How to clean discolored headliner?

[Red Beard]

I'm looking for a tip on what to use to fix this 'two tone' headliner situation after having removed the AC tunnel. PO was a smoker unfortunately....

So far I've tried typical kitchen-type degreasing cleaners, bleach/water. No significant improvement so far.

Would prefer not to have to replace as it is otherwise in good shape, and paint would be a PIA.

Thanks for any ideas.[/img]

[kamzcab86]

I'd try Mr. Clean Magic Erasers.
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1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
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"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子

[bluebus86]

just call it a racing stripe and leave it alone:)
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[DenverB]

probably not the most kosher suggestion and some will cringe:

Sprayaway glass cleaner and a microfiber towell (or ten). you'll rub your fingers raw, but that combination will remove the grime from the vinyl and get it closer to the original (nicotene stainless) color. Sprayaway also makes auto interior cleaner, but trust me the glass cleaner is the way to go...

It is alcohol-based, so when you're done I would wipe it well with wet (water) rags then put on a conditioner or vinyl spray (meguiars ultra shine for that fresh-cut coconut smell).

worst case: you can dye the stuff. I would require some taping (okay, lots of taping), but you could find a suitable neutral color of carpet/vinyl dye and go to town. Itll even out the color all around (the stuff covers stains well too) -- something like these three colors may work:

http://www.autodetailingwarehouse.com/store/p/13-Aerosol-Carpet-Dye-Beige.aspx

http://www.autodetailingwarehouse.com/store/p/40-Aerosol-Carpet-Dye-Off-White.aspx

http://www.autodetailingwarehouse.com/store/p/47-Aerosol-Carpet-Dye-White.aspx

that stuff is amazing and I use it (a different color) to dye ABS plastic in Eurovans back to OG color. Even the light colors will cover dark stains on the ABS perfectly...

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'77 Transporter/camper (Bussy - Reef Blue/Pastel White)
'67 bug (Santos - VW Blue)
'84 Vanagon Westfalia (Pink Flamingo - Pastel White/Pink)
'88 Vanagon GL Westfalia (Frankie Says - Wolfram Gray)
'02 Eurovan Weekender (Green Apple)
'95-'03 Eurovan full campers and weekenders (rental fleet)
'84 -'91 Vanagon full campers and weekenders (rental fleet)
'72 Porsche 914 (Greta - RIP)

www.RockyMountainCampervans.com

[Guybrush]

I repainted mine in VHT "vinyl dye" spray (grey). A lot of taping required and plastic protection everywhere (don't leave a single hole, because spray paint will go in there and mist over everything, as it will form a mist inside the van). Good respirator required, and ventilation.

Someone already mentioned magic eraser for cleaning, but you can also try a mixture of water with baking soda, and white vinegar. But be careful to not put drops over everything, it will leave white marks.

[Merian]

Meguiars makes a heavy duty vinyl cleaner in a TAN bottle

the maroon bottle stuff is less effective

it that does not work, then maybe a new headliner (or spray paint) is in order

[chase4food]

[bluebus86]

you could take up smoking, the clean section will then darken
_________________
Help Prevent VW Engine Fires, see this link.....Engine safety wire information

Stop introducing dirt into your oil when adjusting valves ... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683022

[Red Beard]

[CdnVWJunkie]

[Merian]

maybe due to UV one the other part - if so, there is a fix - a new headliner

[SteveVanB]

A friend of mine swears by this stuff called " La's Totally Awesome". He gets it at Family dollar. I just picked up 3 bottles and will be trying it on my headliner this evening. Will report back with results...
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91 CARAT

[Merian]

[chase4food]

[DenverB]

[tschroeder0]

i just resprayed my entire headliner in my Adventurewagen front to back.
I used SEM vinyl, plastic paint.
it is about 20$ a can but is the best. it's not that hard to do, obviously make sure you tape/mask everything and open everything up,in the van to get the overspray out quickly. If you're a person who will be bothered by it not being "right" than it will be a really satisfying project for you. They make a lot of colors so finding a very close match should be easy.

[Terry Kay]

Zep formula 50, a small nylon scrub brush, and a few turkish towels.
One wet with rinse water, the other to dry.

Allow to soak for a few minutes till the nicotine starts dripping off.
Rinse, & dry.

White, off white can be difficult to get back to the same as the middle section.

If after the Formula 50 it isn't quite white enough, spray some Chlorox on the stained area, brush again, allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes and rinse again.

This will be the closest of a match you'll get without dying the entire headliner.

SEM works well, but a big pain to paint it all.
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T.K.

[DenverB]

[Terry Kay]

Detailed many semi interiors.
The headliners were always heavy nicotine stained.

Zep worked well , and fast.

The issue with painting the headliner is seeing as you can't possibly prepare the matrial properly prior to painting is it will eventually start rolling off.

Tell me how to sand & prep a vinyl headliner to give the vinyl some tooth.

Sem works very well on hard plastic that you can prep.
Not so with un-prepped vinyl.
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T.K.

[DenverB]

that's why you use vinyl dye, not paint.

I've not prepped one thing of hard abs plastic before dyeing other than an ISO wipedown. No peeling whatsoever.
_________________
-------
'77 Transporter/camper (Bussy - Reef Blue/Pastel White)
'67 bug (Santos - VW Blue)
'84 Vanagon Westfalia (Pink Flamingo - Pastel White/Pink)
'88 Vanagon GL Westfalia (Frankie Says - Wolfram Gray)
'02 Eurovan Weekender (Green Apple)
'95-'03 Eurovan full campers and weekenders (rental fleet)
'84 -'91 Vanagon full campers and weekenders (rental fleet)
'72 Porsche 914 (Greta - RIP)

www.RockyMountainCampervans.com