Help! Quick! Before my wife kills me!

[Jed.cook]

Just picked up a couple newbies. The seller “helped” me load a Spirit into my wife’s minivan after removing the lid, and I just noticed the grease tracks he left on the headliner. What’s the best way to get that off‽




-Jed

[JEBIV]

Buy her a new mini van

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[Jed.cook]

Buy her a new mini van

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Exactly what I’m trying to avoid.


-Jed

[CatskillSmoker]

DOH! In my best Homer Simpson voice.

[LiquidOcelot]

Detail manager at my work uses paint thinner for really bad grease marks on interiors. But id do a small test area before going elbows deep in it

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[Mike in Roseville]

Well...

1) You could just tell her? Honesty is the "best policy," right?

2) Find a cliff or canal...and report it stolen? While not the best policy...errr umm...ok that's a bad idea! We're just spitballing here; I have another idea.

3) Go buy a really nice couch (something you won't mind sleeping on for an extended period of time) and have it delivered to the house. Take it like man and sleep like a baby.

I'm actually with JEBIV on this one...I'd look into trading it in on a new one and let the detailers at the dealership worry about it. Unless your wife is like mine and wants a hand in all major purchases. Then she might feel slighted and pissed off for getting her a new car. Yeah. Or...maybe buy her a quad cab truck so you don't have to worry about this next time??
You could also call a few highly regarded detail places (even mobile ones) and get the whole car detailed...inside and OUT. But even then, it's still a gamble.
Cleaning a headliner is tricky because the fabric is very thin. Scrub too hard and it will show. Of course you could say: "Honey, it's something I wanted to do for you so you're driving a really clean car." Yeah she'll probably be really suspicious and expect it regularly from here on out. Hope that $25 Weber was worth the $300 detail. Money well spent. Alright, chop chop. The clock is ticking. You could also look into the cost of replacing the headliner...but that might take longer.

All of my BS aside...just tell her you F'ed up. She won't kill you. You'll probably get the grills in the divorce anyway.

[randy]

I’ve greased up many headliners in my day, found that lighter fluid works the best and it’s low oder. Not sure if it’s sold by the gallon though. If that doesn’t work just light in on fire and collect the insurance money.


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[michaelmilitello]

Dawn soap works well. 

As an example, a new Honda Odyssey headliner for recent years is ~$750.



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[pancho2017]

What kind of material is it?

Most likely not fabric or it would be torn also. Maybe nylon, plastic or vinyl?

Have a look around some salvage yards man, pick-a-part.

If its stubborn grease stains I'd take the piece off so you're not working upside down. Put it on a table or bench.

I'd be gun shy about putting paint thinner or lighter fluid on it till you figure out what material it is.

Try some dawn dishwashing liquid, the Tide To Go stick and/or Shout would be gentle grease fighting cleaners.

Dab, don't rub, the stains or it'll smear. I'd use white socks as the rags and some clean water.

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[Jed.cook]

☑️ Lighter Fluid
☑️ Dawn Soap
☑️ Divorce Attorney

Gotcha’. Thanks guys.


-Jed

[randy]

I’ve turned wrenches to make a living for 24 years now, zippo lighter fluid is in the toolbox for a reason.


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[james1787]

What is the material? Is it plastic trim or is it cloth?

Plastic will be a bit more forgiving... I'd start with dawn & a toothbrush & damp cloth to dab / clean.. and keep working at it

If cloth.. I dunno.. try the zipper lighter fluid or maybe gojo?

[pbe gummi bear]

Don’t rub too hard if it’s cloth because you’ll mar the texture of the fabric. Use an upholstery cleaner with hot detergent.

[CurtP]

For grease, starting fluid.  Spray liberally, use a clean cloth to dab it out.  Smells great too!

Serious about the starting fluid, but do it in well ventilated area and keep all the doors of the car open.  I learned the trick from a mechanic who got in my car with a big glob of grease on his trousers and have been using it since then (1996).