How do you clean your soft tonneau? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

TJS-81 · 05-30-2004, 16:25

Hey,
How do you guys clean your soft tonneau covers? Although Im yet to pick up my ute, my girlfriends tarp gets filthy and washing it normally does not seem to help much. Do you have product choice or particular way to keep it nice and black?
Thanks

EBXR · 05-30-2004, 16:32

I used a vinyl protectant on mine, but it attracts dust a lot quicker than just washing it...

Madder · 05-30-2004, 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJS-81

Hey,
How do you guys clean your soft tonneau covers? Although Im yet to pick up my ute, my girlfriends tarp gets filthy and washing it normally does not seem to help much. Do you have product choice or particular way to keep it nice and black?
Thanks

I just give it a normal wash then spray and rub armourall into it. Comes up a treat.

Toolman · 05-30-2004, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madder

I just give it a normal wash then spray and rub armourall into it. Comes up a treat.

I've found Armourall will leave white streaks down the duco after a rain shower...

Madder · 05-30-2004, 22:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason_m9

I've found Armourall will leave white streaks down the duco after a rain shower...

Haven't seen that myself as I use it sparingly and really rub it in to the cover. What's the problem with streaks anyway? Thought that would really enhance the "lightning strike" look!!

Toolman · 05-30-2004, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madder

Haven't seen that myself as I use it sparingly and really rub it in to the cover. What's the problem with streaks anyway? Thought that would really enhance the "lightning strike" look!!

Lightening strike look???

Is that a Zoolander thing???

Madder · 05-30-2004, 22:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason_m9

Lightening strike look???

Is that a Zoolander thing???

Just look at your sig. pic and you tell me! In any case Derek wouldn't be caught dead in an XR8 Ute unless it had a top-down option.

Toolman · 05-30-2004, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madder

Just look at your sig. pic and you tell me! In any case Derek wouldn't be caught dead in an XR8 Ute unless it had a top-down option.

Thanks for clearing that up, I thought you'd be the man in the know....

jon960 · 05-31-2004, 00:39

Two different upholsters have told me not to use armourall on the tonneau cover as they say it will dry it out causing it to crack, the fact they work for different firms I tend to think there could be some truth in what they say so only use mild soapy water.

lightening ute · 05-31-2004, 12:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by jon960

Two different upholsters have told me not to use armourall on the tonneau cover as they say it will dry it out causing it to crack, the fact they work for different firms I tend to think there could be some truth in what they say so only use mild soapy water.

They are dead right, after a while armourall will crack the tonneau if exposed to a lot of sunlight.
The best thing I have found for cleaning tonneaus is a product called Red Lion (The only place I know you can get it is Midland Industrial Supplies in Ballarat). It contains a degreaser and a detergent. After a few goes with this the tonneau ends up looking brand new.
By the way I am in no way affiliated with the manufacturers of this product.