Best Cleaner For Jeep Soft Top – Which One Works Better?
The soft top of your jeep contributes as much to your jeep's aesthetics as the other external parts do. Therefore important to take additional care of it apart from washing it just a couple of buckets of water.
However, the question is, how do you maintain your jeep soft top apart from giving it a rinse regularly? The answer to this question is simple, use the best cleaner for the jeep stop top that is available in the market and falls within your budget.
We have research, short-listed, and reviewed some of the best cleaners for the jeep soft top below so that you can go through them and select the best one.
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Best Cleaner For Jeep Soft Top
Prepare to dive right in and look at the best Jeep soft top cleaner options.
1. 303 Tonneau Cover and Convertible Top Cleaner
This cleaner is the perfect balance between gentle and harsh. It is gentle enough to not damage your Jeep but rough enough to do away with long-lasting and stubborn stains. It gets the job done within a matter of minutes. It comes as a spray and can be leaned with any fabric.
Moreover, this cleaner works well on both jeep soft tops and hard tops. It does not leave behind any residue or foul odor. The formula is quick to kick in and can is effective in just a few minutes. In case of tough soiling, it may take up to ten minutes.
Refrain from using this cleaner on glasses. It may lead to severe damage. It may even corrode the paint in some cases. However, jeep soft tops are generally made of cotton or polyester and PVC, so this cleaner does not pose a threat to them.
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2. Chemical Guys HOL_996 Convertible Top Cleaner and Protectant Kit
This Chemical Guys kit is a pretty convenient and budget-friendly option. It comes with a regular cleaner along with a protectant formula. It is safe on all colors, and its effects are long-lasting. It is a sprayable solution that can be cleaned with cotton or other fabrics.
It is very easy to use this product, and it is incredibly effective in getting rid of dirt and stains that are hard to remove. Irrespective of how old or new your Jeep is and what type of roof it has, this cleaner and protector kit is an ideal choice. It is also pretty affordable.
The protectant shields the Jeep soft top from dirt as well as the UV rays from the sun, helping it retain its brand-new look. Its only drawback is its ability to repel liquids. The formula is not great at beading off liquids.
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3. Bestop 1121500 Vinyl Care Kit
This is a well-equipped kit with all the products required for cleaning and maintaining a Jeep soft top. It comes with primary fabric care, protectant products, tonneaus, and fabric accessories. It can easily be used around the year.
The formula for these products is non-toxic and biodegradable. It is environment friendly as well. It works well on almost all fabrics, and deep cleans the soft top, getting rid of all dirt and stains.
The protectant is also pretty useful. It gives your vehicles a very rejuvenated appearance. It also protects the plastic or vinyl surfaces from harmful UV rays of the sun.
This product helps in reviving older scuffed or scratched-up vinyl windows. Bestop has been the exclusive supplier of soft tops to Jeep for decades. They even provided the soft top for the Jeep Wrangler.
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4. RaggTopp Fabric Convertible Top Cleaner/Protectant Kit
This Raggtopp cleaner is probably one of the most popular protectant kits available. It offers excellent value for money. The kit includes one brush, two towels, a cleaner spray, and an aerosol protector.
All you need to do is get rid of any dust or dust on your Jeep's soft top with the help of the brush. After that, apply the cleaner to one of the towels to clean the surface. In about five minutes, your Jeep's soft top should be clean and ready.
After cleaning, apply the protectant. All the formulas in this product are of good quality and do not leave behind any residue. It offers your vehicle protection against many things such as acid rain, tree sap, UV, etc.
This cleaning kit gets the job done at a pretty modest price. The only area for improvement would be the quality of its brush.
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5. Forever Car Care Products FB813
This product is only suitable for use on a black convertible top. It comes with a black top gel and a foam applicator. Along with cleaning, it also dyes the soft tops, so it should not be used on lighter-colored tops. It re-colors the vinyl and creates a deep luster.
The foam applicator is quite advantageous to clean lighter-colored soft tops. It helps in getting even coverage across the top. The formula is quite environmentally friendly. It is water-based and does not contain any oil or silicone.
This works as a vinyl top protectant as well as a water repellent. It protects your vehicles from the harmful UV rays of the sun.
The product comes in small quantities, so it is better to buy more at once. You should keep a clean cloth handy in case anything spills on to the other parts of your car.
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6. Meguiar's G2016 Convertible Top Cleaner
This one is a pretty handy cleaner for a jeep's soft top. The spray bottle makes it extremely convenient to use as well as store. You can easily do away with any dirt or stains on your Jeep soft top. Even though it is not a protectant, it does offer outstanding post-cleaning repellency.
