Convertible Roof Cleaner

A roof cleaner is a detergent, and while there is nothing magical about them, they are blended to best deal with the kind of organic matter that you will find on soft top roofs. 

In the UK, the two most popular brands are Renovo's Fabric Soft Top Cleaner and the soap which comes as part of AutoGlym's Soft Top Clean & Protect kit. Both are pretty good and work well.

We don't use either of these as they are expensive and come in small bottles. Instead, we use a traffic film remover, which we buy as a concentrate in big barrels, we then mix it up a little stronger than you would buy off the shelf, but not especially so. This isn't a better roof cleaner, but it works  when used in conjunction with mechanical brushes and plenty of elbow grease. We are often asked what it is we used to get roofs so clean, assuming we have some secret sauce. The secret is hard work and repetition. 

What it means

A convertible roof cleaner is a dedicated cleaning product for soft tops. It is blended to work on mohair and other fabric roofs, and often on vinyl roofs, loosening algae, moss, traffic film and general grime from the fibres and texture without being as aggressive as heavy duty traffic film remover or household cleaners. It is usually used as a foam or liquid shampoo, worked in with soft to medium brushes and then thoroughly rinsed away.

Why it matters

Shampoo made for paint is the wrong tool here. Roof fabric, its stitching and the membrane beneath are all more delicate than a painted panel, and a dedicated cleaner is formulated to lift dirt without stripping colour, attacking threads or disturbing the waterproof layer underneath.

Performance is the other half of the argument. Ordinary shampoo leaves algae and ingrained grime behind, where a proper roof cleaner shifts them and slows the return of roof green; removing that grit in a controlled way also cuts the abrasion that produces wear marks, thinning and tears further down the line. Anything applied afterwards depends on it too, since proofers and dyes need a clean residue-free surface to bond evenly and last.

What roof cleaner is called on a menu

Detailing menus, soft top restoration packages and retail ranges for cabriolet owners all list it, sometimes as soft top cleaner, fabric roof cleaner or hood shampoo. Inspection notes and quotes put it more bluntly: roof requires cleaning with dedicated roof cleaner, or do not use TFR, use roof cleaner only.

Context

Convertible roof cleaner sits alongside roof proofers, dyes and dressings as part of a complete soft top care system. The typical process is to rinse loose dirt, apply the cleaner, agitate carefully, rinse thoroughly and then allow the roof to dry before any recolouring or proofing. Different materials have different needs: mohair and other woven fabrics respond best to fabric specific cleaners, while vinyl roofs are often cleaned with a slightly different product and then dressed rather than proofed. Using the wrong cleaner, or using it too strong, can cause issues from colour loss and rough fibres through to weakened stitching and membranes.

Common mistakes

• Substituting a strong TFR or household cleaner for a proper roof cleaner, which can bleach, weaken or roughen the roof material.
• Using a good roof cleaner but scrubbing too hard with stiff brushes, damaging fibres and stitching while trying to chase every last mark.
• Rinsing poorly so cleaner and loosened dirt dry back into the fabric, leaving patchy results and residue that can affect later proofing.
• Assuming roof cleaner alone will fix deep staining, heavy wear or tears, when those issues may need dye, repair or, in some cases, roof replacement.

Authored by Danny Argent. Reviewed by Gary Wray. Last updated 16 May 2026.