How to clean headliner
- Thread starter Dorf55
- Start date
50fordcoupeman
Well-known member
My avatar has a lot of white upholstery in it and I use Super Clean. If that doesn't work I use lacquer thinner on a rag. Be sure to test both on an inconspicuous place-esp the lacquer thinner.
miker98038
Well-known member
If you think it's glue spray, look close and see if the headliner is shrinking or loosening and pulling out. Not that I'd know what to do about that. Then I'd try mineral spirits or paint thinner. That's the base of most "contact" cement that my upholstery guys uses from the glue pot. Small area with a q tip to see what happens
Daves55Sedan
Well-known member
Is it a vinyl headliner or cloth. Reason I ask is because if it's cloth, and you accidentally sprayed adhesive on that last structural rib, the adhesive may be seeping through the cloth, discoloring it. Don't think there's no fix for that. If it is vinyl, it probably won't seep thru. Try wiping it with a soft cloth soaked in denatured alcohol. If that don't work, try hot water and detergent with bleach, and dry it.
There doesn't need to be any glue on that last structural rib (in case you ever redo another one). I used a brush-on can of upholstery cement and brushed it into the bottom lip of the window channel (before the back window glass was installed). You can hold the headliner in place while the glue dries overnight using a bunch of binder clips. I think I had four boxes full of clips (thats 16 each).
The factory actually folded the headliner material around to the top lip of the window channel and glued it on there as well for extra hold. I did that too. You can apply the glue to both sides at one time, pull the headliner tight, wrap the headliner around that window opening and insert the binder clips to hold it in one fail swoop.
There doesn't need to be any glue on that last structural rib (in case you ever redo another one). I used a brush-on can of upholstery cement and brushed it into the bottom lip of the window channel (before the back window glass was installed). You can hold the headliner in place while the glue dries overnight using a bunch of binder clips. I think I had four boxes full of clips (thats 16 each).
The factory actually folded the headliner material around to the top lip of the window channel and glued it on there as well for extra hold. I did that too. You can apply the glue to both sides at one time, pull the headliner tight, wrap the headliner around that window opening and insert the binder clips to hold it in one fail swoop.
rotorwrench
Well-known member
Yellowing can also indicate some water seepage getting in through the back glass seal. Any contact cement should have dried several years ago. Over spray should have been noticeable at the time it was installed. Specialized interior cleaning equipment that uses steam & vacuum or a cleaning solution & vacuum may work.
A person has to be very careful with the napped cotton type headliner material. Vinyl can take a lot more punishment.
A person has to be very careful with the napped cotton type headliner material. Vinyl can take a lot more punishment.