It is a pretty long-lasting solution. It keeps dust and dirt away for long periods. This top cleaner is incredibly effective in removing harsh stains. It works well on vinyl as well as fabric roofs.
The penetrating formula helps in doing away with stubborn stains without scrubbing so hard. It provides great coverage and is worth the money. It works on all materials and colors.
All you need to do is apply the cleaner in a small amount, and it will start foaming up. You are required to wipe it away after a while. Once it dries up, this cleaner makes your Jeep soft top waterproof for some time.
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7. Raggtopp Convertible Top Vinyl Cleaner & Protectant Kit
Raggtopp is undoubtedly one of the top brands to offer cleaning solutions for vinyl-made soft tops. This vinyl top cleaner and protectant kit includes a cleaning liquid as well as a protector solution.
It is pretty easy to use as a product that protects the soft top for a long time. It is also quite safe and gentle. However, it is rough to the roof soils and strong stains. This cleaner effectively gets rid of most of the stains and dirt without harming the soft top.
It does not harm the plastic, rubber, metal, or wood finishes attached to the cover while removing stains. The anti-oxidant and low pH formula ensure effective cleaning without damage.
After you apply the top cleaner, you will have to use the protector to protect your soft top's true softness and color. The protector will shield the top against dust, stains, and dirt. There is no residue left on the soft top after cleaning since both the cleaner as well as the protector come with a no bleach formula.
The formula is biodegradable and environment-friendly. All the ingredients going into this Raggtopp cleaner and protectant are non-toxic. Hence, you will not be putting yourself or the environment at risk with this product.
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8. Protex World Convertible Soft Top Canvas Restorer
This Protex product is perfect for canvas soft tops. The sealant is meant for use after cleaning. It helps in keeping the soft top stain resistant and waterproof.
This has been formulated especially for rejuvenating faded canvas soft tops. It gets absorbed by fabric soft tops quite easily. The results of this product are pretty long-lasting.
It has a strong color additive. It gives a bold and even finishes that penetrates deep into the top of the jeep's soft canvas. You simply need to apply it with a brush and allow it to dry well. It is recommended to be used after Protex Canvas Cleaner.
The best way to use it is to apply it in cool conditions so that the drying process takes time and gives an even finish. Shake the bottle well before use and decant sufficient product into another container to apply to the Jeep's soft top. Start at the center and work your way outwards as you quickly apply the restorer.
Apply evenly with a paintbrush, and be careful not to spill any of it on your Jeep. Leave it undisturbed for 3 hours and repeat the process if required.
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9. Mopar Jeep Wrangler Soft TOP Zipper Cleaner LUBE OEM
Mopar has created this top cleanery Mopar specifically for the Jeep Wrangler. It is a lubricant and helps you undo the soft top, which is usually a pretty messy affair.
The top cleaner by Mopar helps in smoothing out the teeth of the zipper and makes removing the roof of the Jeep Wrangler a hassle-free process. It comes with a bristled applicator tip that lets you apply as much of the formula as you'd like to in one go.
The tube is a little small and can run out pretty quickly. However, this is not a product meant to be used on a daily basis. Depending on how often you clean your soft top, it could last for longer.
For a product that costs so little, the Mopar zipper cleaner offers great value for your money. It is a biodegradable cleaner that evaporates almost as soon as it is applied. The formula is pure; it does not contain any wax or silicone. It is safe and poses no damage to your vehicles.
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10. Bestop 11203-00 Vinyl Window Cleaner
This Bestop cleaner has been created especially for vinyl soft top Jeep windows. It is an extremely safe and convenient product.
It cleans and polishes the dirty scuffed-up vinyl windows without damaging them. Moreover, it also provides protection against UV damage due to excess sun exposure.
The Bestop cleaner is quite easy to use. It can simply be applied and wiped off. After that, it should be left to dry.
The Bestop formula is non-irritating and biodegradable. It does not put people or the environment at risk.
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Things To Check Before Getting A Cleaner For Jeep Soft Top
After going through the various cleaner for the soft top of your jeep, there must be some cleaners that have stood out for you as compared to others. However, before you finalize the best cleaner for jeep soft top, you should know certain things.
The following buyer guide states some points that you should consider before you buy the best cleaner for the soft top of your jeep.
Soft Top Material
One of the biggest mistakes done by jeep owners is that they purchase a cleaner that isn't made for the material of their soft top. Therefore, before you set out to buy a cleaner, check the material of your jeep's top and remember it.
