I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?!

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I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?!

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I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 12/8/2006 1:06:45 PM

tuhker

Posts: 11
Joined: 11/19/2006
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I am trying to get some stains off my tan/saddle top. The top was stained when I got the car and it is also said to be less than a year old. I have tried: turle wax, diluted bleach, Mean green degreaser, Ragg Topp, and an Autozone brand top cleaner. I let all of them soak for over 1/2 hour. Anybody have anything that I haven't tried? Thanks for the help!

Post #: 1

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 12/8/2006 6:35:04 PM

TwotoneVert

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What is the stain? Oil, grease, etc?

(in reply to tuhker)

Post #: 2

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 12/8/2006 10:19:24 PM

tuhker

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Joined: 11/19/2006
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It is just from being in the weather. Nothing like grease or oil ever came in contact with it. I'm guessing it is mold because it is splotchy looking. Any help?

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Post #: 3

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 12/8/2006 10:36:27 PM

TwotoneVert

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I dont know what Oxiclean would do to the color of your top, so anything with bleach could cause more harm than good. But if it is mold, you need to kill it. What about Simple Green? That works for some stuff, but you will most likely need something you can use a stiff bristle brush with. This may sound stupid, but bare with me. Get a bowl of warm water and use a bounce sheet(like you put in the dryer), and scrub a small area with that. Its the best thing for cleaning ovens and hard to clean surfaces, and should not cause any harm to the top. Try an inconspicuous(spelling) area first. Quit laughing, I am serious.

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Post #: 4

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 12/9/2006 11:37:27 AM

tuhker

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Joined: 11/19/2006
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At this points I am so over this crap being on there I will try anything at all. I already tried simple green and it did nothing. I will try the bounce sheet idea and see what happens. Thanks for the help and your paint scheme it sweet. Later

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Post #: 5

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 12/9/2006 11:51:39 AM

GreyStang

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Can you post a pic of the problem area? If the discoloration is impregnated into the material then you might be SOL to make the top look natural again

but if that's the case then no harm in trying all the different methods you can think of.

One HUGE tip I've always used to avoiding mold from forming in the first place,, is to NEVER put the top down if it's wet. That means if you're driving off on a nice warm morning but the top is covered in dew, then wait for it to evaporate off. Same goes for after you've washed the car, wait for the top to dry completely before lowering it.

_____________________________

2002 GT convertible
1999 Yamaha 1100 Virago

(in reply to tuhker)

Post #: 6

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 12/9/2006 11:58:33 AM

tuhker

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Joined: 11/19/2006
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How can I get a few pics on here? I've never put it down wet but it was stained when I got it so there's no telling how the stains got there. I would love to post some pics. I'll go take them now. Can I just paste a pic right into a message?

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Post #: 7

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 12/9/2006 12:06:18 PM

GreyStang

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If you have a digital camera then, yea it's easy to post a few pics. Take the shots & transfer them to your computer. Then righ here below the spot you post a message (use "post reply" not "fast reply") just click on that "click here to upload" and find the pics on your computer.

There is a size limit doing it this way though., if you have bigger photos that you can't shrink then you need to upload them somewhere else like photobucket, etc

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2002 GT convertible
1999 Yamaha 1100 Virago

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Post #: 8

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 12/9/2006 12:20:12 PM

tuhker

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OK, I couldn't get it to paste so I signed up for Photobucket and here are the url's:

http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p212/tuhker/mold5.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p212/tuhker/mold4.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p212/tuhker/mold3.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p212/tuhker/mold2.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p212/tuhker/mold1.jpg

Keep in mind this is after I I used everything I could think of on it yesterday.
Thanks for any help with this anyone has to offer.

(in reply to GreyStang)

Post #: 9

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 12/9/2006 12:26:25 PM

GreyStang

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Here are the pics directly. Just stick an [img] on the left of a pic & [/img] on the right in future.

[/img]http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p212/tuhker/mold3.jpg[/img]

Is that a greenish hue to the discoloration? And it's evenly across most of the top?

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Post #: 10

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 12/9/2006 12:29:36 PM

tuhker

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IT's not really green, more close to black. Yes it is all over the top but some spots seem to be worse like you can see in the pictures where the bars under the top are pushing up, there are no stains there. ???????

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Post #: 11

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 12/9/2006 5:14:11 PM

Poobs

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That may not be a stain but the actual color of the material showing thru. The top coloring may be erroding away because of UV or acidity of rain etc.

Try acetone in a small out of the way spot.

It may not be worth it but the top can probably be sprayed or dyed. Look for outfits that dye boat sails or a good body or reopulstery shop

Do a search in google

< Message edited by Poobs -- 12/10/2006 11:23:57 AM >

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Post #: 12

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 12/9/2006 10:39:15 PM

tuhker

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I don't think it came with spots and stains from the factory but maybe i'm wrong.

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Post #: 13

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 12/9/2006 10:55:06 PM

GreyStang

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Well, if you've tried all the best known remedies to clean it up to you liking & so far no good, then perhaps the next thing to do is go to an upholstery shop & let them give an estimate/opinion. I've got no other ideas more than have already been mentioned. Good luck with it

_____________________________

2002 GT convertible
1999 Yamaha 1100 Virago

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Post #: 14

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 12/10/2006 12:18:42 PM

tuhker

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I am about to go to Wal-Mart and get a few new ideas. I'll post the results. Thanks for all of the help!

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Post #: 15

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 12/10/2006 12:20:36 PM

TwotoneVert

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What about a steam cleaner like you would use for upolstery?

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Post #: 16

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 2/28/2007 5:13:56 PM

mchipman

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I have the same color top and it looked worse than yours. Bleach and a good scrub brush took it off, except for the part under the rear window. Like what Poobs said I can see the Black underneath showing through in that one spot.

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Post #: 17

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 3/5/2007 10:10:34 AM

kenv

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Joined: 12/17/2006
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If worse comes to worse, you can get a new top. I thought they were very expensive, however, the shops in my area will install a new top at this time of the year for $550. Thatis reusing the rear window. They told me to add another $200 for a new one with the defroster. If I get a few bucks, mI`m going to get rid of my tan top, & get a black one put on.

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Post #: 18

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 3/5/2007 11:08:50 AM

TwotoneVert

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Try that new Arm and Hammer erasor sponge. Maybe something as simple as that will help. They advertise to remove mold and mildew. Its worth a shot.

(in reply to kenv)

Post #: 19

RE: I've tried every cleaner with no luck?!?!?! - 3/23/2007 12:58:21 AM

mitchedwards81

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will scrubbing it with bleach mess up a black top cause i have the same prob on my 89 the tops only 4 yrs old