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.