EJ333
Well-Known Member
I believe that my headliner is original and is in pretty good shape. I was wondering what you recommend to get rid of that bit of "dusty looking discoloration " that seems to linger after wiping it down a couple times.
Recommendation for headliner cleaner
- Thread starter EJ333
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jmackro
Well-Known Member
I'm not sure that anything short of vinyl paint will restore the white color. I think that the brown/yellow discoloration is the result of sun / ozone / cosmic rays and won't come off with any detergent.
EJ333
Well-Known Member
Would you happen to know if World Upholstery offers this option of "painting " the headliner ? I live about a 1 1/2 hour drive to them.
jmackro
Well-Known Member
Sorry, I have no idea if that's an operation that World would perform. If I had to guess, I'd say "no", but ask them.
I was thinking of a product like SEM vinyl paint:
I was thinking of a product like SEM vinyl paint:
You can try using Folex, it dries without residue and has a clean smell. Removed all the years of accumulated grime from mine, worth a try.
mr. clean
Its not a panacea, but Mr. Clean magic eraser works well in some cases...sort of like cleaning the ceiling of the Sistene Chapel, but worth a try. Works on topical (bottomical, since its the underside?) soiled areas only, not bleed-thru stains. I'd then use a clean micro-fibre cloth after. If you are going to use something like the SEM product, you want that surface as clean as possible...washing and rinsing are sort of difficult, so the eraser is a good option. You might call the SEM folks; they have been helpful in the past to me.
Its not a panacea, but Mr. Clean magic eraser works well in some cases...sort of like cleaning the ceiling of the Sistene Chapel, but worth a try. Works on topical (bottomical, since its the underside?) soiled areas only, not bleed-thru stains. I'd then use a clean micro-fibre cloth after. If you are going to use something like the SEM product, you want that surface as clean as possible...washing and rinsing are sort of difficult, so the eraser is a good option. You might call the SEM folks; they have been helpful in the past to me.
before you use SEM color coat, you should clean the surface with SEM Soap ... then clean it with Vinyl Prep.
after cleaning some blue interior pieces to remove coats of armorall or similar product, dirt, etc ... to prep for painting the vinyl has lost its sheen.
the downside about spraying a headliner is that in order to do it well, you are going to need to remove it to avoid getting the vinyl paint in places that you don't want it ... not to mention how hard it is to spray a lot of fine coats - pointing up within a car.
after cleaning some blue interior pieces to remove coats of armorall or similar product, dirt, etc ... to prep for painting the vinyl has lost its sheen.
the downside about spraying a headliner is that in order to do it well, you are going to need to remove it to avoid getting the vinyl paint in places that you don't want it ... not to mention how hard it is to spray a lot of fine coats - pointing up within a car.
I need to do mine as well this summer. Although I'm strongly considering spraying my door panels, I hadn't considered the headliner. I am going to start with a cleaner to see how it does. I'm not sure how the spray will work with the perforated vinyl. I suppose the anal retentive owner could take a needle to each perforation once the spray job is complete. I suppose it would only take an hour or two. 
Although I never look forward to removing headliners, I would imagine that it's much easier to get in/out in a coupe given the missing B pillar.
Although I never look forward to removing headliners, I would imagine that it's much easier to get in/out in a coupe given the missing B pillar.
I've used Leatherique's Prestine Clean with very good results.
removal...
One problem with removal/re-install can be the 40-year-old thread holding the pieces of vinyl together...I bought an NOS in bag headliner about ten years ago; when the shop tried to install, the thread went south...ended up buying a new headliner. And then there is the glass/gasket issue...hip bone's connected to the, thigh bone...
One problem with removal/re-install can be the 40-year-old thread holding the pieces of vinyl together...I bought an NOS in bag headliner about ten years ago; when the shop tried to install, the thread went south...ended up buying a new headliner. And then there is the glass/gasket issue...hip bone's connected to the, thigh bone...
PaulinPa
Well-Known Member
I just tried the Mr.Clean sponge and it worked great! Thanks for the tip!