using a protectant on your convertible top.
How to consider your hood at the car wash
Of course, convertible owners only want the best for their cars. The thing is, sometimes less is more. And that does apply to cleaning the hood. Generally, fabric hoods only need to be washed when they have a certain level of dirt on them. They do not need to be washed too regularly. This is especially true for car washes and even more so for convertibles with plastic rear windows, where regular use of care washes can be damaging. You should even be cautious about using pressure washers as the high pressure can damage the fibres, especially if used on the hood at close range. One more thought when it comes to cleaning car hoods: never drop a wet convertible roof – always wait until it is fully dry. If a wet soft top is stored in a hood case, ugly water marks can form. However, this is not a problem on short journeys.
Summary: If you know what you’re doing, there’s no need to worry about car washes
So long as a convertible is not regularly going through the car wash at short intervals, there is no need to worry. If you want to reduce the risks posed by car washes, you can ensure that you visit one with a specialist programme for convertibles. Alternatively, you can simply clean your car with pure water and a soft brush and this is generally sufficient.
Images: Phuangphet geissler, ungvar