SL500 soft top wrinkle removal
 

Hi all,

I'm finding out more about my week-old 1993 SL500 as the hours tick on, most of it good!

After I lifted the hardtop yesterday for the first time since the pre-purchase inspection, I was ready to explore the soft top.

My verdict - Automatic up & down = 30 secs of extreme happiness!

As I was inspecting the soft top, I noticed a largish wrinkly section both sides just forward of the small quarter lights just below the diagonal elastised seam. Bout the size of a saucer.

I got out our household iron and wafted hot steam over the area for a while without actually touching the surface. The wrinkles seemed to lessen, but I'm not sure.

How can I get them to disappear or reduce? They aren't on a stretched part of the top, so I doubt leaving the top up will ease them out.

Any ideas?

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening black/grey on black leather, due in the shop in 13 hours for facelift painting lower body.
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey on grey leather, best in country! (But unused since SL500 arrived)
~1991 Miata MX5, sparkling BRG on tan leather, wife's (and my polishing)
~1992 Honda US s/wagon, black/grey
ex 350SL, 230E, 280E (and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice)

Downy fabric softener
 

I have read on this site that Downy fabric softener mixed in a five gallon pail in the same amount that you would wash your fine washable's. does wonder's. I have tried it and it work's! Smell's good too! I have also used the Meguirs window cleaner and polish to put the sparkle back in the plastic window's that also worked for me! Good Luck!:D

plastic window wrinkles
 

A day or so in the sun wil usually soften and remove wrinkles without any further assistance! Note that everytime you fold soft top wrinkles will appear, and usualy go away (by themselves) when left in warm weather. AbeG PS soft top has to be in up position.

Lowmile and Abe - thanks! If fabric softener doesn't work, I'll leave it out in the sun. Or vice versa.

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening black/grey on black leather, now in the shop for facelift painting lower body.
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey on grey leather, best in country! (unused since SL500 arrived but now in service)
~1991 Miata MX5, sparkling BRG on tan leather, wife's (and my polishing)
~1992 Honda US s/wagon, black/grey
ex 350SL, 230E, 280E (and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice)

you're not going to belive this,
but there is actually a product called "Wrinkle Free".

http://www.magellans.com/images/us//.../TC425F_dt.jpg

It works the same way that fabric softeners do - it 'relaxes' the fiber allowing the fabric to return to
it's unwrinkled state. It was brought to market (about 15 years ago) by Alan Rypinski - the same guy
who founded "Armor-All". He swore it would replace the iron & ironing board. It didn't - but the stuff
does work (on natural fiber fabrics - like cotton, canvas). You can usually find it in travel and luggage
stores - and specialty catalogs - like Magellan's

- michael

Hey, that's interesting Michael.

Wonder if it works on tough German soft top fabric, or only on cotton shirts?

Ken Silver
--------------
~1993 SL500, glistening black/grey on black leather, now in the shop for facelift painting lower body.
~1991 Daimler, shiny grey on grey leather, best in country!
~1991 Miata MX5, sparkling BRG on tan leather, wife's - (and my polishing)
~1992 Honda US s/wagon, black/grey
ex 350SL, 230E, 280E (and a lot of other makes not nearly as nice)

Soft-Top Wrinkles
 

WOW--I need to trot out and get this product to try out. Another question on a related issue. Does anyone have any ideas how to get the creases out of the soft-top plastic window? A couple of these have proven to be quite stubborn and are still there after a couple of days with the top being up. Thanks for any assistance.

Sel Louis

Wonder if it works on tough German soft top fabric, or only on cotton shirts?

Oh, I imagine it's a lot like alcohol in humans - it's efficacy will be related to body weight. :) In theory it will work on heavy fabrics... you just have to apply more.

In reality, I doubt there are many obssesive/compulsive folks out their removing wrinkles from their army tents. LOL!

- michael

Hey - there's a business opportunity! :)

Check other strings
 

If you do a search you will see Downey works. As your top get's older it get's brittle. The canvas wrinkles at the folds and it will tear if you are up and down with a brittle top. I do not reccomend heat other than sun (no irons) There is a rubber membrane under the canvas and excessive heat will delaminate it. However Downey fabric softener will make it smell nice fold nice resist water better (it beads more so than any thing else i have tried) It will not stain or discolor. Trust me I have tried it and it WORKS PERIOD.:D