White Convertible top cleaning

[John Brown]

The original Westleys WW tire cleaner used sodium metasilicate as the active ingredient. New formulation doesn't have it. The new stuff s u c k s.

[EZ Nova]

Originally Posted by Unreal

Not the same, but I used Tri-Sodium Phosphate (TSP) on my black seatbelts. They were dingy, and discolored, and stiff. I was planning to clean them, and then redye them, but after a couple of rounds of TSP, they were soft and flexible, and back to the original black, so I didn't redye them.
I'd be cautious of any product containing bleach, if the top is sewn with cotton thread. I'd worry about weakening the thread. Not sure, but I think Westleys contains chlorine, too.

So I think what I should do is mix up 1.5 cups of water, 3/4 cup of purple power, 1/4 cup BLUE dawn and a bit of the TSP, say 3 tablespoons and test it on a patch, say under the rear window.

Will mask off the rest of the car with tarps and covers to protect the paint. Maybe put a small sprinkler on for 5/10 mins to really loosen up whatever could be in the top, then go to town with a Magic Eraser and the solutions.

Will keep you guys informed.

Thanks for the input, John

[Steve Shauger]

Originally Posted by John Brown

The original Westleys WW tire cleaner used sodium metasilicate as the active ingredient. New formulation doesn't have it. The new stuff s u c k s.

Now I know why the new stuff really sucks. The original formula was fantastic!

[turbo69bird]

Originally Posted by Steve Shauger

Now I know why the new stuff really sucks. The original formula was fantastic!

Yup I agree o used to use westleys on my 69 bird convertible back in high school whites white too you ever did see .
Recently I tried it on my 69 bird convertible and it did NOTHING. Water did better .
So I used bleach and then after changed the Ph back with as I recall Baking soda , liked it up at the time .
That didn’t touch the black stuff either .

On boat hulls for that river spotting we use a thing called power 1 stuff is amazing. But idk if it would work on a top. And anything aluminum it’ll turn white . You litterally touch it to the hull and the staining goes away. Instantly.

https://www.amazon.com/Fountain-Yout...53990400&psc=1

[black69]

I too thought something was different as far as results with Westleys. It has always been my go to cleaner but its just not the same as it was. Dang. Good to know what changed in the formula.