Washing of headliner?

[jd52cranbrook]

Ever hear of anyone removing the headliner to wash and reinstall? Mine is in good shape, but dirty. I did remove the pillar post fabric when installing seat belts, washed it and put it back on ok. Am trying to do the sun visor now, as I had to replace the hard board on the passenger side. I washed that piece too and it came out fine.

Anyone?

[randroid]

jg,

I recently removed mine and, try as I could to be careful I still tore it in a few small places. It was not original nor do I think it was installed in an original manner, but before I went to the time, trouble, and chance of damaging it I think I would try an upholstery cleaner. When we began collecting cats ten years ago (we're now up to two and question that intensity on occasion) we got a can of Bissell cleaner for when the cats herk on the eighty-year-old couch and it works quite well. I'm sure other brands do just as well but they're all meant to be pointed down when used so you may need to make some adjustments such as mixing something in a pail and applying it with a brush. I'm probably making it sound more difficult than it is.

-Randy

[jd52cranbrook]

Thanks for the info. Mine is original I am pretty sure, and still in good shape cept has gotten dull. I don't think it would hurt to try the upholstery cleaner first.

[JerseyHarold]

If your headliner is anything like mine, it has has grayish-brown dirt blotches on beige fabric. I'd be worried about using any kind of wet cleaning method on it and would try to brush and vacuum the headliner first to see how much it helps. I read in an old magazine from the 1930's that scraping with a dried bread crust works.

[jd52cranbrook]

never heard of the bread crumb theory. Mine turns out to be gray, with a hint of blue I think, but that could be because my seats and panels have blue.

[greg g]

Dry vacuum teh headliner. Then make up a weak solution of all purpose cleaner, like simple green, and put in a sprayer. In an out of the way spot, dampen a small area of the head liner with the cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes, then go over the spot with your shop vac set up for wet work. It that makes a difference, repeat the cleaner application, and then go over the area with a small brush and vacuum again.

Go slow and easy if this works. The problem you might encounter is that a stain ring will start at the edge of where you moisten the area, as the fabric will want to wick the stuff to dry fabric and it will take some soil with it, The wetter you make the fabric the more you will notice this. So you are just trying to dampen the area so the detergent surrounds the soil and the vacuum pulls it out of the fabric.

Alot of the stain is probably tobacco smoke residue from previous owners.

[jd52cranbrook]

Thanks, will try to clean it as it sits. I was just pretty amazed at how clean the pillars and sun visor came out without losing any shape, or wear and tear.

[randroid]

jd,

We all know it would be a lot less work to simply clean it as it is and I certainly would advise you to go that way if the test patch suggested by Greg works well, but if you choose to remove it and wash it by hand you could also use that down-time to install insulation and sound deadening material.

I enjoy spending other people's time almost as much as I love spending their money.

-Randy

[Harvey Tank]

the headlinner is a close trim fit. once it is removed it would be next to emposable to get it back in place. its hard enough to install a new linner. the guy that helped me install mine used a steamer to tighten it up and take the wrinkles out. good luck with yours.

[jd52cranbrook]

Well, this winter I am doing the carpet and the windlace, (this is after I hopefully paint the car again), so I don't have much to lose I don't think. I will think more about it.

[GaryPrice]

I've not tried it on a headliner, but, Windex (Clear! Not the blue.) really works well on carpet for oil and dirt stains. I'm curious how it'd do on a headliner. I don't have one to try it on right now, but, I should be over to my brother-in-law's in a few days and he does, if I can remember to take a bottle of clear Windex with me. It's way, way out in the country and the nearest store that'd have it is at least an hour.

For vinyl interior, I've found that Go-Jo works really well. Go-Jo with pumice and some elbow grease actually works really well on dingy chrome too.

[Rodney Bullock]

I cleaned mine (in car) a while back. The headliner in my 41 Studebaker had some real bad stains. I put the question to the forum. I got some oxi clean and sparyed to a couple of times. I then got some dry cleaning fabic cleaner. I did that a couple of times now the stains are almost gone. I guess persistance is the key to cleaning that thing. I don't think removing it is a good idea for cleaning, you might have to replace it.

This guy came by the house with this cleaner he was selling door to door. At first I thought he was full of it. He did a test on a cloth then he explained that it was bio friendly and proceeded to taste it:eek:I felt so bad I bought it (20 Dollars) as it turns out I you have to mix it with a little water. I mixed a little and cleaned the interior of the 55. This stuff was very good it actually cleans stains that had been there for a long time. I don't know how to get in touch with this guy I hope he returns again . I would buy a case.

[Tom Skinner]

By Gently Vacuuming the Head Liner with a soft Brush Attachment most "Dark"

Brown Spots will vanish - Not Stains but Cloudy Spots.

These are where Rust Dust has settled into the Headliner after Decades of

raining down into the Fabric.

Re-Vacuum.

Now try a Gentle Cleaning Solution for Stains. You will be amazed at the results.

Tom