If the soft top is made up of vinyl, look for cleaners that are compatible with vinyl. Whereas, if it's made up of canvas, look for cleaners that work on canvas soft tops.
Application Method
Since there are various types of cleaners available in the market, they also have different application methods. Many cleaners might require you to spray it on your jeep's soft-top, or some might require you to apply it directly on the soft top, with and without water.
Therefore, before buying any cleaner for your jeep's soft top, check its application process and if you're comfortable using it or not.
Eco-friendly
Nowadays, many products and cleaners are replacing toxic chemicals with their natural counter-parts so that they don't harm the environment and last for a long time.
Moreover, if you have children or pets around you, you should try to opt for a eco-friendly cleaner as it would not cause any harm to them if they ever come in is contact by accident.
Price
While buying any cleaner for your Jeep Wrangler's soft top, remember that it's not important for a cleaner to be the best one just because its branded or expensive. You should look at its ingredients and then determine if it is suitable for you or not.
Decide on a budget before buying the cleaner and try to stick to it because there is no point in buying a cleaner that is expensive and at the same time doesn't help in the maintenance of your jeep's soft top.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Let us explore some of the most frequently asked questions about the best way to clean and maintain your jeep soft top.
1. What Can I Use To Clean My Jeep Soft Top?
You can use a soft top cleaner protectant to clean and protect the your jeep along with its roof and windows. However, make sure that the cleaner is suitable with the material for your jeep's soft top and won't cause any damage.
There is no need for your to separately search for the right cleaners as you can go through the reviews mentioned above and select the one that you feel would get along with your jeep and help in its maintenance.
2. How Can I Make My Jeep Soft Top Look New?
You can make the soft top of your jeep look new by using the best cleaner for jeep soft top and prioritizing its maintenance and not leaving it dirty for a long time. You can use top cleaning products such as Protectors or Color Restorers to make your jeep look new, especially during the summer season.
In summer season, fix a particular day of the week on which you'll clean your jeep or any other vehicle, irrespective of the fact if you have driven it in the last few days or not. Doing so would ensure that your jeep doesn't develop any residue, making it look old and damaged.
However, if you wish your jeep or vehicle to look brand new instantly, then you might want to take it to a garage and leave it there for a few days.
If you don't wish to leave your jeep in a garage, you should start taking care of it and rinse and clean it regularly. Within few weeks of regular maintenance, your jeep sof top would start looking all new.
3. How Do You Clean A Soft Convertible Top?
If your convertible top is made up of fabric then it's bound to get dirty with grime and mildew easily and would require a lengthy cleaning process. However, you can easily clean it by softly scrubbing it and rinsing it with a lot of water and a soft top cleaner.
Make sure that you don't scrub the surface too hard as it would damage the fabric. After scrubbing, rinse the top thoroughly and then clean it with a soft cloth.
Whereas, if your convertible top is made up of vinyl, you should clean it in shade and protect it from sun to avoid any mildew setting on top. Moreover, out of all the top cleaners available in the market, you would need to choose the one that is especially made for a vinyl top.
Apart from cleaning it yourself, you can simply drop your jeep in a garage and let the professionals take care fo it.
4. Can You Run A Soft Top Jeep Through A Carwash?
Your Jeep can gather a lot of dust and grime. It will need a good wash every once in a while. While automatic car washes are indeed a boon, they may not be the safest option. The fast-spinning brushes, machinery, and high water pressure may be harmful to your Jeep.
The most commonly available soft tops are made up of cotton and PVC. They are pretty durable and convenient. However, they are delicate in comparison with hard tops. As a result, they may get damaged at an automatic car wash.
While automatic car washes are safe for most convertibles, the best way forward is to contact your can manufacturer's customer support before you make a decision. They will be able to properly guide you about how much pressure your car can handle.
Touchless car washes are a fantastic alternative. Nothing touches your Jeep other than water, soap, and high-pressure air. You do not need to worry about brushes or machinery harming your vehicle.
Final Verdict
There are various types of cleaners available in the market for the different types of soft top of a Jeep Wrangler. Each cleaner has its own share of pros and cons along with some specifications like whether or not it is suitable for use with any particular type of soft top.
Therefore, to help you select and buy the best cleaner for the soft top of your jeep, we reviewed some of the best and most effective cleaners that are available in the market and fall within an affordable price range. Now that you know the best way to clean jeep soft top, you should be able to keep it clean and new-looking all the time.