Headliner Stain Removal

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Radster1986

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I recently took my car into have the sunroof motor replaced, in the process I am assuming some of the black grease that is on the guides got onto my headliner. There is a small black dot, and a few very light fingerprint marks here and there. Rather than have the dealership clean it, I thought it would be much better to do it myself given that I will be alot more caring with the process.

My question lies here...
The headliner is a weird smooth texture that is almost a semi gloss when you look at it from an angle, but has a pattern on it like small circles/ocatagons. The car is a KIA, so I know they skimp somewhere on the interior parts. I had another KIA previously with the same sort of headliner, that was ruined by a "interior restoration professional" using a microfiber and cleaner and rubbed the pattern until it was nothing but flat and full of fuzzballs completely ruining it.

What can I use that will get rid of the grease marks without effecting the headliner material/texture? I plan on using a blotting motion rather than a rubbing or scrubbing. I have always had good luck with oxi clean on anything in my house that has had heavy grease staining on it, but I also read somewhere that woolite is about as safe as you can get. Thoughts? Opinions? Thanks in advance!

P.S. Can post a picture, if needed.
 
I don't have an answer, but be careful the adhesive that holds the fabric in place is a big problem. Any solvent stain remover may loosen the fabric from the adhesive. I stay away from cleaning them with anything but water and a soft microfiber and the water may cause problems by removing some of the color depending on how old the car is. I hope another professional interior cleaner will chime in.
 
post pics...but safest thing is to apply a specific cleaner to a towel and very lightly blot or agitate with an artists paint brush. Blot dry.
 
I'm an amateur/weekend warrior and don't have first-hand experience with using it on a headliner, but perhaps you may wish to research 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner (formerly called 303 Fabric/Vinyl Cleaner). Hopefully more-experienced detailers will offer more tested advice though.
 
FOLEX but I wouldnt do anything without posting a pic and getting some better advice if I were you.
 
Thanks for the input everyone, I will take some pictures this morning.
 
Few things you could do, you're first method isn't bad... MF with some kind of mild detergent.

I would get a small bucket with mostly water mixed with some detergent, laundry or oxy clean and use one of the small leather brushes designed to agitate nor irritate the materiel.
Vinyl & Leather Scrub Brush

The other option is to find a detailer in your area that has a Tornador which would easily blast it away, then flip it to pure air to dry it without hurting the headliner.

The S550 I did a while back had a headliner that was caked with grease and dirt near the sun roof, along with loads of makeup stains on the visors and headliner near the visors. The Tornador made short work of that without issue.

But you have to work with what you got. You could even start with some pure distilled vinegar or something with lemon.
 
paul_g said:
Few things you could do, you're first method isn't bad... MF with some kind of mild detergent.

I would get a small bucket with mostly water mixed with some detergent, laundry or oxy clean and use one of the small leather brushes designed to agitate nor irritate the materiel.
Vinyl & Leather Scrub Brush

The other option is to find a detailer in your area that has a Tornador which would easily blast it away, then flip it to pure air to dry it without hurting the headliner.

The S550 I did a while back had a headliner that was caked with grease and dirt near the sun roof, along with loads of makeup stains on the visors and headliner near the visors. The Tornador made short work of that without issue.

But you have to work with what you got. You could even start with some pure distilled vinegar or something with lemon.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the advice. I LOVE oxyclean, but I was concerned it may discolor or bleach the headliner in that spot or leave a ring. Do you think if I use distilled water mixed with woolite and a clean white terry towel applicator pad, that would work? I want to do the least amount of collateral damage as possible.
 
I very specifically apply a light amount of Folex to headliner stains. I then attempt to wick as much of the Folex back into a clean towel so as to dry the area as much as i can. I have taken q-tips to small spots this way and wadded up clean towels with Folex for spots as big as maybe half a baseball size. I apply the Folex to the q-tip or towel and never spray directly onto the headliner. I don't like liquids on headliners for fear of the adhesive issue.

The first thing i do is thoroughly vacuum the headliner and many times that simply brightens it up quite a bit.
 
Edit:As someone mentioned Folex. I just saw Folex is available at Home Depot, I was unaware. From what I read, that stuff seems to be the best thing to use since it is designed specifically for spot/stain removal, without residue etc.
Is this the stuff?
Folex 36 oz. Carpet Spot Remover-FSR36 - The Home Depot

Thoughts?

I want to do the least amount of collateral damage as possible.
 
Puckman said:
I very specifically apply a light amount of Folex to headliner stains. I then attempt to wick as much of the Folex back into a clean towel so as to dry the area as much as i can. I have taken q-tips to small spots this way and wadded up clean towels with Folex for spots as big as maybe half a baseball size. I apply the Folex to the q-tip or towel and never spray directly onto the headliner. I don't like liquids on headliners for fear of the adhesive issue.

The first thing i do is thoroughly vacuum the headliner and many times that simply brightens it up quite a bit.
Click to expand...
You beat me to the punch, my headliner is completely free of any dirt or debris other than that one spot, I never open my windows ever.

I am excited to try this stuff, as I have never heard of it until today.
 
Radster1986 said:
Thanks for the advice. I LOVE oxyclean, but I was concerned it may discolor or bleach the headliner in that spot or leave a ring. Do you think if I use distilled water mixed with woolite and a clean white terry towel applicator pad, that would work? I want to do the least amount of collateral damage as possible.
Click to expand...

Like anything, always pick a very obscure spot to try a test spot on.
I would start conservative, distilled vinegar... maybe a little lemon.
Oxyclean is usually pretty good for upholstery and comes in most SOS kits for MF couches and furniture. I haven't used Folex but looks like I should look into it.

The most recent upholstry class that my interior gal went to at Jon-Don, they stressed to start conservatively with lemon or distilled vinegar...
 
paul_g said:
Like anything, always pick a very obscure spot to try a test spot on.
I would start conservative, distilled vinegar... maybe a little lemon.
Oxyclean is usually pretty good for upholstery and comes in most SOS kits for MF couches and furniture. I haven't used Folex but looks like I should look into it.

The most recent upholstry class that my interior gal went to at Jon-Don, they stressed to start conservatively with lemon or distilled vinegar...
Click to expand...
I just picked up some Folex, HUGE 36oz bottle was 6 bucks, but I decided to wait until later when the car hasn't been out in the heat all day.

Do you mean just white distilled vinegar? I have a gallon jug under my sink, should be more than enough haha, I use vinegar for everything, especially on rusty car parts before I found Evapo Rust. I used vinegar on my comforter, on a spot I must have drooled on and left a ring, and it took it off without taking off the factory sheen of the comforter. I am not sure why I didn't think of that first.
 
AGOatemywallet said:
One spray of Folex and a light scrub with a short nap MF will knock that right out
Click to expand...
I am excited to try it this weekend, my old f150 has some weird brown staining that leeches through the carpet from time to time, and I have literally tried everything to get it out, hopefully this works
 
Radster1986 said:
I am excited to try it this weekend, my old f150 has some weird brown staining that leeches through the carpet from time to time, and I have literally tried everything to get it out, hopefully this works
Click to expand...

If the stains seem to go away by cleaning with liquids and then come back later; this is called wicking

You can decrease how wet you get the area and try to accelerate the drying by parking in the Sun, running the heater, a fan, etc.

These techniques will allow the tops of the surface to dry more rapidly and not draw up the soiled liquid up from the roots of the carpet or foam backing of the seats
 
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