For cleaning a cloth top I prefer a cloth top shampoo that is produced by Porsche. I have found it to be very gentle yet effective at cleaning. It can be found at:
www.properautocare.com In conjunction with the Porsche shampoo, I use a closed cell sponge. If I have any tough spots I would use a soft brush as well.
Protecting your top with a protectant that is specifically designed for cloth tops is very beneficial for 2 reasons: a protected top is better able to repell dirt, bird droppings, etc. and a protected top is easier to clean than one that has not been properly protected.
The frequency with which you will need to clean/protect the top varies from owner to owner and their use/storage of their car. A general rule of thumb for adding a protectant to the top is that a cloth top should always bead water and not allow water to soak in. If your top no longer beads water when you take a hose to it, it is time to treat it.
As far as cloth top protectants go, I like 303 Fabric Guard. I purchase it in the spray bottle form and pour the contents into a small cup. Using a 1" foam paintbrush, I "paint" the product onto the top making sure to get into the seams well. I have tried other methods of application (aerosol 303 Fabric Guard makes a wicked mess and so does spraying the trigger spray directly from the bottle). Once the Fabric Guard makes conatct with and dries on your paint, you will have a tough time woking at it in order to remove it.
I have found the 1" foam paintbrush application method takes a bit longer to apply, but it is much more controlled and evenly spread in this manner.
Always allow your top to dry 100% before you put it down - never put a top down even if it is just mildly damp.
As far as white tops (which are typically vinyl) I have found that Soft Scrub With Bleach works very well to clean them. Be sure to wet the paint surface of the car before scrubbibg down the top, and then rinse the entire car very well after that.
303 Aerospace Protectant can also be used on a vinyl top as a protectant against ultaviolet rays. 303 Aerospace Protectant contains UV40.
I have heard others mention the use of the RaggTopp product line for a cleaner and protectant, but I have not tried them myself. Hope this information is helpful to you.
