How Do Headliners Get Dirty?

General use: Over time, dirt and dust particles can accumulate on the headliner as a result of regular use of the car. This can be especially true in areas with high levels of pollution or dust.

• Smoking: Smoking inside the car can lead to a buildup of nicotine and other contaminants on the headliner.

• Spills: Spilling drinks or food inside the car can cause stains and other forms of damage to the headliner.

• Pets: Bringing pets inside the car can also contribute to the buildup of dirt and hair on the headliner.

• Moisture: Moisture can cause mold and mildew to grow on the headliner, especially in areas with high humidity or if the car is left with the windows open during rain.

How to Clean Headliners

1. Start with getting a bucket of hot water

2. Get a soft microfiber towel and dunk it in the clean hot water and then wring out the excess water

3. Spray your favorite upholstery shampoo onto the towel

   1. P&S Carpet Bomber - Citrus Based Cleaner: https://amzn.to/3n84NUO

4. Scrub the headliner gently with the microfiber towel until you see the soap start to activate (usually a white soap color)

5. Wait 15-30 seconds and then wipe the headliner dry with a clean and dry microfiber towel.

This process should get rid of most stains. On rare occurences I have used my carpet extraction machine, but this is only okay to use if it’s extremely dirty (smoker vehicles) and the car isn’t too old. Old headliners (5+ years old) will start to separate from the roof of the car as the adhesive gets old and ineffective. In these cases, the towel method is the safest method.

Pro tips:

• use a Rupes Nano Polisher and mini microfiber pads to clean headliners fast and efficiently

  • Rupes Nano: https://amzn.to/3V7J9ws

• use a tornador pneumatic air cleaning tool with solution tank

  • Tornador: https://amzn.to/3Ay2n4M

Conclusion

These 5 steps will help you clean your vehicle’s headliner quickly and effectively. We recommend using a towel and upholstery cleaner, and have given our product recommendations as well as pro tips.

If you have any questions feel free to reach out via email at support@claritycarwashing.com

If you would like to book your interior cleaning for San Diego, go to book.claritycarwashing.com. Stay Shining San Diego!