I wired a dual channel dashcam under the headliner trim from the windshield to the hatch. I guess I was a bit rough with the wiring as now I have pilling where I routed around the A and B pillars. I used a razorblade and a pilling shaver to remove the excess pilling, and while it looks better, you can still see where the fabric is not the same and is "balding". I never had this problem in other cars.
Someone very recently reported here: tried to clean a mechanics greasy handprint off the headliner, using a spray can cleaner with integrated plastic bristle brush applicator. It shredded on the first stroke or two, ended up with dangling threads of material.
Pilling occurs with high tensile strength fibers. Natural fibers like cotton and most wools are low tensile strength, break and wear off. The only answer is not to scrub on the headliner as I did at one time. Blotting is the only viable method to avoid "pilling" the headliner.
The felt-like material used for lining the cargo deck, side, and back of the rear seats are equally prone to pilling. Extremely hard to clean the surface if it gets soiled. Small debris of leaves and dust get stuck in the fibers and even the strong shop vac can not remove them. I don't have any way to cover the headliner but I am totally covering the cargo area with a custom-made canvas liner.
I am afraid to install LED map lights because of the difficulty in removing the map light unit could resulting in pilling of the headliner.
For map lights, you need a pry tool to remove the cover. It is not hard at all. $5 Pry tools from Amazon
Thanks. I installed the LED lights and was extra careful with the headliner. With caution, it was quite easy.
I'm not a fan of the headliner material. It seems cheap. It has a weird linen like texture. Hopefully, Toyota will update it to something of higher quality that is less prone to stains.
