Keeping Your Soft Top From Looking Like a Ragshed

Before you even think about water, vacuum that roof. Use the soft brush attachment. You want to suck out as much red dust and loose grit as possible. If you wet it first, you're just making mud and pushing it deeper into the weave.

This is the part everyone skips because it's a pain. Use masking tape and paper to cover the windows and the paintwork around the edges of the roof. Fabric sealants are a nightmare to get off paint once they dry. I made this mistake on a black Commodore years ago and spent three hours polishing the overspray off.

Make sure the roof is cool to the touch. Don't do this in the middle of a 40-degree arvo. Work in the shade or early morning so your cleaner doesn't dry out before you can scrub it.

Give the roof a gentle misting with a hose. No pressure washers here! You just want it damp, not soaked through to the headliner.

Spray your dedicated cleaner evenly across a section. I usually work in quarters. Don't be stingy, but don't drown it either.

Use your horsehair brush in small, circular motions. You'll see the suds turn brown or grey, that's the Aussie road grime coming out. If you hit a spot with bird poo, let the cleaner sit for a minute first.

Rinse that section thoroughly. If the water coming off still looks like a muddy puddle, go again. Usually takes two passes if it's been a while since the last wash.

Rinse the whole roof until there are absolutely no suds left. Any soap left in the fibres will attract more dirt later and mess with your sealant.

Pat the roof dry with clean microfibres. Do not rub! Just press the towel down to soak up the moisture. Now, you need to wait. The roof must be 100% bone dry before the next step. I'd leave it for at least 4-5 hours in the sun.

Once dry, give it a quick once-over with a lint roller. You don't want to seal a stray hair or a bit of fluff into the fabric forever.

Shake your sealant well. Spray in even, overlapping strokes. I like to do one coat going front-to-back, let it dry for 20 mins, then a second coat going side-to-side. This ensures the 'weave' of the fabric is fully covered.

If any spray got on your trim or glass (even with the masking), wipe it off immediately with a damp cloth.

Let it cure for 24 hours. Don't fold the top down and don't let it get rained on. If you're in a coastal area, keep it in the garage so the salt spray doesn't settle on it while it's tacky.