Dirt accumulating on the ceiling panel of a car during operation worsens the appearance of the interior, promotes the growth of bacteria and the appearance of unpleasant odors. At the same time, an unsuccessful choice of a product for cleaning the ceiling in a car or mistakes made during the cleaning process can lead to the formation of streaks and sagging of the fabric .
In this article, we will analyze in detail how to clean the ceiling upholstery in a car with your own hands so as not to damage it, what chemistry is best for different materials and colors, and answer other popular questions on the topic.
TOP best tips for cleaning the ceiling in a car
Before you get to work, check out our list of what you definitely shouldn't do and what you need to pay attention to when washing the ceiling in your car:
- Do not vacuum the fabric: This may damage it, tear it away from the fixing adhesive layer, or sag;
- Don’t skimp on detergents and stain removers: It’s tempting to use household chemicals to clean the interior and use stain remover, liquid laundry detergent or dishwashing detergent on the ceiling, but you definitely shouldn’t do this, because copious foam is not easy to wash off in such conditions;
- Wash everything at once: Do not divide the ceiling into parts, clean it all in one go, otherwise smudges from the product will form, which will then be extremely difficult to remove;
- If bubbles form on the fabric after wetting, it means that it is not securely fastened and may come off; in this case, it is better to allocate funds for the work of a professional, otherwise you risk spending even more on replacing the entire coating;
- Test the detergent: Before treating a large surface, test the detergent you have chosen on an inconspicuous area, especially if you decide to use household chemicals;
- Dry the trim after washing: In a closed car, the ceiling will dry slowly, so it can become moldy and become a source of musty smell, then all your work will only turn out to be harmful.
Preparatory work
Before cleaning the car interior, it must be thoroughly prepared for the process.
- Turn off the engine and refrain from using the car's audio system. Wet cleaning will short out the wiring.
- Carry out dry cleaning of the seats, floors, rear shelf and dashboard, and not just the ceiling.
- It is recommended to vacuum the interior. An air compressor will come in handy. Gets to hard-to-reach places.
The preparatory work has been completed. It's time to clean the ceiling.
Set of necessary devices
In fact, anyone can cope with cleaning the ceiling of a car in a fairly short time.
To get started, stock up on these essentials.
- Cloths made from old towels or microfiber. The more dirty the ceiling is, the more of them will be needed. If you use a rag, make sure it is a lint-free cloth.
- Oilcloth or film to protect the interior. It would be a good idea to close the seats in the cabin to prevent drops of the cleaning solution from getting on them.
- Container with clean water. It will be convenient to wash off rags and rags in a basin or bucket filled with water.
- Stain remover. If there are stains on the upholstery, you can arm yourself with specialized automotive products, or you can limit yourself to 9 percent vinegar diluted with water.
- Device for removing pellets. Even if there are none at the moment, the fabric may roll up after mechanical friction. It’s good if you have a special machine for removing such defects from clothes. If not, you can use an old life hack and “shave” the upholstery with a machine. Be careful not to cut through the fabric and use a slightly dull razor.
- Air freshener. After cleaning, there will probably be chemical odors in the cabin. If you are not a fan of them, make sure to purchase a freshener that smells pleasant to you in advance.
Household chemicals and folk recipes
To avoid going to the dry cleaner, you need to purchase a set of cleaning chemicals. The automotive chemicals market is filled with a huge selection of different products.
The best cleaning compounds:
- Tuba Von emsal is a foam stain remover. The powerful formula of the cleaner penetrates deep into the material, removing coffee stains, juice stains, and greasy marks. Do not wet the cloth with water; use only foam stain remover for cleaning. One bottle is enough for one sedan ceiling.
- Hi-Gear Super Stuff creates a foam that penetrates deeply into upholstery materials and removes stubborn dirt. Foam stain remover restores the appearance and texture of the material, eliminates unpleasant odors. The cleaner creates a protective film on the casing. It enhances the ceiling's resistance to stains.
- Profoam 4000 is a foam cleaner. Use to clean ceilings, seats and other fabric surfaces. Surfactants remove dirt from fabrics well and do not damage the structure of the surface being cleaned. Cleans without streaks.
Use chemical compounds with gloves. The drugs are harmful to the skin of the hands.
You can make your own cleanser. You can remove grease stains, lipstick marks, or juice stains using homemade methods.
- A good cleanser is made from table vinegar. It is diluted with water. Vinegar perfectly removes greasy stains without damaging the upholstery. Dampen the microfiber and gently wipe the dirty areas. Take a clean, damp cloth and remove any remaining vinegar.
- You can wash the leatherette with dishwashing detergent. Pour the gel into a container with water, beat into foam. Apply the foam to the leatherette, rub, and walk along the ceiling with a damp microfiber.
Artificial suede (Alcantara) is cleaned with a foam sponge. Do not use detergents, foam cleaners for leather, velor or fabric. Separate products are sold for Alcantara. Foam in an aerosol package is applied to the entire surface of the ceiling, left for 3 minutes, and removed from the covering with a soft cloth.
Algorithm for effective ceiling cleaning
Carry out preparatory measures: protect the seats with film, if possible, remove items from the interior that could be damaged by getting wet.
- Remove dust. To do this, you need to slightly wet the prepared lint-free cloth and walk it over the fabric, avoiding strong pressure and unnecessary friction. If the upholstery fabric has a structure with a prominent pile, movements with the cloth should be made according to this pattern. If necessary, the operation can be repeated several times, rinsing the fabric and squeezing it thoroughly.
