Tips and Tricks for an Effective Tonneau Cover Cleaning Job

A clean truck says a lot about how you are as a driver. Aside from keeping the body paint shiny and the wheels clean, you must maintain a neat and organized truck bed.

A tonneau cover can keep debris and dirt away from your truck bed, but it will require cleaning after some time.

What You Should Know About Tonneau Covers

Tonneau covers are inexpensive accessories that protect your truck bed from the elements and debris.

Like most accessories, the key to maximizing your tonneau cover’s service life is understanding what it’s made of. This will make it easier to find compatible cleaning solutions as well as determine the best cleaning practices to maintain its quality.

Types of Tonneau Covers

Here are the most common types of tonneau covers you’ll spot in the market.

Retractable

A retractable tonneau cover rolls up towards the cab. This type lets you expose as little or as much of the truck bed as you need.

This flush-mount style cover usually has a lock at the tailgate and is made with metal slats. When released, a tension spring recoils the cover.

The retractable feature of this tonneau cover is usually hand-operated, but some designs can be controlled electronically.

Folding

Folding tonneau covers can either be hard or soft. This type is also the most popular design of tonneau covers.

Hard folding covers usually have three or four panels made from hard composite plastic with metal hinges. They usually come in an over-rail or mounted flush design.

Soft folding covers, on the other hand, are a mix of soft and hard materials. Most soft covers feature an over-tail design and are made from vinyl or canvas materials.

Soft folding covers are easier to open compared to the hard folding ones.

Hinged

Hinged tonneau covers are typically made from hard shell composite materials but can also be made from soft fabric.

This type of cover props up on hinges and requires struts to stay in place.

Roll-Up

Roll-up tonneau covers are usually made from vinyl or canvas materials to form a soft fabric panel.

A roll-up design is best for storing awkwardly shaped items since it doesn’t have rigid panels.

Solid Fiberglass

A solid fiberglass tonneau cover can be sealed with weatherstripping, making them more durable, dust-resistant, and watertight compared to the other styles.

Solid fiberglass tonneau covers are also more expensive than other types.

Step-By-Step Guide on How to Clean Tonneau Covers

Tonneau covers are pretty easy to clean, regardless of their type. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clean a tonneau cover.

What You’ll Need

Here are some of the things you’ll need before working on your tonneau cover.

• Soft brush
• Detailing spray or car shampoo
• Microfiber cloth
• Sponge
• Tonneau cover protector (optional)

Procedure

Step 1: Prepping the Area

Before anything else, conduct a thorough inspection of your tonneau cover to ensure that everything is in place.

Check for scratches, dents, or tears that could worsen while cleaning the cover. In some cases, these are deemed irreparable and require the cover’s replacement.

Also check for loose bolts, clamps, and other mounted hardware that could fall off while you’re working.

Finally, use a soft brush to scrape away loose debris. You can also use a vacuum cleaner.

Step 2: Soak and Wash

The next step is to rinse the cover and spray your chosen cleaner directly onto it. Let the cleaning solution soak for a while to really get into the stubborn stains.

You can also use a soft sponge or brush to lather up the cleaning solution.

Step 3: Rinse

Rinse the tonneau cover using a garden hose or a bucket. If you’re using a pressure washer, be careful not to use the highest setting, as it can damage the truck’s paint.

Step 4: Wipe It Dry

Use a microfiber towel to wipe the tonneau cover. Be careful not to air dry the cover, as wet spots can easily form on the surface.

Step 5: Add the Finishing Touches

You can also use a protective spray on the surface of the cover to minimize weather-related damage and harmful UV rays.

Alternative Cleaning Solutions

You can try using a homemade cleaning solution as an alternative to a manufactured cleaning product.

Household items like vinegar, dish soap, and lemon juice are effective cleaning agents that can work well with tonneau covers.

A bug, tar, paint, and decal remover can also be used to clean your tonneau cover.

Combating Different Tonneau Cover Stains

Your tonneau cover is bound to get all sorts of stains at the expense of protecting your truck bed and whatever is in it.

Check out some of the ways you can deal with these stubborn stains.

Tree Sap

Tree sap is rather sticky and it can get hard rather quickly. The key to removing this effectively is by acting fast.

Use a tree sap remover and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing away the residue.

Water Stain

Detailing spray or wipes can get rid of the water stains on your tonneau cover, but that’ll depend on how bad the spots are or how long they’ve been sitting on the paint.

Oil and Grease

To remove oil and grease from your tonneau cover, use an all-purpose cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes. Use a soft brush to scrub the stains and rinse the cover with warm soapy water.

Bird Droppings

A simple cleaning solution should be enough to remove bird droppings on your tonneau cover. If the stains have hardened up, try rubbing alcohol or a chemical cleaner.

Mud

A mix of mild detergent and warm water is an effective combination when removing mud stains.

How Much Will a New Tonneau Cover Cost?

Sometimes, a tonneau cover is too far gone for anyone to repair or clean. The good news is that there are thousands of replacement tonneau covers online for you to choose from.

Aftermarket tonneau covers can cost anywhere between $150 and $1000, depending on factors like the brand, bed length, and cover material.

Need a Good Tonneau Cover? We’ve Got You Covered

Without a tonneau cover, you’ll have to occasionally clean a lot of filth from your truck bed. This can be labor-intensive, especially if you frequently park under trees. Tonneau covers can keep your truck bed clean from fallen leaves, dust, water, and other road debris. Choosing tonneau covers can be quite a challenge, since you’ll need to find a vehicle-specific cover. Luckily, CarParts.com has an expansive selection of tonneau covers.

You’ll have the option of choosing from a wide variety of tonneau cover brands, price ranges, materials, colors, and cover types. Use our vehicle selector and enter your vehicle’s year, make, and model to see a list of only compatible parts. All our parts also come with a 60-day return policy and a lifetime replacement guarantee so you can order with confidence.

Shopping for a tonneau cover is a breeze here at CarParts.com because we have a plethora of choices. Check out our tonneau cover selection CarParts.com and order one today.