My cabriosoft-top has gone green! How do I return it to its black colour without further damaging the fabric?

Answer 1

Don't try any stain remover, bleach or flamin Cillit Bang! you'll leave marks on your hood.

My MGF suffers from this round stitching areas, don't be alarmed, it's just algae in stagnant water. I use the Autoglym soft top treatment kit, you get two squirty bottles (a cleaner and a proofer) and a small stiff foam pad. It's about £13 but works a treat.

Squirt the cleaner on (work in areas about a foot sqaure) and scrub it with the pad, you'll see it foam up. Don't worry, you can't hurt the hood with it so scrub as hard as you like. Do the whole hood or you'll have clean patches and it'll look a bit naff.

Then get a damp cloth and wipe off the excess. Check you've got rid of all the marks and green, and repeat if needed.

Let it dry, then squirt on the proofer, this is basically like the 3M stuff you spray on shoes and tents. Don't be shy, put loads on as it's intended to be used liberally. It puts oils into the hood to keep it supple, and creates a waterproof layer. By doing this any marks or stains in the future will come off instantly with a quick clean.

You can buy similar kits from turtle wax and meguiars but the autoglym seems to be the best since it comes with the pad.

A word of warning, any proofer that you use, don't get it on the paint. It doesn't damage it but it does leave an oily residue that is a pig to get off. Don't skimp on using it though, as it'll extend the life of your soft top by several years.

Budget about half an hour to scrub the hood, an hour to dry, and then just five minutes to squirt on the proofer.

Answer 2

Try a little black boot polish on a corner of it where it won`t notice.It should work.Leave for a few days and then do rest.You may get a proper stuff from a car factor.Try washing with warm soapy water first.

Answer 3

Go to your dealership and hit the parts room. they have special dyes/paints just for that purpose.

I once did my corvette white seats with dye from a shoe repair store. It actually worked out very well.

Answer 4

There are professional body work shops that deal with this sort of problem, smile sweetly at the manager and ask him for some tips.

Answer 5

You have to protect it from UV. Try black shoe polish, then put something to protect it.

Answer 6

i had a escort cabrio and i used black shoe polish on it it worked a treat

Answer 7

I'd pressure wash the top first.

Answer 8

BUY NEW SOFT TOP