- Get rid of stains. If the ceiling is damaged by stains or other contaminants, they must be removed first. To do this, you can use a special product, or you can save money and use a vinegar-water solution. Take 1 part 9% vinegar to 3 parts water, dampen a clean cloth with the mixture and gently treat the stains until they fade or disappear completely.
- Spray the product onto the surface. It is better to use an aerosol application method, this will allow the detergent to be distributed more evenly throughout the fabric.
- Wait for the exposure. After spraying, you need to wait a little. Proceed according to the instructions on the package. If for some reason you don’t know the exact time, try starting the next stage in about 5 minutes.
- Remove the product from the fabric. To do this, you can again use a prepared clean cloth. But you need to wash it several times and very carefully to avoid the formation of streaks.
- Dry the ceiling. To do this, you need to blot it several times with a dry cloth, and then leave the car open for a while.
- Remove the pellets. If, after cleaning, similar defects appear on the upholstery fabric, they can be eliminated with a special machine or a not very sharp razor.
Get rid of foreign odors. Not only a special air freshener can help with this, but also essential oils, a pleasant perfume, or just slices of cinnamon.
What is not allowed for washing?
Cleaning products should not be based on aggressive chemicals. Auto repair shops use compounds that corrode glue. Car owners are warned of possible consequences.
If the product is in doubt, test it before use. Surely, the car has elements made of the same material as the headliner.
Do not use hard sponges or sharp objects to clean the car ceiling. Dried stains are not scraped off, but soaked with foam, then removed with a damp cloth.
Professional ceiling cleaning products
When choosing a ceiling cleaning product, you need to focus on several criteria:
- The material from which the upholstery is made;
- The color of this material.
For fabric upholstery, it is recommended to use products in foam or spray format that do not contain chlorine. Since the fabric absorbs liquid strongly, it is prone to pilling when rubbed and stretched. And such means will help reduce unnecessary impacts to a minimum.
Leather upholstery is an expensive finishing material. It should be handled with particular care. Its advantages are low absorbency and resistance to mild mechanical stress. However, on colored leather, inappropriate chemicals may leave marks. Therefore, it is recommended to clean the leather interior only with specialized products, although they may differ for colored or light and dark leather.
Eco-leather is an affordable alternative to its expensive counterpart. But this material is already less resistant to friction and can also suffer when heated. If you don't clean it with a stiff brush to freshen it up, not only leather replacement products, but also non-aggressive carpet and linen products will do.
Eco-suede (or Alcantara) is a rather sensitive material. It is recommended to wash it only with products specially designed for this purpose.
Dark-colored velor upholstery can be effectively cleaned not only with special detergents, but also with chlorine-free household detergents. Colored and light ceilings are best washed with high-quality and special chemical products.
Carefully read the directions and instructions on the packaging of the product, and then you will not have any problems with its use!
What to do if severe stains are not removed
A clean car interior is pleasant for both the car owner and his passengers. But what to do if the professional products used to clean the ceiling yourself did not help solve the problem? Then you should seek help from professionals. Having experience, skills and all the necessary equipment, they will effectively wash the surface of contaminants that cannot be cleaned on their own. Contacting specialists will minimize the risk of damage to the roof lining of the car.
Products with low effectiveness
Some car owners take risks and misuse various substances that, in their opinion, will cope with dirt on the headliner. This is done, first of all, for the sake of economy.
On the one hand, you may be lucky and everything will go well. On the other hand, your upholstery may be damaged irrevocably, and then even greater investment will be needed. So what means should you not experiment with?
- It is often recommended to use acetone, various solvents, isopropyl alcohol, gasoline, diesel fuel and kerosene as stain removers.
- Of course, these substances usually remove complex stains well, but they are not recommended for use on delicate fabrics.
- What can we say about the car ceiling upholstery, where such compounds can dissolve the glue and cause the material to sag.
- In addition, it will be extremely difficult to ventilate the car interior after them. You can deal with stains much easier and safer with the help of products like Vanish.
Dirt and dust can be removed with regular soap! This is what the savings advocates confidently say. In fact, soap scum eats heavily into the fabric, and it is very difficult to completely wash it off. Specialized detergents will be an effective alternative.
We use chlorine bleach to remove stains from light-colored fabrics. But this is not a reason to use them in the car interior, even if it is lined with such material. The ceiling fabric may be very sensitive and will leave noticeable marks. It’s better not to take risks and use chlorine-free analogues.
As you know, the miser pays twice! Be careful and don't let your guard down because you want to save money.
Follow the suggested tips - and it will be easy and inexpensive to return your car's headliner to its original condition!
Recommendations
The ceiling in a car gets dirty more slowly than the seats, but requires proper care. You can clean it without resorting to paid chemical cleaning of the car. The main thing is to follow the recommendations.
- Do-it-yourself cleaning of the car ceiling is carried out using special compounds. Incorrect selection of detergents will lead to changes in color and streaks.
- Select cleaning compounds based on the sheathing material.
- The cleaning product is tested before use. Apply to an inconspicuous place on the skin.
- Brushes should not be used on fleecy fabrics. Velor and carpet materials are washed with microfiber. Wash in the direction of the pile.
- Genuine and artificial leather, vinyl covering can be cleaned with a washing vacuum cleaner, a thick cotton towel or a soft brush.
- You cannot use a regular vacuum cleaner. The fastening of the casing is broken. The pressure created by the vacuum pulls the material and separates it from the car body.
- It is better to wash removable ceilings from the outside in good lighting.
- Cleaning is carried out completely, not locally.
- It is necessary to thoroughly wash detergents from the upholstery, otherwise stains will remain.
You will be able to get a good result if you follow these recommendations.
