Ok well running with the windows down you run into problems like dirty headliner. As other 3rd gen owners know there is no foam what so ever. It is a hard plastic shell with fabric on it, I tried to clean it with soap and it stained the damn headliner because it was so dirty. I searched and found tuff stuff but wasn't sure if that would be good for this application.


Aaron

 

I'm curious about this too mine is pretty skuzzy also. I don't want to buy a new one.

 

I wonder if using a portable steam cleaner would work on it.

 

Thats an idea, never thought of doin' that.

 

You might try liquid carpet cleaner, such as Bissell, Hoover, etc. You can find at most stores. Just dilute it well because it gets soapy quick.

I haven't tried it on my headliner yet, but I use it in our carpet shampooer to clean the seats and floor carpet. After shampoo, I usually go over it again with just warm water to get all the soap out.

 

You know I have a spot bot with upholstery wand I wondered if that would work.


Aaron

 

They price out at over $1k


Aaron

 

Aaron, just a take a regular vacuum with a brush attachment and use that, trust me. It worked wonders on my dirty headliner, because most of it was just dust and pollen that had accumulated on the surface. I accidently found out this worked when I was vacuuming the Runner out and somehow I hit the headliner with the wand and noticed the dirt came right out.

If that doesn't work, I assume a steam cleaner would be your next best option.

 

Wow!!!! That is sooooo not worth it. Time to go to a salvage yard, sheesh!@!!!!!

 

I'm interested as well. If you use a brush and carpet cleaner lint forms and makes things worse. Seems like a cloth application of some specialty cleaner would be the ticket.

 

Yea it can't be abrasive at all, it seems. I'm going to try something this weekend hopefully and see what happens.

Aaron

 

During my high school summer job I did some detailing. What the place I would do for "steam cleaning" is spray down the area with a cleaner (they used Spray Nine, if you use this make sure you don't get it on the lettering of your turn signals etc, it'll peel the lettering off) and then get it wet (perhaps with a portable steam cleaner) and use a wet/dry shop vac to suck out the moisture. The shop vac was the key as it's way stronger than a normal steam cleaner and can really suck the dirt out of fabric. We did the carpets and everything this way.

 

Good quality upholstery cleaner.

 

I remember seeing someones headliner in a Taco and noticing it was fiber glass. Hmm I thought, well how the hell hard would it be to take down, then I searched again tonight.
http://www.4runners.org/writeups/sound/headliner.html this site rocks and give a play by play on how to get it out. I hope to conquer this tomorrow as I will have a pressure washer and good hot sunny day to dry.

Aaron

 

have you tried mr clean magic eraser? that stuff works wonders!

 

when i used to detail we used to take our degreaser/cleaner mixture and spray it out of a normal spray bottle on the "mist" setting then gently wipe with a cotton shop towel. you may have to do this a couple times but it works well and won't ruin the headliner unless you brush it or really go at it with compressed air to dry it. i hope the pressure washer doesn't rip it to shreds!

 

It's a sissy ass washer to be honest. Though my hose might work just as well. The HL is way dusty and dirty and really needs to be cleaned. It's not just here or there it's every where.

Aaron

 

what about a shamwow, the guy in the commercial swears it is the best...

 

Well that guy's Shamwow claims aside... a test was done up here by a tv program that does comparison shopping/consumer advice and they found the only wow was "wow! why would you by this junk"

on the HL vacuum it first with a good machine or shop vac to remove all the loose surface stuff then try any of the various cleaners like upholstery shampoo and the like. IF you don't vacuum first all you will make is mud with the cleaner and that will be even harder to get out.

 

what about pulling down the whole headliner, and getting it re-upholstered with whatever cloth or fabric you want. For my Datsun 510 i went this route with a local upholstry guy, it was $250 with the fabric, and all i supplied was the plastic headliner mold