Using lacquer thinner on headliners

L

levander

New member
Sister got a ballpoint ink mark on the headliner in her Saab. It's pretty long. Only good thing is that it's on the sunroof visor that slides back and forth. So, if she really wants to get it gone, she can just have the headliner on her visor replaced.



I tried Aqua Net hairspray on it, then cleaned the hairspray off with some ONR @ QD dilution. I only tried spraying the Aqua Net twice and letting it dwell five minutes each time and didn't rub that hard cause I didn't wanna screw up the headliner. It barely touched the ink. That ink must have been there a long time. So, I'm thinking I need to go something much stronger to get it off.



Doing Google searches, something on ehow.com suggested using lacquer thinner on greasy stains like ink. That page was talking about getting stains off headliners. But, it's not like I'm going to take detailing advice from a site as random as ehow.com.



So, doing Autopia searches I see some people have mentioned using lacquer thinner on carpets with success. Anyone ever try lacquer thinner on headliners?



Think it'll destory the adhesive holding the headliner to the ceiling? Cause other damage?
 
Yeah, I'd be too afraid that strong of a solvent could really damage the adhesive. A headliner is pretty thin. This thread reminds me of my (futile so far) quest to find a (good) shop to get the headliner in my Cadillac re done :(
 
Duragloss 451 Fabric & Carpet Cleaner Aerosol Foam (FC) is a blend of surfactants, which gently foam away soil, oil and grease from fabric and carpet surfaces. Spot cleaning can be done without leaving rings on fabrics, carpet and velour. Use Dr Joe dedicated Lint-Free 100% Cotton Blue Huck Surgical Towels, using very light pressure and wipe the headliner following the cleaning with the water based cleaner (do not soak or use hot water on the headliner fabric as it may delaminate) Dry by blotting with a clean, dry surgical huck towel

Permatex aerosol heavy duty headliner and carpet adhesive, high-strength spray adhesive designed for repairing interior parts which have become detached or loosened. Voc compliant, it bonds foam, fabrics, plastics, rubbers, and other automotive materials. Dries clear for neat appearance.



ProStick 65™Hi-Strength- spray adhesive for bonding foams, carpet and upholstery.

 
The problem with most headliners is the sponge material underneath the fabric soaks up almost any liquid. This makes the stain difficult to remove and means the solvent gets to the most fragile part, the foam. Something as small as an ink pen line, I'd leave, unless she absolutely needs it removed, then worst case, she gets a new headliner. But yeah, Saabs have headliner issues to begin with, adding a solvent is really playing with fire.
 
Dan, it's weird you're in here saying not to use solvents on headliners. My earlier reseach, you were on some thread arguing with a Roger Koh (sp?). Your solution was the hairspray thing, because of solvents in the hair spray... I guess people's opinions just change over time?



I didn't try it based on that one thread, there were people talking about it in various places on the Internet that sounded like they knew what they were talking about...



I didn't mention above, but I only sprayed some hairspray on one part of a very long ink line. I'd really be surprised if I did any Damage that shows up later. The whole idea was a light test, that would only be thorough enough to see if the hairspray would do anything.



Thanks for chiming in guys! Think I'm going to tell my sister the only way I'd try to clean it is if she's willing to pay to completely replace the headliner that on her sunroof visor. Otherwise, there's just too much risk.
 
Dan, I don't think it makes any real difference to what you said above. But from what I remember reading, lacquer thinner isn't water based, it's oil based. I'm pretty sure that's right, but wouldn't swear by it.
 
I'm thinking there has to be something you could use somewhere between the hairspray and the lacquer thinner. Odds are the mark will never go away completely, but can probably be lightened. A decent APC would be much safer. Then you can move up from there. Spray your towel, not directly onto the headliner to reduce the extra cleaner from being soaked up into the liner.
 
Have you tried "Goof Off" (NOT "Goo Gone") on a Q-Tip (Cotton Swab)? Goof Off may remove the headliner fabric dye color, though. Try it in an inconspicuous place first.



By the way, Goof Off is great for removing copier ink-toner from plastic/vinyl 3-ring note books. How many times have you put copied papers in a 3-ring binder, only to have them stick to the inside vinyl cover.

A little Goof Off on paper towelling will remove the "mirrored text" that has transferred to the vinyl in short order with little scrubbing and minimal damage to the vinyl/plastic.

