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  1. #1

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    Unhappy Nicotine stains on headliner

    Any ideas on the best way to get nicotine stains off a a headliner in a smokers car?

  2. #2

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    Try Naptha--- Nafta.Cleaning fluid. Not sure of spelling. Pour some on rag. Don`t soak it. Wipe the headliner down.
    This has worked for me. I`m sure there are other prod. that will also do the job.

  3. #3
    Beautification Specialist dr_detail's Avatar
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    my $0.02...

    !! CAUTION !!

    If the headliner is the soft padded cloth type -- like those in most manufactures line-ups, they are constructed of cloth bound to a thin layer of foam bound to a cardboard backing. They are delicate, and the use of just about anything other than a gentle brushing can and will cause the material to separate. Yes, the naphtha will help in the short term, but I wouldn`t give it six months before it falls if used. I always explain this to customers before doing any work to a headliner. I explain to them the risks -- a new headliner installed usually runs less than $75 (wholesale) which might be a much better option.

    A happy customer tells a friend ... An unhappy one tells many friends !!!

    Gim-me a car with finns... :naughty and I`ll shows ya what detailin`s all about... :jump

  4. #4

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    Sorry to hijack the thread, but is there any way to safely clean the padded cloth headliner (not in a smoker`s car per se, but just in general)?
    -`97 Cobra (bolt-ons)

  5. #5
    Proud Resident Of Detail City
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    I have used Stoners carpet and upolstery cleaner. It is a foam, and if applied to the towel, does not wet the headliner too much. It cleans very well with limited amounts of moisture. Naptha is Zippo fluid, and I am not sure I would be using it on headliners. Naptha can be used to remove adhesive from certain surfaces though.

  6. #6
    Just One More Coat Beemerboy's Avatar
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    I have cleaned many of them this way and I learned this on another forum.

    Use a white terry towel, spary on some APC not to get wet then runb gently on the headliner. On the areas that ae stained a bit more use more APC but rung just that area softly. I have never had one problem with the headliner loosening up this way. I`d say about 90% plus wil come out with action on it
    Old Enough To Know Better, Too Stupid To Care....

    Dave`s Detailing
    Sonoma County, CA

  7. #7
    Founder Poorboy's World Poorboy's Avatar
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    Re: my $0.02...

    Originally posted by dr_detail
    !! CAUTION !!

    If the headliner is the soft padded cloth type -- like those in most manufactures line-ups, they are constructed of cloth bound to a thin layer of foam bound to a cardboard backing. They are delicate, and the use of just about anything other than a gentle brushing can and will cause the material to separate. Yes, the naphtha will help in the short term, but I wouldn`t give it six months before it falls if used. I always explain this to customers before doing any work to a headliner. I explain to them the risks -- a new headliner installed usually runs less than $75 (wholesale) which might be a much better option.
    very true and also used to tell many clients the same about mats...the time and effort involved...at least at my rates...it would be cheaper to replace either that were in really bad shape.
    An auto upholstery shop that knows what they are doing can quickly replace a headliner. ok that`s two more cents...now you have 4cents:lol
    life is short ..do it while you can

    e-mail info@poorboysworld.com

  8. #8

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    Thumbs up

    Thanks
    -`97 Cobra (bolt-ons)

  9. #9
    Privitize it shotime's Avatar
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    Originally posted by brwill2004
    Naptha can be used to remove adhesive from certain surfaces though.
    I used it to clean off undercoating from a 240Z I was restoring, I`m not sure I`d use that on a headliner, it really did a number on the undercoating...just imagine what it would do to a thinly applied adhesive. I`ve used either glass cleaner or foaming carpet cleaner. Some of the more heavily stained ones I`ll mist with an APC first. I wipe it down with a cotton cloth. There hasn`t been much I couldn`t get out using that.

 

 

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