How to Clean a Car Ceiling

Co-authored by Chad Zani and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: October 1, 2024 Approved

Your vehicle's ceiling, also known as the headliner, is often overlooked while you're cleaning the interior, but it can still get dirty. Luckily, you can easily remove stains and grime with detailing brushes and an upholstery cleaner. For more resilient marks, use a steam cleaner or wet vacuum to give your vehicle a deep clean. No matter how you clean it, you can make your vehicle's ceiling look good as new!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Spot-Cleaning Your Headliner

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1
Spray upholstery cleaner onto a soft-bristle brush. Use an upholstery cleaner from an automotive shop to ensure it’s safe for interior use. Wet the end of a small detailing brush with your cleaning solution. This way, you have better control of where you’re applying the cleaner inside your vehicle.^{[1]
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- Keep your vehicle doors open and work in a well-ventilated area while spraying the cleaner.
- Wear nitrile or latex gloves while working with your cleaner to avoid any skin irritation.
Making Your Own Cleaner

Mix ¹⁄₄ cup (59 ml) of white vinegar, ¹⁄₂ tablespoon (7.4 ml) of liquid soap, and 1 cup (240 ml) of warm water in a spray bottle. Shake the bottle to mix the solution together.
2
Work the cleaner into a lather on the spot. Move the brush in small circles so the cleaner starts to form bubbles. Apply light pressure to the brush so the lather works deeper into the spots and penetrates the stain.^{[2]
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- Be careful with the amount of pressure you add to the brush. If you use too much, you could damage the adhesive underneath the fabric.^{[3]
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- This method should easily remove stains from dirt or regular wear and tear from any material.
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3
Wipe or blot the spot with a dry microfiber towel. Hold the towel firmly against the area you cleaned to absorb the cleaner. Rub the towel in small circles around the stain to help lift it off of the surface. Check to see if the stain has lightened up, and if it’s still noticeable, repeat the cleaning method.^{[4]
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- Microfiber towels can be purchased at any home care or automotive care store.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Removing Tough Stains

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1
Lift as much of the stain as you can with upholstery cleaner and a stiff-bristle brush. Spray your cleaner on the bristles until they’re wet. Lather the cleaner into the stain by working the brush in small circles to loosen the stain. Wipe away the cleaner with a microfiber cloth and clean as much of the stain as you can.^{[5]
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- Detailing brushes can be purchased from your local auto care store.
- Avoid skin irritation from the cleaner by wearing a pair of thin nitrile gloves.
2
Buy or rent a steam cleaner. Steam cleaners use pressurized vapors to loosen dirt and penetrate the stains. Look at your local big box or home improvement stores to see if they offer rentals on steamers. Otherwise, purchase a small steam spot cleaner.^{[6]
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- Low-end steam cleaners cost around $40 USD to purchase.
3
Spray the nozzle while holding it 2 in (5.1 cm) from the stain. Use the narrow nozzle or brush attachment on your steamer. Hold it away from the stain and pull the trigger to shoot a burst of steam. Spray the entire stain so the heat and water lift it off from your headliner.^{[7]
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- Don’t oversaturate the stain with water or else you may damage the adhesive underneath the fabric.
4
Blot the stain dry with your microfiber cloth. While the stain is still wet from the steam, pat it dry with your microfiber cloth. If you notice that the stain is still there, spray it with another burst of steam and work your cloth in small circles.^{[8]
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- This method works best for removing food stains or other resilient spots.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Performing a Deep Clean on Your Whole Ceiling

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1
Spray upholstery cleaner on a stiff-bristled brush. Either an upholstery cleaner or all-purpose cleaner will work on your headliner. Work in a well-ventilated area while cleaning your vehicle. Wet the bristles of a large detailing brush with your cleaning solution.^{[9]
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- Avoid spraying the cleaner directly on the ceiling of your vehicle since it could cause the adhesive underneath the fabric to loosen up.
- Wear a thin pair of latex gloves if your skin is easily irritated by chemical cleaners.
2
Rub the ceiling with your brush to lather the cleaner. Work in long back and forth strokes so the cleaner starts to bubble. Apply gentle pressure to the brush while you scrub your vehicle’s ceiling. As you’re working, spray more cleaner onto your brush if you notice that it isn’t producing a lather anymore.^{[10]
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- For noticeable spots or stains, work extra cleaner into the area making small circles with your brush.
3
Use a wet vacuum or spot cleaner to remove the cleaning solution. Put a brush attachment on the nozzle of your machine. Hold the nozzle against your vehicle’s ceiling and turn it on. Start in the front of your vehicle and work towards the back. Work in 24 in (61 cm) strokes across your ceiling to suck up your cleaning solution.
- This process works best to remove nicotine and smoke residue from your vehicle interior.
4
Let the headliner dry completely. The vacuum or spot cleaner should absorb most of the moisture in your ceiling, but let it air dry for 24 hours. Run your hand over the fabric to make sure the fabric is dry and to remove any lines in the fabric left by the vacuum.
- Leave your windows open if your vehicle is in a safe, temperature-controlled space to let your vehicle air out.
5
Repeat the process if stains are still visible. Once your vehicle has dried out, look for any stains or discoloration remaining on the headliner. Start by doing a spot treatment, but if that doesn’t work, try a heavier cleaning method.
- Some stains won't come out completely. Lighten the stain as much as you can.

Expert Q&A

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Question

What's the easiest way to get stains out of a car headliner?

Chad Zani
Auto Detailing Expert
Chad Zani is an Auto Detailing Expert based in Los Angeles, California. He is the Director of Franchising at Detail Garage, an automotive detailing company with locations around the U.S. and Sweden. He and his team are auto detailing experts that offer detailing and car care services.

Chad Zani

Auto Detailing Expert

Expert Answer

Spray a good-quality all-purpose cleaner onto a clean microfiber towel, preferably one that's 70% polymide and 30% polyester. You could also use a soft horsehair brush. Then, use that to clean directly over the stain. If you spray your cleaner right onto the headliner, you'll end up with a larger area that's obviously been cleaned, and it will stand out.

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Question

How can I remove water stains in my headliner caused by a leaking sunroof?

Community Answer

Baby wet wipes work well without any damages or problems. it's not an easy way do it due to the fast drying, so you may use one peace to clean a little bit, but the results are amazing.

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How can I remove soda from a car ceiling?

Richard Mark

Community Answer

The best way to do this would be to take a terry cloth towel or a microfiber towel and spray the cleaner onto the towel. The you gently rub the area that needs to be cleaned. You should never spray onto the headliner, as getting it too wet can cause the glue to fail and the headliner to sag. Also, do not use anything like a stiff brush, as this can cause a texture difference on the headliner. The good news is that most headliners are pretty easy to clean. Just keep spraying the towel and scrubbing away.

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Warnings

Work in a well-ventilated area so the fumes from your cleaner don’t build up.

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Wear a pair of nitrile or latex gloves if you’re easily irritated by chemical cleaners.

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