How to Clean a Headliner

As you clean your car, don't forget to clean the headliner. Unless you know there's a stain there, you might forget to clean this vital part of your car's interior. Simple maintenance can keep a car's headliner looking like new.

Instructions

1

Inspect the headliner before you begin cleaning it. That way you can know where the stains and dirty areas are.

2

Vacuum the entire interior of the car to remove all the dust. Use a soft brush to clean the headliner. Don't push too hard, or you might tear the headliner loose. If the vacuum has a suction adjustment, set it to lower power to offset any chance you might pull the headliner loose with the vacuum.

3

Wipe any vinyl parts of the headliner with a soft cloth. Use vinyl upholstery cleaner to clean this type of headliner. Test in an inconspicuous spot for any color changes that could occur.

4

Analyze any stains in the headliner that you find. Different spots require different types of treatment. Test any cleaner in an inconspicuous area first.

5

Spray auto upholstery cleaner into a soft rag. Gently press the cloth on the stain on the headliner. Avoid soaking the headliner, or the glue that holds the headliner may come loose. It's best to let the first cleaning attempt dry and repeat the process than to dampen the headliner too much.

6

Use a dry-cleaning pad to clean really tough stains. Gently tap the pad onto the dry headliner stain. As you work the pad around the stain, the spot should lift up. Gently vacuum any residue.