How to clean Headliner!

T

tricycle

New member
I got some tire marks / dirt (minor) on my headliner yesterday as I was stacking the tires in my car, could someone tell me what is the best way toi remove / clean those stains? My headliner is light grey colour.



Thanks.
 
Try a slightly damp MF (microfiber towel) with a Woolite/water mix (6 or 10 parts water to 1 part Woolite). You don't want to get the headliner wet or the adhesive might fail. You'll be surprised how well that works on most headliner stains. I would not use a household cleaner like 409 or you could risk "bleaching" that spot a lighter color.



If your stains are more stubborn you can try one of the foaming cleaners that you vacuum off. Once again, be very careful, or you could wind up with a droopy headliner.



You can also do a search using "headliner" and you'll find a lot of threads on this subject if you want some additional tips. Good luck, and report back how it turns out.



Edit: I just noticed that you are from Canada.... I believe the Woolite sold up there is called Zero.
 
Eliot Ness said:
Try a slightly damp MF (microfiber towel) with a Woolite/water mix (6 or 10 parts water to 1 part Woolite). You don't want to get the headliner wet or the adhesive might fail. You'll be surprised how well that works on most headliner stains. I would not use a household cleaner like 409 or you could risk "bleaching" that spot a lighter color.



If your stains are more stubborn you can try one of the foaming cleaners that you vacuum off. Once again, be very careful, or you could wind up with a droopy headliner.



You can also do a search using "headliner" and you'll find a lot of threads on this subject if you want some additional tips. Good luck, and report back how it turns out.
Click to expand...





Okay, will try tomorrow, but I have to go to my parent house to get some woolite :p



Does it mean the black stuff from the tire which stick on the headliner will transfer to the MF towel when using your technique?



Thanks anyway.
 
tricycle said:
Okay, will try tomorrow, but I have to go to my parent house to get some woolite :p



Does it mean the black stuff from the tire which stick on the headliner will transfer to the MF towel when using your technique?
Click to expand...
See my Edit about what Woolite is called in Canada.



It depends on how bad the "black stuff from the tire which stick on the headliner" is, as to how easy it will be to clean. I'd start out mild with the Woolite method and then go from there.
 
A good Hot water extraction unit running with a fine fabric rinse agent in it.



Get your hwe heated up.



Then work in a foam fine fabric cleaner,



then extract with the HWE and rinse agent.



Run two dry strokes per wet stroke and set up air movement to speed drying.



************

now if you do not have all that.

http://www.interlinksupply.com/



type in "prochem fine fabric shampoo"



It should come up the second one down on the left hand side.



Mix it up in a 5 gallon bucket according to it's instructions.



Get 2 clean terry towels, and one super thick grout sponge from home depot.



dip the sponge in the shampoo, then wring 90% the water out. Massage the sponge into a lather, Work lather onto the headliner in 12x12" areas. Wip off/dry with a folded white terry.



Repeat this across the whole headliner, Then let dry. Assess if it needs to be done again.
 
I would test try using the cheapest method (i.e. woolite) first and see the result.



Thanks.



BTW, which woolite product are you recommended? They have fabric wash and carpet cleaner! Thanks.
 
I would use 303 fabric cleaner, but I have it on hand. Otherwise I think the woolite solution is good advice. I'm not sure I'd use an extractor (even if I had one) for this kind of spot clean-up.
 
Eliot Ness said:
Woolite Fabric Wash.
Click to expand...



Okay, thanks! I will try either Zero or woolite. I think I have seen a small bottle of woolite in my parent's laundry room. I will check tonight.
 
You dont want to get the headliner to wet, so I would use Tuff Stuff spray foam.If that dont work I would mix up some clear ammonia and water 1cup to 1gallon warm water. Dunk in a wash cloth and ring out and lightly rub spot. I know ammonia stinks, but you do want the spot cleaned. When it drys the smell is gone. Try the Tuff Stuff or another spray foam first.
 
You should vacuum the spot and around first, to prevent spotting from the wet wipe, if it is at all dirty.
 
lawrencea said:
You dont want to get the headliner to wet, so I would use Tuff Stuff spray foam.If that dont work I would mix up some clear ammonia and water 1cup to 1gallon warm water. Dunk in a wash cloth and ring out and lightly rub spot. I know ammonia stinks, but you do want the spot cleaned. When it drys the smell is gone. Try the Tuff Stuff or another spray foam first.
Click to expand...





your advocating applying a product with a ph of 14 on a woven fiber with a fragile backing? Ammonia has no actually cleaning ability, It has no detergents to remove a spot. He is more likely to spread the stain by wickign action than clean it.
 
Grouse said:
your advocating applying a product with a ph of 14 on a woven fiber with a fragile backing? Ammonia has no actually cleaning ability, It has no detergents to remove a spot. He is more likely to spread the stain by wickign action than clean it.
Click to expand...
I said to use spray foam first. As far as using ammonia , I used it on many interiors. I like it because it doesent leave any soap in the fabric and its faster because you are only damp wipeing.In the summer I did a Chrysler Sebring that the headliner was filled with cigarette smoke that made it brown instead of gray and it came out like new. It took 4 buckets of ammonia solution before I was satisfide.Yes the smell is bad, it drys your hands, It is bad for your lungs, but boy does it clean. I would think that if a pro used it it would shorten his life. I dont think that I will recomend it anymore.
 
Beware - Most headliners are glued to boards with water based glue. It probably won't drop or loosen immediately, but over the long term there's a good chance it could. I always gently wiped them down with a damp towel with APC.
 
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