cleaning softtops
 

recommend products for cleaning softtops? mine is starting to get spots,
looks like mildew spots inside and out...

Jim

Re: cleaning softtops
 

Jim Horne wrote:

> recommend products for cleaning softtops? mine is starting to get spots,
> looks like mildew spots inside and out...
>

A good brush and hydrogen peroxide *may* work, and has less
problems with either smell or accidentally bleaching other
areas than chlorine bleach.

Re: cleaning softtops
 

"Lon Stowell" <lon.stowell@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:oYednUdFVPptabOiXTWJhw@comcast.com...
> Jim Horne wrote:
>
> > recommend products for cleaning softtops? mine is starting to get
> > spots, looks like mildew spots inside and out...
> >
>
> A good brush and hydrogen peroxide *may* work, and has less
> problems with either smell or accidentally bleaching other
> areas than chlorine bleach.
>
If this is real mildew, the only thing that will kill it for sure is bleach.
You can make it real dilute and it will still work. Try about a teaspoon in
a cup.

If it is white it is probably not mildew. Real mildew is black. It might
be mineral stains from the water where you live, or fading from the sun.
There are white fungi that will grow on canvas, but if you have that you
must live under ground or something.

I know a little about mildew and fungus. I used to live outside Seattle.
Nice town, but it rains too much.

Earle

Re: cleaning softtops
 

Earle Horton wrote:

> "Lon Stowell" <lon.stowell@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:oYednUdFVPptabOiXTWJhw@comcast.com...
>> Jim Horne wrote:
>>
>> > recommend products for cleaning softtops? mine is starting to get
>> > spots, looks like mildew spots inside and out...
>> >
>>
>> A good brush and hydrogen peroxide *may* work, and has less
>> problems with either smell or accidentally bleaching other
>> areas than chlorine bleach.
>>
> If this is real mildew, the only thing that will kill it for sure is bleach.
> You can make it real dilute and it will still work. Try about a teaspoon in
> a cup.

Hydrogen peroxide also kills mildew, pretty good bleach. Too bad the
hair strength is so hard to find, and it takes a lot of fast talking
to get 30% or 99% from folks like Buffalo Electro Chemical Company.
[The latter of which leaves really funny looking scar tissue, pure
white... and I have the scars to prove it.]
>
> If it is white it is probably not mildew. Real mildew is black. It might
> be mineral stains from the water where you live, or fading from the sun.
> There are white fungi that will grow on canvas, but if you have that you
> must live under ground or something.

Dilute bird droppings? Bird with diarrhea?
>
> I know a little about mildew and fungus. I used to live outside Seattle.
> Nice town, but it rains too much.

As dry as Cupertino is, it is still a heavy mildew area. Good thing
Smart & Final sells peroxide by the gallon cheap.

Re: cleaning softtops
 

NO NO NO with bleach!

Stop you your local agricultural extension and have the mold identified.
If you live in an area that has lots of rain, the spots are probably
"artillery fungus/mold".

Most fungus/molds/mildews will 'dissolve' in caustic solutions such as
'stong' detergents composed of sodium silicates, etc. Problem with such
application is that you may alter the water repeliency. Mildews and
molds can be ANY color. Bleach only kills but doesnt remove the cellular
debris - which can be the nutrient source for 'other' microorganisms.
Dissolve it - is the best method of removal.

Re: cleaning softtops
 

Of course bleach doesn't remove debris; that's why you rinse it afterwards
with water. Do I have to explain everything? I fail to see the advantage
to using a *caustic* solution, compared to *dilute* bleach. Who cares if
it's dissolved or not? After you hose it off it is gone.

Earle

"RichH" <RhmpL33@NOSPAM.net> wrote in message
news:3F2F22DC.1060506@NOSPAM.net...
> NO NO NO with bleach!
>
> Stop you your local agricultural extension and have the mold identified.
> If you live in an area that has lots of rain, the spots are probably
> "artillery fungus/mold".
>
> Most fungus/molds/mildews will 'dissolve' in caustic solutions such as
> 'stong' detergents composed of sodium silicates, etc. Problem with such
> application is that you may alter the water repeliency. Mildews and
> molds can be ANY color. Bleach only kills but doesnt remove the cellular
> debris - which can be the nutrient source for 'other' microorganisms.
> Dissolve it - is the best method of removal.
>

Re: cleaning softtops
 

"RichH" <RhmpL33@NOSPAM.net> wrote in message
news:3F2F5F4C.6060206@NOSPAM.net...
> You are becomming very tiresome.

And you are an idiot. We are talking about canvas here. If you want to put
strong caustic detergent on yours, go right ahead.

> 1. Bleach will kill/stun mold/mildew.

That's right. Make sure to use dilute bleach so as not to bleach or damage
the canvas.

> 2. The dead cells will remain attached due to their filamentous nature.

That's why God invented the toothbrush. It you use your wife's, then make
sure to clean it real well before putting it back. ;o)

> 3. The dead cells are potential nutrients for other microorganisms
> (other mold mildew, etc.) ... another infection.


See above.

> 4. Caustics (mild) dissolve the cells so that there is NOTHING left - no
> reinfection by other species.
>
Oh, now you're saying "mild" caustics. ;o)

Earle