How to Clean Your Automobile's Headliner like the Pros
by Editorial Team
So you're riding in the car, putting some lipstick on. The driver hits a bump and your lipstick hits the headliner. Or the kids open a can of soda and it sprays all over the headliner. Cigarette smoke darkens the headliner. Believe it or not, you may be able to take care of all of these problems with a few simple steps. Read further to save a LOT of money on cleaning your own headliner!
Step 1
First, with a clean DRY micro fiber towel, gently wipe the headliner with the grain of the material. Cigarette discolorations and many other darkening agents may come loose just by wiping the headliner! With a clean DRY white rag, wipe again to finish. It may be clean just with this simple process. If you now see stains, proceed to the next step.
Step 2
Using your foaming cleaner and a dry towel, spray lightly then quickly wipe gently, transferring the stain from the headliner to the rag. Do this repeatedly until you see that the stain is gone, and the foam is bubbling white and no longer discolored.
This process works for smoke stains, coffee, soda, and other non-greasy, water based stains.
Step 3
For oil-based/petroleum stains like crayon, ink and make-up, begin with a clean headliner, using step 1 if needed. Now, take a clean micro towel, or other lint-free rag; get it pretty wet with lacquer thinner then gently rub the stain and watch it break down. The stain will appear to spread outward, do not fear! You're breaking down and thinning the stain. Keep using a clean spot on the rag, wet with lacquer thinner and gently rubbing the stained area until the stain thins all the way out and finally disappears!
Tips
- Use plenty of rags or towels. You're transferring the stain from the headliner to the rag so you can throw the rag in the wash when you're done.
- Open windows or doors for ventilation.
Things You'll Need
- clean, dry micro fiber towels
- clean dry rags
- foaming non-ammonia window cleaner, like Sprayway
- lacquer thinner for greasy stains (lipstick, mascara, crayon, ink)
Warnings
- Do not drip lacquer thinner on upholstery, dash or instrument panel.
- Use NON-ammonia foaming cleaner
- Don't rub too hard, because you'll cause pilling.
- Always test any cleaning product in an inconspicuous spot.
- Don't smoke while using lacquer thinner or any other flammable product.
Writer Bio
This article was written by the CareerTrend team, copy edited and fact checked through a multi-point auditing system, in efforts to ensure our readers only receive the best information. To submit your questions or ideas, or to simply learn more about CareerTrend, contact us [here](http://careertrend.com/about-us).
