Regularly cleaning the inside of your car helps maintain a cosy, dust and germ-free interior. Generally, most vehicle owners only clean seats, and floor mats, but less often of the ceiling of your vehicle, also called the roof lining and headliner. However, cleaning the car’s interior roof should not be overlooked.
Failing to clean the inside roof of a car can lead to health problems and discomfort. Therefore, the area needs to be sanitised quite often. The materials used in the finishing: fabric, leather and plastic, for example, can be easily contaminated by food remains, dust and other debris, causing respiratory and skin diseases.
Also, a well-kept interior adds value to your used car at resale. Read on t our complete guide to clean car interior roof.
How to Clean the Car’s Interior Roof
For headliner cleaning, you will need the following interior cleaning products:
- Microfiber cloth
- Soft bristle brush
- Car interior roof cleaner
- A steam cleaner or deep cleaning system
- An upholstery cleaner or all-purpose cleaner
- White vinegar
- Dishwashing liquid
- Warm water
- Spray bottle
Once you get all these products, here’s how you can clean the car’s interior roof.
Method: 1 Clean Small Stains Using Homemade Cleaner
Minor stains can be water stains that your headliner gets after rain or dust storms. There can also be food and drink stains on the ceiling. Follow these steps to clean the car’s interior roof.
Step: 1
Spray an upholstery cleaner onto a soft-bristled brush. Use homemade car upholstery cleaner that is suitable for the car roof material.
Mix 60 ml of white vinegar, ½ tbsp (7.5 ml) of dishwashing liquid, and 1 cup (240 ml) of warm water in a spray bottle. Shake the ingredients and apply. It is one of the most effective car cleaning tricks.
- Apply it to the bristles of a small brush for more control over the application.
- Open the car doors to better ventilate the interior while you apply the product.
- Wear latex or nitrile gloves to avoid skin contact as you apply the cleanser to clean car interior roof.
Step: 2
Rub the cleaner until it lathers into the stain. Move the brush in small circles until bubbles form. Just apply enough force for the product to penetrate the stain and remove all impurities.
- Be careful not to use too much force on the brush, or you could damage the adhesive under the ceiling fabric.
- Use this method to remove normal and wear-and-tear stains from the material.
Step: 3
- Wipe the stain with a dry microfiber cloth.
- Hold the cloth against the stain to soak up the rest of the product.
- Rub it in small circles and see if this cleans the stains from the car’s interior roof.
- If necessary, repeat the process to clean a dusty car roof.
The steps will be the same either you will use a commercial cleaner or a homemade one.
Method 2: Removing Stubborn Stains Using Steam Cleaner
Following are the steps to clean the car’s interior roof from stubborn stains.
Step: 1
- Get as much of the stain out as you can with the cleaner and brush.
- Spray the car roof cleaner spray onto the brush bristles until the brush is wet.
- Then dab it onto the stain in small circles and clean a dusty car roof.
- Finally, pass the microfiber cloth in place to finish.
You can purchase the brush at any cleaning supply store. Also, don’t forget to use gloves to avoid irritating your skin while cleaning.
Step: 2
You can also buy a steam cleaner to remove the stubborn stains. The steam cleaner helps loosen dirt particles and penetrate the stain. Try to work in a ventilated area while steam cleaning your vehicle.
- Turn on the steam cleaner and pre-heat it if needed.
- spray the cleaner 2 inches from the stain to clean the inside roof of a car.
- Use the smaller brush nozzle and apply it to the stain closely.
- Don’t over-saturate the stain with steam or you could damage the adhesive underneath the fabric.
- Blot the stain with the microfiber cloth.
- With the stain still wet from the steam, dab the microfiber cloth over the spot.
You can use the two products/cleaners to remove grease and other stubborn stains.
Method: Deep Cleaning the Entire Roof Using Upholstery Cleaner
Spray an upholstery cleaner onto a stiff-bristled brush. Use an upholstery or all-purpose cleaner, and remember to open your car doors for ventilation.
Step: 1
- Apply the product to the bristles of a large stiff brush to clean the car’s interior roof.
- Do not spray the cleaner directly onto the roof of the car, or it could damage the adhesive underneath the fabric.
- Run the brush over the ceiling and clean the inside roof of a car.
- Make back-and-forth movements until bubbles form.
- Use a little force and, if necessary, apply more of the product in small circles and repeat the application.
If you are planning to remove car seats while deep cleaning, follow this guide.
Step: 2
You can use a wet vacuum or cleaner to get the solution out.
- Use the nozzle of the brush and run the vacuum very close to the ceiling.
- Start at the front of the car and finish at the back, making very long movements to remove all the solution.
The above-mentioned methods for deep cleaning can effectively remove nicotine stains and smoke residue from your car roof.
You can also easily get stains out of car seat cloths while deep cleaning your car.
Now, let the ceiling dry completely. The vacuum or cleaner will absorb most of the moisture from the car’s roof, but let it dry for 24 hours. Run your hand over the fabric and see if things are in order. Also, leave the car windows open if the vehicle is in a safe place and at room temperature.
Repeat the process if the stain is still visible. After the vehicle dries, check to see if a stain or discolouration remains. Some stains don’t come out completely. In that case, try to get as much as you can. Hence, it is important to follow some tips for car interior protection.
With this, we end our guide on how to clean the car’s interior roof. For a spotless car interior, you need to thoroughly clean the inside of a car deeply along with the headliner. Those who are still confused about what to clean first – the car interior or exterior – check the guide.
Before you buy a used car in the UAE make sure both the interior and exterior of a vehicle are clean.
If you find these car interior cleaning steps useful, stay tuned to the UAE’s popular car blog.
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