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Merian Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014 Posts: 5212 Location: Orygun
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:13 pm Post subject: Cleaning Poptop Exterior |
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anybody try pressure washing?
or a buffer with what type of pad - or maybe there is a velcro-on brush?
(search yielded nothing - this is not one of the 3+ interior mold cleaning threads in the FAQ, nor one of the many penetrol or punkytroll threads - thx) |
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geo_tonz Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2012 Posts: 1472 Location: Courtenay, BC, CANADA
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:21 pm Post subject: |
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If you read through the penetrol thread you'll see there are many references to how people cleaned it.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=314474&highlight=penetrol
Most common mentioned are pressure washing followed by scrub with Softscrub/VIM or the back of a kitchen sponge (soft pot scrubber I guess that means). Also mentioned was the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Buffer and pad are mentioned in utilizing an oxidation remover, except with Maguires marine ox remover where Kamz worked it in with a brush, which is probably what I'm going to do. Citrus based cleaner, Simple green as well as bleach cleaner are also mentioned but I'd be concerned about my paint. _________________ ---------------------------------------------------
"Ron Burgundy": 1991 Vanagon Multivan (Weekender) 2.1L Auto - Driver/Camper |
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kamzcab86 Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008 Posts: 7877 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 12:48 pm Post subject: Re: Cleaning Poptop Exterior |
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Merian wrote: |
anybody try pressure washing? |
I've pressure washed mine several times, just as part of a general, overall cleaning of the van. Prior to applying the Penetrol, pressure washing wasn't enough in removing the 20-year-old crud stuck in the roof's texture.
My process:
1) Wash and dry the roof.
2) Apply Meguiar's #49 Oxidation Remover using a plastic, thin bristled brush in a 1'x1' section.
3) Go back over that section while Oxidation Remover is still damp using a terry cloth (IIRC) applicator on an orbital buffer. (Scrub again, if need be.)
4) Wipe off the Oxidation Remover with a clean rag (I had a whole package of painter's rags at the ready).
5) Apply generous helping of Penetrol according to can instructions.
Photos here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6563075#6563075 . _________________ ~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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MsTaboo Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2006 Posts: 4062 Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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Another product that works really well for cleaning the top is "Barkeepers Friend" It has a gentle scrubbing compound that will not scratch the surface but cuts through old road film, bugs, and crud.
http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/car-care _________________ Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec
The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
Help the fight against Truth Decay.
Defend democracy, support Ukraine. |
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riceye Samba Member
Joined: March 09, 2006 Posts: 1658 Location: Caledonia, WI
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 9:32 am Post subject: |
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I've found that really nothing can replace a stiff bristle brush for cleaning the fiberglass top. I've never been able to get the grunge out of the texture on the surface without the brush.
I find the type of cleaner less important than the method. YMMV. _________________ '87 Westy Weekender - daily driver on salt-free roads
There's gonna be some changes made.
“I find that things usually go well right up until the moment they don't.” - Ahwahnee
"Quality isn't method. It's the goal toward which the method is aimed." - Socrates, later quoted by R.M. Pirsig |
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Jake de Villiers Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2007 Posts: 5911 Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 10:26 am Post subject: |
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riceye wrote: |
I've found that really nothing can replace a stiff bristle brush for cleaning the fiberglass top. I've never been able to get the grunge out of the texture on the surface without the brush.
I find the type of cleaner less important than the method. YMMV. |
Agreed. Dixie lived for years beside the RR line in southern Washington and the black soot had really been baked into the top. It took me a long time with a little scrubbing brush and )I think) Bon Ami before I could move on to the Meguiar's Cleaner and then Yellow Wax, but it turned out really nicely. _________________ '84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
www.thebassspa.com |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32367 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Dana Champion Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2012 Posts: 633 Location: Ventura County, CA
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 11:34 am Post subject: |
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Good ol' elbow grease.
Depends on the condition of the top. My '88 is still in very good shape. It's the white gel coat, so it has probably held up better than the darker color, body matching, painted tops.
I've had five Vanagon Westfalias over the past 25 years, all white gel coat, none painted.
On the older ones where the gel coat is becoming porous, allowing dirt and mold to set in, I have used chlorine bleach (laundry), to kill the mold, also helps brighten it up. I mix with warm water, in a hand spray bottle. Along with that, I have used "Cascade ", dishwasher powder, with bleach in it, a handheld stiff plastic bristle brush, and go at it, switching hands. I do this in the shade if possible, and even in the rain, when the top has stuff growing on it! It can be a time consuming process, but there is nothing like scrubbing by hand. I had lichen growing on a top that took a few days of hard scrubbing. I used "Comet with bleach". Top looked good when I finished. At that point because of its condition, a paint job would make sense to make further maintenance easier, as well as over looking nicer.
Crazy stuff... |
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Steve M. Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013 Posts: 6777 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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If it's green mildew'd stained the bathroom cleaner X-14 worked well on one I did. As been said still need a bristle brush. |
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benandmj Samba Member
Joined: October 29, 2012 Posts: 550 Location: Atlanta
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Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 7:50 pm Post subject: |
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I used a cleaner with bleach and it streaked and dulled my paint.
Real bummer, man. _________________ 85 Westfalia Weekender
91 Syncro Westy |
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Dana Champion Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2012 Posts: 633 Location: Ventura County, CA
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:30 am Post subject: |
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If your poptop is painted, cleaning it would be a different process than cleaning a white gel coat top. |
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