(Sorry to the OP for highjacking this thread in a different direction)
 
levander said:
Dan, it's weird you're in here saying not to use solvents on headliners. My earlier reseach, you were on some thread arguing with a Roger Koh (sp?). Your solution was the hairspray thing, because of solvents in the hair spray... I guess people's opinions just change over time?
Click to expand...



My opinion hasn't changed over time, as much as I'd rather exercise a bit of caution. Ink stains on seats, hair spray is usually no problem. Headliners are really fragile. But like I said, it she has to have it gone, then what's the worst thing that can happen, she ends up getting a new headliner?
 
Using hairspray to remove ink stains on seats is one trick I have not heard of before. They got so many types of hairspray out there and being the basic guy I'm clueless when it comes to them. For our purpose here, should one be looking for anything in particular when buying a can of hairspray for detailing purposes?
 
Big difference between hair spray and laquer thinner. It will eat though paint if left on long enough, I can imagine what it would do on fabric, glue and foam.
 
Lonnie said:
Have you tried "Goof Off" (NOT "Goo Gone") on a Q-Tip (Cotton Swab)? Goof Off may remove the headliner fabric dye color, though. Try it in an inconspicuous place first.
Click to expand...



Goof Off was recommended a few places when I was researching the problem. Maybe I'll try it later. But, not really interested in trying a 1000 things. Goof Off is probably the 1st thing I'd try though because people did mention it, as you are here. I'll probably try it later. Thanks, Lonnie. The reminder is good, I'll probably try it later.
 
sahrcar said:
Using hairspray to remove ink stains on seats is one trick I have not heard of before. They got so many types of hairspray out there and being the basic guy I'm clueless when it comes to them. For our purpose here, should one be looking for anything in particular when buying a can of hairspray for detailing purposes?
Click to expand...



I'd do links if I had found anything definitive. People were just saying look for cheap. Aqua Net was mentioned a few places and I tried that, bought it for $2 at a local Wal-mart. If you do Google searches for "ballpoint headliner", you'll probably find about the same. Can't use "ink" so easily as a search term because it's so short. Interesting, one guy I found in the searches suggest electronics cleaner spray. I was going to try that till I found a can of the brand he recommended. He recommended CRC brand. Apparently electronics cleaner is alcohol based and I've seen several people say not to use alcohol on headliners, probably destroys the adhesive holding the headliner to the ceiling.



There are just solvents in hair spray that happen to work on ink. Nobody went into the science of what specific ingredients to look for that I found.
 
Safest solvent for this concern is "naptha"-IE plain old lighter fluid.

Takes some time, however, it is much safer than one thinks and evaporates away quickly, it not real reactive, but does the job.

Follow up with a very careful cleaning of the area with a mild all purpose cleaner.

Just takes some patience and several applications, followed by the use of clean towels to "lift" the carbon black, shellac and/or other dyes used in the ink.

(know what the composition is as I was Western Regional Sales Manager for Sheaffer Pen in the 70's)

If that don't get it out, taking your time, time to step up to having some replacement done.

Grumpy
 
Amazing. Thank you Ron. Just when I had given up my search... The answer is there.



Seems like there should be a book somewhere with all the proper solvents for all the proper stains... Maybe there is?



My sister's car isn't at my house any more. It was here while she was out of town. I've got to try to explain to her how to agitate the naptha onto the ink stain.



Here's where you're talking about agitation above:



Takes some time, however, it is much safer than one thinks and evaporates away quickly, it not real reactive, but does the job.

Follow up with a very careful cleaning of the area with a mild all purpose cleaner.

Just takes some patience and several applications, followed by the use of clean towels to "lift" the carbon black, shellac and/or other dyes used in the ink.
Click to expand...



I know to tell her to not rub really hard cause she doesn't want to wear off the headliner's adhesive to the ceiling by sheer force.



I'm thinking telling her to put the naptha on a MF, then blot the ink stain (a small part of the ink stain at 1st for testing) to transfer the naptha onto the headliner. Let the dwell for awhile, say 5-10 minutes while testing, then go back over and agitate it a little to see if the ink moves.



After that, spray the ink stained headliner with a mild APC. Using a new clean MF and try blotting (and if necessary agitating just a little) to remove the APC from the headliner.



After doing this once or twice, she should have an idea of if the naptha is working at all the remove the ink...



If it is working, keep doing it, letting it dwell just a little longer, rubbing just a little harder as is necessary to remove the ink stain.



Are those decent instructions?
 
Pretty darn good instructions.

Just add that she should not, must not, get in a "hurry", let the solvent work, takes some patience or she can do expensive damage.

Grumpy
 
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