Soft-top window cleaning By Alan Richer

I think I've come up with a good method - it worked for me at least. The windows on my canvas hood were VERY yellowed and scratched - it was almost impossible to see through them, let alone see through at all if the sun was hitting them. After a closer examination and a few tests, it turned out that they were covered in road film and all sorts of other goop that they'd accumulated over the years. Ammonia-based cleaners wouldn't touch it, neither would alcohol.

What got them almost sparkling was an application of Meguiars' cleaner-wax, on the recommendation of a Beemer-owning buddy of mine. His take was that the cleaner would polish off the grunge and the fine scratches, and the wax would then fill and protect the surface. He didn't specifically recommend Meguiars', but I had it on the shelf from previous British Invasions. He was right - it worked a treat. It took a lot of elbow-grease, but the cleaner-wax combination restored almost-new clarity to the rear window, and the sides will be as good once I recover from the tennis elbow I gave myself cleaning the back... There are a couple of completely opaque splotches that I'll need to do something more drastic with, but so far so good - I can see again! (Contributed by Spencer Norcross and Alan Richer)