Morning all,
Following on from my post about the other half wanting an MX-5, she's picking it up on Friday. The hood is in good nick but could do with a good clean down to remove the green that ends up growing in the crevasses and I also want to treat it ahead of the winter months.

So whats the best approach to take? Any do's and don'ts? any recommendation on cleaning products to use?


Cheers,

mads

Renovo do some decent stuff. Not very locost, but good.

I guess cleaning could be done with all sorts of mild detergent/soap stuff. But re-blacking is a bit more specialised. I used the restorer stuff with good effect on a canvas roof.

I use a pressure washer on mine. Make sure you do not get too close with the nozzel. Soap and water followed by silicone spray if its vinyl. Mohair is a bit more specialised. Try Maz Mania for advice. They repair and replace hoods.

I've used an autoglym kit in the past, which comes with a cleaner in one spray bottle and then a protector in another spray bottle. Seemed to clean the hood up well and looked like new when I'd finished.

Another one for the Autoglym kit. My misses had a beetle with a cream hood so it was always getting dirty. Worked well and smells good too.

As mentioned before....renovo do a kit but the hood has to be black.

Locost way would be firm sponge or brush with fairy and then blast it all out with a pressure washer and then when dry spray on some tent waterproofer. The auto glym kit is good though

I,d be very wary of a pressure washer on it, I have seen cars where these have been used and after 1 a year the hoods start falling apart in tatters, as all the original proofing is driven out.

Mild soap and soft brush followed by a rince with a hose is best, when dry (wait 24 hours) reproof, Renovo is supposed to be very good.

Regards Mark

[Edited on 12/8/12 by mark chandler]