Making an effort to clean your car ceiling can make a huge difference when it comes to the smell and the overall feel of your vehicle. And if you’re new to cleaning your headliner, let us help you with some of the best cleaning tips.  

Be sure to have the following items ready when cleaning the headliner:

• Car interior shampoo or cleaning product
• Clean water
• Microfiber cloth
• Paper towels
• Small soft brush
• Steam cleaning machine
• Fans

Instructions, How to Clean a Car Headliner

Whether you want to remove water stains from a headliner or you want to know how to get stains out of headliner, cleaning and maintaining this interior part of your car may be classified into two: spot cleaning and deep cleaning.

Spot cleaning is removing dirt, stain, or a spill using very minimal methods enough to lift the dirt without affecting the headliner or further damaging the headliner. Meanwhile, deep cleaning is done to remove deep-seated dirt, grime, and stains using more aggressive methods. Deep cleaning can also remove icky smells and oils but may result in affecting the adhesive or glue that binds the materials of the headliner.

You need to be very careful in deep cleaning the headliner as this can result in sagging. The instructions we have are all about cleaning a fabric headliner, a very common. If your headliner is made from leather or vinyl, there are separate products to clean them. These products are available from a car detailing shop or garage.

To start spot cleaning, use an old soft toothbrush to gently sweep the area that needs cleaning. This will remove any dirt and dust on the surface before you proceed with cleaning. Use gently, soft strokes.

If the area is wet or covered with oil and grease, use a piece of paper towel and cover the area for a few seconds. This will help absorb the oil and grease, so it’s easier to remove the remaining dirt. Don’t press too hard as this will only make the oil to move deeper into the material.

A cleaning product specially made for the car interior will help remove dirt without damaging the headliner material. You may clean a car headliner using foaming cleaner products. Use these according to product instructions. Use only one cleaning product at a time and always follow directions on how to apply this to your headliner.

Apply only a small amount of product on a microfiber cloth. Apply it to the area using light pressure. For light dirt and stains, apply to start from the middle of the stain moving outwards. Wipe the area with paper towels and assess the area if you need to reapply the product.

When you’re satisfied with the results, dry the area using a fan. If you’re not going to use your car for a while, park it inside your garage with the windows down to naturally dry your headliner.

Deep cleaning also starts with lightly sweeping the area to clean with a soft brush. If you want to deep clean the headliner, sweep the entire ceiling. You may also use a vacuum to completely remove all deep-seated dirt on the headliner.

A steam cleaning machine uses hot steam to lift dirt and dissolve it. But be very careful since applying too much steam on an area will lift the adhesive or glue that binds the headliner material to the roof of your car. So use it sparingly.

Steam clean the area using a tool that concentrates the steam on the dirt. This removes the dirt or stains quickly and deeply. Give one area at least two minutes of steam and be sure to work efficiently.

Let the headliner dry out. Use fans to remove dampness. Keep your car in the garage with open windows to dry out the interiors quickly.

Baking soda is an effective natural cleaner and deodorizer. It is effective in removing bad odors from a car headliner. Mix one part with water and make a paste. Apply this on the stain or dirt and let it remain for about 30 minutes. Use a paper towel to remove the paste. Reapply if needed. You may also use plain baking soda on car seat dirt and grime. Just sprinkle some on the seat and remove it after 30 minutes.

You may also want to know, can you manually move an electric car seat.

Use plain dish soap and water; place the mixture in a spray bottle. Spray this on the stain and lightly scrub with a soft toothbrush. This works well in removing oil and grease.

FAQ

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about cleaning a headliner

Can you use lemon or vinegar to clean a headliner?

No, these products are highly acidic and can change the color of your headliner.

How much is professional car interior cleaning?

How to clean leather headliners? What do professionals clean car upholstery with?

A good leather cleaner is best for cleaning leather headliners. Ask your car dealership for recommendations to preserve the quality of your leather headliner.

Now that you know how to clean a car headliner, you may now maintain your car at home like a pro. Maintaining your car headliner will not just remove dirt, grime, and bad odors but will also extend the life and the value of your vehicle.