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  4. Lichen

Lichen

Lichen on convertible roof
Example of white and yellow spots of lichen on the fabric roof of a cabriolet.

Lichen is a symbiotic organism made of algae and fungus which can appear on your convertible roof as white, yellow or green spots.

The fungus provides interwoven fungal filaments which give it strength and can weave their way into the fibres of the fabric, making lichen particularly difficult to remove.

However, lichen can be removed and seldom does any long term damage to fabric roofs made of synthetic fibres.

Bio-active detergents can often help to break down lichen, while vinegar and bleach are not recommended on cabriolet hoods. 

People are often tempted to attempt to remove lichen with a pressure washer, and damage their hood in the process as water at high pressure will cause the fibres of the fabric to pull apart, roughening the surface creating a fluffy texture. Instead, it is recommended to remove lichen with a brush, which although time consuming is much safer. Even here, care must be taken not to apply too much pressure.

Written by . Last updated 04/01/2023 12:51