The Ford Barn

Dorf55 · 05-09-2020, 11:38 AM

I had a new off white headliner put in my 55 Fairlane about two years ago.
I'm starting to see some yellowing around the back window that looks like maybe glue overspray.
As I said the headliner is an off white color, so I'm not sure what will work.
Anyone had the same problem?

50fordcoupeman · 05-09-2020, 07:00 PM

My avatar has a lot of white upholstery in it and I use Super Clean. If that doesn't work I use lacquer thinner on a rag. Be sure to test both on an inconspicuous place-esp the lacquer thinner.

miker98038 · 05-09-2020, 10:34 PM

If you think it's glue spray, look close and see if the headliner is shrinking or loosening and pulling out. Not that I'd know what to do about that. Then I'd try mineral spirits or paint thinner. That's the base of most "contact" cement that my upholstery guys uses from the glue pot. Small area with a q tip to see what happens

Daves55Sedan · 05-10-2020, 04:29 PM

Is it a vinyl headliner or cloth. Reason I ask is because if it's cloth, and you accidentally sprayed adhesive on that last structural rib, the adhesive may be seeping through the cloth, discoloring it. Don't think there's no fix for that. If it is vinyl, it probably won't seep thru. Try wiping it with a soft cloth soaked in denatured alcohol. If that don't work, try hot water and detergent with bleach, and dry it.
There doesn't need to be any glue on that last structural rib (in case you ever redo another one). I used a brush-on can of upholstery cement and brushed it into the bottom lip of the window channel (before the back window glass was installed). You can hold the headliner in place while the glue dries overnight using a bunch of binder clips. I think I had four boxes full of clips (thats 16 each).
The factory actually folded the headliner material around to the top lip of the window channel and glued it on there as well for extra hold. I did that too. You can apply the glue to both sides at one time, pull the headliner tight, wrap the headliner around that window opening and insert the binder clips to hold it in one fail swoop.

rotorwrench · 05-11-2020, 03:11 PM

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Yellowing can also indicate some water seepage getting in through the back glass seal. Any contact cement should have dried several years ago. Over spray should have been noticeable at the time it was installed. Specialized interior cleaning equipment that uses steam & vacuum or a cleaning solution & vacuum may work.

A person has to be very careful with the napped cotton type headliner material. Vinyl can take a lot more punishment.

05-09-2020, 11:38 AM	#1
Dorf55 Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Omaha Ne. Posts: 34	How to clean headliner I had a new off white headliner put in my 55 Fairlane about two years ago. I'm starting to see some yellowing around the back window that looks like maybe glue overspray. As I said the headliner is an off white color, so I'm not sure what will work. Anyone had the same problem?

05-09-2020, 07:00 PM	#2
50fordcoupeman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: LaGrande Oregon Posts: 865	Re: How to clean headliner My avatar has a lot of white upholstery in it and I use Super Clean. If that doesn't work I use lacquer thinner on a rag. Be sure to test both on an inconspicuous place-esp the lacquer thinner.

05-09-2020, 10:34 PM	#3
miker98038 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kent, WA. Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,397	Re: How to clean headliner If you think it's glue spray, look close and see if the headliner is shrinking or loosening and pulling out. Not that I'd know what to do about that. Then I'd try mineral spirits or paint thinner. That's the base of most "contact" cement that my upholstery guys uses from the glue pot. Small area with a q tip to see what happens

05-10-2020, 04:29 PM	#4
Daves55Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granite City, Illinois Posts: 3,008	Re: How to clean headliner Is it a vinyl headliner or cloth. Reason I ask is because if it's cloth, and you accidentally sprayed adhesive on that last structural rib, the adhesive may be seeping through the cloth, discoloring it. Don't think there's no fix for that. If it is vinyl, it probably won't seep thru. Try wiping it with a soft cloth soaked in denatured alcohol. If that don't work, try hot water and detergent with bleach, and dry it. There doesn't need to be any glue on that last structural rib (in case you ever redo another one). I used a brush-on can of upholstery cement and brushed it into the bottom lip of the window channel (before the back window glass was installed). You can hold the headliner in place while the glue dries overnight using a bunch of binder clips. I think I had four boxes full of clips (thats 16 each). The factory actually folded the headliner material around to the top lip of the window channel and glued it on there as well for extra hold. I did that too. You can apply the glue to both sides at one time, pull the headliner tight, wrap the headliner around that window opening and insert the binder clips to hold it in one fail swoop.

05-11-2020, 03:11 PM	#5
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,422	Re: How to clean headliner Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Yellowing can also indicate some water seepage getting in through the back glass seal. Any contact cement should have dried several years ago. Over spray should have been noticeable at the time it was installed. Specialized interior cleaning equipment that uses steam & vacuum or a cleaning solution & vacuum may work. A person has to be very careful with the napped cotton type headliner material. Vinyl can take a lot more punishment.