Soft Top Air Contaminants

[SLeazy Rider]

I recently bought a 1987 560SL from my Mom, who took it over after my Dad died. In the 9 years before I bought the car, Mom never took off the hard top. As you might imagine, the soft top, which had been in terrific condition, has dry rotted. It really doesn't look bad other than a few small rips. However, when I pull it out, I and my sons start coughing uncontrollably, as if it is giving off some airborne contaminants. I can't see anything, so the particulates must be very small.

Am I imagining things or could the dry-rotted soft top really be giving off such airborne contaminants? If so, what is it? Is it dangerous? If I leave the soft top up for a while, will the problem eventually correct itself, when all the loose matter (for lack of a more scientific term) has been removed? Is there some way I can clean it to get rid of the loose matter?

I'm going to replace the top eventually, but don't have the money right now. With this nice weather, I want to take off the hard top and enjoy the convertible, but not at the cost of my and my family's health, and not if I have to take off and put back on the hard top every day.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[bwheitman]

I would go and buy a soft top cleaning kit and clean it up. MB sells the stuff and it does a really good job. There is some impregnating spray that helps protect it from moisture as well, this will seal it and probably keep the stuff from flying off. I think you are probably dealing with dust and with canvas particles. A good cleaning will do it good, just be gentle since it is so dried out. Good luck! Remember always to store your SL for long periods with the Soft top in the up position locked in place. Put a cover over it, the most harmful thing to the canvas is dust.
Brian

[Strife]

I'm almost certain that the problem you have is mold.

[SLeazy Rider]

Thanks for the reply guys. I hadn't even thought of the mold angle, but that's a good guess. I will try cleaning it and see if it gets any better, although I suspect the problem is with the interior/underside so cleaning may not do as much good.