How to clean your Tonneau Cover:

Protect Your Cover, So It Can Protect Your Stuff

Picture this, you just got a new tonneau cover, you swore you would keep it clean (it cost you a pretty penny after all). You know as well as I do that trucks get dirty, but you want this cover to last. There's only one way to make sure that happens. It's time to step up your truck game. Time to break out the bucket and get to cleaning.Tonneau covers get dirty, there's no way around it. Knowing how to keep it clean and protected is the best way to not only protect your tonneau cover from the elements, but protect your investment. You might be tempted to just hose it off and call it a day, but I assure you there is a better way; and now, dear reader, you're in luck, because we're going to discuss that better way here and now.

What You Need

If you've asked ten truck owners what they use to clean their tonneau covers, it's likely that you got ten different answers. Many of which might have involved some secret recipe of laundry detergent, gasoline, and Jack Daniels passed down from generation to generation (I'm sure Jack appreciates the promo here). However, it is much simpler than that, and we're here to set you straight. What you definitely need:

• Mild soap
  • Dish soap works well here, but make sure it's mild. Harsh soaps can damage the vinyl of soft tonneau covers.
• Soft-bristle brush
  • Hard bristles can damage the vinyl or weaken the stitching on a soft tonneau cover as well.
• Cold or room temperature water
  • Hot water might seem like the go-to for cleaning, but it can have an adverse effect on your vinyl cover. A garden hose is perfect here if you have access to it.
• A shaded area
  • A garage works perfectly, but other shaded areas (under a large tree, in the shade of a building, etc.) will also work just as well.
  • If a shaded area isn't feasible, then clean your tonneau cover on a overcast day to avoid damaging your vinyl.
• A soft towel (preferrably microfiber)
  • This is less important for hard tonneau covers, but soft covers appreciate the gentle brush-down.

What you need for that little bit extra:

• Vinyl-specific cleaners (you can find an example here)
  • These are specifically engineered for your soft-top vinyl tonneau covers and are fantastic at keeping them looking their best.
• Microfiber scrubbing brush or mitt (like the one found here)
• Vinyl protectant spray (check that out here)
  • These are great if you want to keep your soft-top tonneau covers looking great. Make sure you consult the instructions for this specifically because they're used after the wash.

Side Note: It is not recommended to use a cleaning product that also waxes on your tonneau cover. They leave a thin wax film and can interfere with the moving mechanism of the coverI Have My Supplies, How Do I Wash My Tonneau Cover?Once you have gathered your tools, now it is time to wash! You will be happy to know that this is actually the simple part. The washing process can actually be broken down into 3 (or 4) simple steps.

• Preparation
• Wash/Rinse
• Drying
• Aftercare (if applicable)

Preparation

The first thing you should do when you want to clean your tonneau cover is check for any damage. If a soft tonneau cover has gashes or loose parts then the washing process can make it worse. This also applies to the hinges or attachments of hard tonneau covers, but generally speaking hard tonneau covers require much less delicate treatment than soft vinyl covers.After inspecting your cover for any damage, assemble your washing supplies. Your soap, water source, scrubbing utensil, and drying towel should all be accounted for and accessible before you begin.The last step in the preparation phase is to move your truck to a shaded area. This is important for a number of reasons. The first is to make sure the soap doesn't dry on your tonneau cover, as this can leave soap stains. The second reason is to protect the soft cover from expanding while its being washed. Vinyl expands in the sun and heat and this can be magnified by water (this is why cold water is important).

Your tonneau cover should be tight and free of cuts or gashes before you begin washing

Wash/Rinse

Now that your tonneau cover has been inspected, and moved to a shaded area, it's time to begin the actual wash. Mix a small amount of the mild soap (or vinyl specific soap) and water and wash segments of the cover at a time. We recommend at least washing it in two segments (we like washing the driver's side, and then the passenger's side of the tonneau cover). The reason for this is so you are able to manually dry the washed segments with your microfiber towel before they air-dry and leave soap stains on your vinyl cover.It is worth noting that vinyl-specific soap shouldn't be used on hard covers. It won't damage the cover, but it is likely too mild to clean any difficult buildup that the hard cover might have on it.Once you have applied the soap, use your soft bristle brush or microfiber scrubbing mitt to lightly scrub. Don't apply too much pressure to the cover, soft wax-on wax-off style strokes will be perfect here (this is a "Karate Kid" reference, don't use wax on your tonneau cover).Note: The reason you want to wash your tonneau cover in segments is so you can manually dry them. So before you start washing the next section of your cover, make sure you have dried off the wet segments. So you will be moving back and forth from the wash/rinse and dry steps as many times as needed for each segment. For example you will wash the driver's side, then dry the driver's side, wash the passenger's side, then dry the passenger's side.

Wash your tonneau cover in segments. Here we begin on the passenger side, and moved to the driver's side when that was finished.

Drying

It is important that you manually dry your soft tonneau covers (hard tonneau covers can be air-dried). This prevents soap stains on your vinyl cover, and makes sure to limit the heat-expansion of the vinyl. Use your microfiber drying towel to make sure to collect all of the water from your cover. There isn't a ton of nuance here, get all of the water off, you know what to do.If this is the first segment you're drying, return to the wash/rinse step to start the next piece. But if this is the last segment of your cover, you are all finished! The aftercare segment comes into play if you have purchased a vinyl protectant spray (this only applies for soft covers).AftercareIf you are using a vinyl protectant spray for aftercare of your soft-top tonneau cover, you will first want to make sure the tonneau cover is completely cleaned and dried with no excess residue or water. You should always follow the instructions listed on your specific product, however in the case of this vinyl protectant, the steps are rather simple. Simply spray on the protectant, wipe up the excess liquid with a microfiber towel, and let it dry. The protectant can take up to 24 hours to cure, and this process can be sped up by the sunlight.

Still not convinced about the protectant spray? Look at the difference when we only applied it to half of our tonneau cover!

A microfiber towel like this one is perfect for drying off your freshly washed tonneau cover

Be thorough when you dry your tonneau cover to be sure that you have no standing water after you're done.

That is all! Your tonneau cover is now squeaky clean and protected. Now get out there and get it dirty again!

About Jacob JTo say that my path to etrailer was complicated would be an understatement. I have always had a passion for helping others, and throughout my education and career as a social worker or community liaison, I have loved writing as a hobby. When I found etrailer and was given the opportunity to turn something I enjoyed doing into a career that helped people access information and products they need to live the best life they possibly could, I was instantly interested.I am a lover of the outdoors, have been loading and unloading trailers since I before I was old enough to drive them, and have spent my recent years working in and around the automotive industry. And I am excited to share all of the things I have learned (more often than not the hard way).I consider myself a perpetual student, and etrailer gives me the opportunity to learn something new every day and share my findings with others. Which is something I am extremely grateful for. I look forward to continuing to help people find the answers they need to make memories for a lifetime.

Related Products

Shop Custom Tonneau Covers

Shop Car Cleaning Products

Shop Vinyl Cleaners and Protectants