The title here is a little bit misleading – of course, your Bestop Jeep or Bronco soft top or Supertop bed cap for trucks doesn’t actually need to be fed. It’s not a living thing, but it is a significant investment in your pride and joy on four wheels, and it is worth taking care of to ensure many, many years of faithful service and keep it looking extra sharp.
The advanced vinyl and twill fabrics Bestop uses to build our durable and precise-fitting tops do require a little extra attention both to clean them and protect them from UV rays, pollution, and the everyday wear and tear of simply living outdoors. Luckily for you, Bestop offers a line of specifically-formulated and affordable cleaning agents and protectants that will keep that soft top or bed cap looking factory fresh for a long time. We’ll go through a detailed process on how to use these products, but first, let’s look at why it’s so important to give your soft top or bed cap a little bit of love every now and then.
Why Clean and Protect Your Soft Top or Bed Cap?
There are two main reasons for taking time to regularly clean and protect your soft top or bed cap. The first we might simply call vanity. We want our rigs to stand out and look great, and many of us spend a lot of effort and money washing, waxing, ceramic coating, or even vinyl-wrapping our pickups, Jeeps, and Broncos. And you know what? Taking pride in our trucks and leaning into a little bit of vanity never hurt anyone! But all that work on the body of your rig won’t look right if your top is on the shabby side. Adding a few extra steps to scrub the soft top correctly with the right cleaner and protecting it afterwards will complete the dazzling effect you’re after.
The second reason is to ensure the longevity, functionality, and overall condition of your soft top or bed cap. The Bestop fabric-specific cleaning agents and the techniques we recommend to use them will go a long way toward getting as much of the grit, grime, and contaminants out of your top as possible. Removing these elements not only makes your rig look great, it also saves lots of wear and tear on the fabrics themselves, especially in the harsh environments many of us wheel in. Sand, mud, dust, road gunk from the weekly commute, and other abrasive junk we submit our Jeeps to in the pursuit of adventures both off-road and on can all take a toll. A clean top makes it easier to spot any potential trail damage as well.
The same goes for the vinyl windows found on many of our tops, cleaning them often keeps scratches and swirls at bay. Regularly cleaning and lubricating zippers keep their operation as smooth as possible, and prevent jams and having to force panels open or closed, which can lead to a broken zipper. Following up with the appropriate protectants wards off the deleterious effects of UV rays, as well as both air pollution and water pollution. Our protectants also help your cleaning efforts last longer, and the more often you protect your top, the more effective the protectant becomes.
Bestop Cleaning Products and Protectants
Our range of cleaning and care products are designed to be easy to apply and cost-effective, as well as formulated specifically for whichever fabric your soft top is constructed with. We offer a cleaner and protectant for vinyl fabrics, a specific cleaner for vinyl windows, and a protectant made especially for twill soft tops. Our soft top zipper cleaner-and-lubricant-in-one comes with a unique applicator, making that chore a snap. The vinyl cleaners and protectants are also available in a bundle for easy shopping.
All of these products can be used on any corresponding Bestop accessory, whether installed inside or outside your vehicle.
How to Clean Your Bestop Soft Top or Bed Cap
With Bestops’s cleaning products and protectants in hand, how do you go about getting the best shine and protection for your effort and your buck? It’s definitely not rocket science, and if you’ve ever washed a car before, you’ll have it down in no time. But there are a couple of important steps to follow to get the best results and to preserve all the finishes on your rig. We’ll mention a few guidelines here, but be sure to follow along with Rick in the video above for a thorough tutorial.
Simply, wash your vehicle thoroughly as you normally would, then apply the cleaner in sections of the top, starting on the roof and working your way down the sides; especially soiled areas may need a little elbow grease to get clean. Follow up with a good rinse. Moving your Jeep, Bronco, or pickup into the shade will aid in the correct application of the protectant, which simply needs to be massaged into the fabric with a towel until dry, again starting with the roof and making your way down the sides. Vinyl windows can be cleaned inside and out with a microfiber cloth and the window cleaner.
The one detail to pay close attention to with our cleaners and protectants is to make sure they only are applied to the fabrics or surfaces they are meant for. Keep the fabric cleaners and the protectants away from the vinyl windows and your vehicle’s painted finishes. Never use the vinyl window cleaner on the fabrics. Wipe away any excess zipper cleaner and lubricant with a dry towel.
We’re sure you’ll love the results! Remember, our amazing Bestop customer service team is always here to answer any questions. Be sure to share your squeaky clean 4×4 with us on Instagram!
