Can You Take a Convertible Through a Carwash?

The owners of retractable cars will be curious to know the answer. The manufacturers generally approve of carwash for any kind of convertibles. On the other hand, a large number of experts and users advise avoiding automated car washes for soft-top or rag-top convertibles. Can you take a convertible through a carwash? The answer is, to some degree, based on what sort of convertible you have.

Can You Take a Convertible Through a Carwash?

Initially, a hard-top convertible is fully capable of going through an automated carwash but not a rag-top or soft-top one. You will find answers to some questions regarding convertible car wash in the following discussion.

Hard-top Convertibles in Carwash

Hard-top convertibles are like any other car with a roof on them. Therefore, as long as the roof of your car is pulled out, you can send it in a hand-free carwash without any concern.

What could happen if the roof is open in a carwash? It will cause extensive damage to various internal components. For example, the water will ruin the electrical system under the seats, and the engine could get affected as well.

Soft-top Convertibles in Carwash

The canvases used in these cars are made of cotton and PVC. That means it’s not girthy enough to withstand the strong chemicals or the high-pressure power of the sprays inside a carwash tunnel.

Also, the canvases cannot repel water, so it’s bound to get wet and let water inside the car. Water is also harmful to the longevity of canvas materials. There are many cases where the bristles and brushes in the tunnel have damaged the surfaces of these cars because the canvas is not durable enough like a standard car roof.

Can a convertible go through a carwash even if it’s a soft-top? Yes, it can. Reportedly, convertibles made by Mercedes-Benz and Buick are suitable for going through an automated carwash.

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The best ways to wash soft-top convertibles

So, you might be wondering about the correct ways to wash your soft-top convertible without damaging its canvas roof. Careful hand washing at home could be a solution to this problem.

Due to the controlled use of chemicals and water sprays, handwashing won’t harm your precious convertible. Some renowned carwash businesses offer special washing service for these soft-top convertibles. For your information, this type of service is high maintenance and expensive.

can a convertible go through a carwash
It’s better to wash a soft-top convertible at home (Source: PikRepo)

Washing the car at home is not a bad option and you can save some bucks too. But make sure you research the procedure thoroughly to avoid any unwanted damage.

If you are unsure about doing the task by yourself, feel free to bring the car to a carwash. Otherwise, you will run the risk of running the interiors and damaging the engine parts.

Final Words

Can you take a convertible through a carwash? Yes. Hard-top convertibles are all-good for a carwash. For soft-top models, it’s still up for debate among the users and the manufacturers. So, if you are not sure about taking your soft-top convertible to a carwash, check the owner’s manual or consult with the customer service; they certainly know better.