Cleaning roof liner

leggy · 25-04-15, 02:10 PM

Hey guys
I've read a few threads giving advice on what to use for cleaning up the carpets, but haven't seen anything as yet offering tips on cleaning the roof lining and struts that are either side of the front windscreen.

Mine is a light grey velour type material, and the windscreen struts are my main concern as they are very stained with engine muck from when I had the heater matrix replaced approx 7 years ago.

Another thing to add is that I need to clean roof lining and struts in situ, and using anything that will leave the interior too wet is not an option as my car is kept outside.

I have been looking at several mouse type upholstery cleaners, but all state "don't use on velour..." so can anyone suggest a product that I can use please?

Thanks

Mellis46 · 25-04-15, 04:20 PM

Think long and hard before you do this leggy, the headlinings are prone to sagging if a sparrow farts in their immediate vicinty! Wetting even an apparently sound one can end in tears, the combination of old glue which has been heated up and cooled down in the sun repeatedly, the damp and gravity is all it takes.

I successfully cleaned mine with a microfibre pad and autoglym interior shampoo very sparingly, but I cleaned it out of the car on its back, ie upside down, and I let it dry absolutely before fitting it to the car. And this was a replacement liner from another 90 - I needed one after my original one sagged (after I atempted to clean it). It was a slightly different pattern to the one I removed so had to do the sunroof panel as well which was a steep learning curve getting it out cleaned and back together 100% dry before it rained as I too have no garage!!

I try to avoid cleaning or even touching it now TBH. It has been back in the car about 6 years though with only a tiny corner just starting to go again under the drivers sun visor - hopefully it wont spread for another couple of years...!

That said though leggy, I too would be very interested in other people's experience, maybe someone who does this for a living might share a "trick of the trade" with us!!

Hanuman · 25-04-15, 05:02 PM

What he said^^^^^^^

I don't know the 80/90 setup, but the V8s; Even gentle efforts resulted in localised areas losing adhesion.
The pillar trims have been fairly robust, but anything with a foam lining starts to fail, quickly.
Enjoy the patina. It's out of your eyeline, generally. Unless, for some reason you spend a lot of time in the car, reclined, looking up!

Mellis46 · 25-04-15, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Real MSH!

Enjoy the patina. It's out of your eyeline, generally. Unless, for some reason you spend a lot of time in the car, reclined, looking up!

leggy · 25-04-15, 08:13 PM

Have added some photos to OP....
Not the greatest of light to be taking photos, but at least you can see the staining on the NS strut now, which I'm sure you'll all agree is an eye-sore from at any given angle.

Fortunately the struts are separated from the roof lining, and the material fits much more snuggly (tighter) on these panels, so as long as I can use something (like a mouse type cleaner as I said since this won't get them excessively wet) to get them looking at least half decent, well I can live with the advice of not bothering to clean the roof lining, even if it's now slightly off-colour and will appear to be more off-colour once the struts cleaned.

Steev · 25-04-15, 10:06 PM

I would use one of the Vanish products tbh. You can make quite a dry mix and spade it on. It works quickly so you could do several applications as opposed to slap it on and forget.
I would think you could hoover it off, but the oxidation action would be quick and targeted.

Good Luck
Steve

leggy · 26-04-15, 11:58 AM

Appreciate the advice Steev, however...
The Vanish carpet mouse/foam cleaner that is applied and then hoovered off is unsuitable for velour fabric, and the dry power oxy-action Vanish cleaners activate with water, so in theory, mixing it beforehand will mean that any 'activation' will have already occurred before applying it.

Also need to take in to account that the windscreen strut or pillow is upright, so a dry mix of anything is just going to fall off as soon as it's applied.

leggy · 26-04-15, 05:27 PM

Phah!
Who needs fancy expensive cleaners?...

When cheap baby wipes and a bit of elbow grease will do the job!...

(nb. cleaned both struts and the headliner with them!)

Mellis46 · 26-04-15, 05:32 PM

great stuff!

