Your car's ceiling trim, also known as headliner, can get dirty over time as it comes into contact with hands, hair, skin and other objects. Since the ceiling cladding is glued to the roof, make sure to use safe methods and products that will not harm the adhesive and cladding. Read on to learn the proper methods for safely and efficiently cleaning your car's ceiling trim.
Steps
Step 1. Use a microfiber cloth to loosen the dirt and dust from your car's ceiling trim
A microfiber cloth is made from materials that will remove and collect most of the loose dust and dirt from the ceiling trim.
Gently rub your car's ceiling trim with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. Make sure to rub with the grain of the fabric
Step 2. Purchase a upholstery cleaner or shampoo to clean the ceiling trim
Make sure you buy a cleaner that is suitable for the fabric the ceiling covering is made of. You should be able to use the cleaner safely on the upholstery. For example, if the ceiling covering is made of vinyl, you buy a cleaner intended for vinyl.
Visit an auto parts and product store near you to purchase a upholstery cleaner that is safe to use on your car's ceiling trim
Step 3. Spray the cleaner over the entire surface of the ceiling trim
An upholstery cleaner or shampoo will remove any dust and grime that the microfiber cloth couldn't remove.
Step 4. Gently rub the entire surface of the ceiling covering with the microfiber cloth
After the upholstery cleaner has been absorbed into the fabric of the ceiling covering, use the microfibre cloth to remove all remaining stains, dust and other dirt.
Step 5. Remove grease stains from the ceiling trim with a mixture of water and vinegar
With a mixture of 3 parts water and 1 part distilled white vinegar, you can remove grease stains from the ceiling without affecting the adhesive that holds the fabric to the roof.
Soak a clean microfiber cloth with the water and vinegar mixture, then gently rub the grease stains to remove them
Step 6. Wait for the ceiling trim to dry completely before applying more cleaner
If the ceiling covering is still dirty after applying the upholstery cleaner, the fabric must first dry completely so that the wet glue holding the fabric does not come off the roof.
Step 7. Spray lightly with an air freshener or spray with orange oil on the ceiling lining if the fabric still smells bad
Such products can help to remove unpleasant odors such as cigarette smoke or food odors from the ceiling covering.
Be careful not to soak the ceiling trim with air freshener, as some air fresheners may contain chemicals that eat away at the glue that holds the fabric to the roof
Step 8. Done
Warnings
- Never use aggressive solvents and soap to clean the ceiling covering. Such products may contain aggressive strong chemicals that will corrode the adhesive that holds the fabric to the car roof.
- If you've bought an upholstery cleaner that you're not sure it's safe to use on your car's ceiling trim, test it on an inconspicuous area of the upholstery to see if it stains. This will prevent you from getting stains on your entire ceiling trim if the upholstery cleaner is not suitable for cleaning the ceiling trim of your car.
- Never use a vacuum cleaner to clean the ceiling covering. The strong suction can cause the fabric to be pulled away from the adhesive that secures the cladding to the roof.
- Never make the ceiling covering too wet. When the fabric dries, it can leave water spots that you can't remove.