ChrisG · 26-04-15, 05:37 PM

do baby wipes ever get used on babies? They seem to be used on just about anything else

25-04-15, 04:20 PM	#2
Mellis46 Aero Advocate Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Lancashire Posts: 1,448	Think long and hard before you do this leggy, the headlinings are prone to sagging if a sparrow farts in their immediate vicinty! Wetting even an apparently sound one can end in tears, the combination of old glue which has been heated up and cooled down in the sun repeatedly, the damp and gravity is all it takes. I successfully cleaned mine with a microfibre pad and autoglym interior shampoo very sparingly, but I cleaned it out of the car on its back, ie upside down, and I let it dry absolutely before fitting it to the car. And this was a replacement liner from another 90 - I needed one after my original one sagged (after I atempted to clean it). It was a slightly different pattern to the one I removed so had to do the sunroof panel as well which was a steep learning curve getting it out cleaned and back together 100% dry before it rained as I too have no garage!! I try to avoid cleaning or even touching it now TBH. It has been back in the car about 6 years though with only a tiny corner just starting to go again under the drivers sun visor - hopefully it wont spread for another couple of years...! That said though leggy, I too would be very interested in other people's experience, maybe someone who does this for a living might share a "trick of the trade" with us!! Last edited by Mellis46; 25-04-15 at 04:43 PM.

25-04-15, 05:02 PM	#3
Hanuman Trickster Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Heckling from the cheap seats, Phnom Penh, KoW Posts: 7,023	What he said^^^^^^^ I don't know the 80/90 setup, but the V8s; Even gentle efforts resulted in localised areas losing adhesion. The pillar trims have been fairly robust, but anything with a foam lining starts to fail, quickly. Enjoy the patina. It's out of your eyeline, generally. Unless, for some reason you spend a lot of time in the car, reclined, looking up! __________________ I wish they would keep the damned Chinese away now that I can go home, so that I can enjoy Fish amok and a draught Angkor

25-04-15, 10:06 PM	#6
Steev Grown up member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cheshire Posts: 872	I would use one of the Vanish products tbh. You can make quite a dry mix and spade it on. It works quickly so you could do several applications as opposed to slap it on and forget. I would think you could hoover it off, but the oxidation action would be quick and targeted. Good Luck Steve __________________ Lots of Audi 100 C1 saloons (1973-77) Audi Coupe S (1972) Audi WR Turbo (1987) NSU RO 80 1975 (look it up!) Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1 2000 GL 1979 Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1 1900 GL Coupe 1978 Vauxhall Viva HB 1967 (45HP beast!)

26-04-15, 11:58 AM	#7
leggy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,650	Appreciate the advice Steev, however... The Vanish carpet mouse/foam cleaner that is applied and then hoovered off is unsuitable for velour fabric, and the dry power oxy-action Vanish cleaners activate with water, so in theory, mixing it beforehand will mean that any 'activation' will have already occurred before applying it. Also need to take in to account that the windscreen strut or pillow is upright, so a dry mix of anything is just going to fall off as soon as it's applied. Last edited by leggy; 26-04-15 at 12:03 PM.

26-04-15, 05:27 PM	#8
leggy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,650	problem solved! Phah! Who needs fancy expensive cleaners?... When cheap baby wipes and a bit of elbow grease will do the job!... (nb. cleaned both struts and the headliner with them!)

25-04-15, 08:13 PM	#5
leggy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 1,650	Have added some photos to OP.... Not the greatest of light to be taking photos, but at least you can see the staining on the NS strut now, which I'm sure you'll all agree is an eye-sore from at any given angle. Fortunately the struts are separated from the roof lining, and the material fits much more snuggly (tighter) on these panels, so as long as I can use something (like a mouse type cleaner as I said since this won't get them excessively wet) to get them looking at least half decent, well I can live with the advice of not bothering to clean the roof lining, even if it's now slightly off-colour and will appear to be more off-colour once the struts cleaned.

26-04-15, 05:32 PM	#9
Mellis46 Aero Advocate Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Lancashire Posts: 1,448	great stuff!

26-04-15, 05:37 PM	#10
ChrisG Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bracknell, Berks. Posts: 1,465	do baby wipes ever get used on babies? They seem to be used on just about anything else