Dirty Center Console

jimfah · 01-20-2006, 03:41 PM

Let the wife have the 2 week old 2006 and she let the dogs in for a ride. They fit well in the back but came up over the seats and soiled the center console with their paws - the fuzzy tan surface that is not quite cloth not quite paint.

Shows dirt something awful. (In the future I would avoid the light tan interior but when they have one package #7 on the lot with 22 miles that someone did not take after ordering it and not getting in more for a month - you can't be too choosy)

Anyone had any luck cleaning that surface?

Bill Merchant · 01-21-2006, 04:08 AM

Since you are overwhelmed with replys (is anyone just whelmed these days?) I thought I'd chime in. I've had good luck cleaning the center console cover with a damp white washcloth. That gets most of the grime off.

In November last year, a parking valet brought the car back with ball point pen marks all over the side on the cloth. For that I successfully used Shout towelettes (from the grocery store) to just wipe away the stain. You could always try foam upholstery shampoo, too, but I bet the damp washcloth does the trick.

Vincent · 01-21-2006, 06:48 AM

Long Term Solution

I rented an 05 Prius TRAC car with tan cloth upholstery for 4 months before I took delivery on my 06 Package 8. Dogs, kids, shopping bags; what a mess.

Bill is right about cloth being easy to clean, but I'd be concerned long-term wear and tear. An old seat cover on the TRAC car solved the dirty back seat seat problem for the dog visits (I'd buy one sized for the Prius) and my dealer installs matching vinyl center and side arm rests for around $150. Also, keep car mats in the car ALL the time. The TRAC car came without mats and the rugs don't have the same resilient type finish as the seats; some of the stains I picked up were impossible to get out.

If you're really bothered, shop around for after market leather/vinyl seats, which I've seen on this site at prices starting around $500, uninstalled.

Don't let the cloth seats keep you from enjoying your new Prius.

Jack 06 · 01-21-2006, 02:15 PM

Oxy-Clean! The greatest advance for cleaning slightly-out-of-the-ordinary household dirt I've ever seen!

I used to use just ordinary dish soap and a sponge to clean the armrest cover on my earlier ('01-'02) Priuses. And that was good enough.

Then I broke down and bought a small tub of Oxy-Clean, after verifying in Consumer Reports that it is indeed something new, and indeed works. The stuff is amazing (as now testified to by the horde of imitators on store shelves)---and not cheap, compared to regular detergents. You mix very little of the powder with water. (They include a little measurement scoop and an explanation of how much to add to different quantities of water, for different cleaning jobs.)

I use it mainly for carpet stains/excessive dirt, but just a tiny bit of it will bring back the armrest cloth like new (unless it's something like India ink or red dye #9, etc.)

jimfah · 01-22-2006, 09:27 AM

Thanks for the inputs. Not an exciting topic. A powerful shop-vac seemed to do the trick this time. Gotta take the dogs - they love to go. Save the oxy-clean for when it gets bad. Or get some shop to put leather on it. Or vinal.

It was just a shock when the new car got to be a used car.

seasalsa · 01-22-2006, 11:15 AM

I have Robin's covers on the armrests and console, I chose black leather and they work great and look good too. She sells them on eBay and is a member of PC.

geologyrox · 01-22-2006, 07:35 PM

She also can make them in vinyl, though I appear to be the only person who would rather not have leather. I'm going with black even though I have the ivory interior - I think it will look good with the dash.

galaxee · 01-22-2006, 07:56 PM

i got this center console cover with my GTcovers:

http://priuschat.com/forums/album_showpage...ll=&pic_id=1366

it cleans up so easily. a wet rag and a bit of scrubbing and you're set.

hdrygas · 01-22-2006, 08:41 PM

I have to say that the fabric on the seats etc is very easy to clean! I have been amazed at how well plain water does on removing stains including coffee.

01-20-2006, 03:41 PM	#1
jimfah Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Let the wife have the 2 week old 2006 and she let the dogs in for a ride. They fit well in the back but came up over the seats and soiled the center console with their paws - the fuzzy tan surface that is not quite cloth not quite paint. Shows dirt something awful. (In the future I would avoid the light tan interior but when they have one package #7 on the lot with 22 miles that someone did not take after ordering it and not getting in more for a month - you can't be too choosy) Anyone had any luck cleaning that surface? __________________ 2006 Blue #7 - Jan 11 2006

01-21-2006, 06:48 AM	#3
Vincent Don't Wait Until Tomorrow Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 635 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Navigation Thanks: 0 Thanked 21 Times in 13 Posts Friends: 0	Long Term Solution I rented an 05 Prius TRAC car with tan cloth upholstery for 4 months before I took delivery on my 06 Package 8. Dogs, kids, shopping bags; what a mess. Bill is right about cloth being easy to clean, but I'd be concerned long-term wear and tear. An old seat cover on the TRAC car solved the dirty back seat seat problem for the dog visits (I'd buy one sized for the Prius) and my dealer installs matching vinyl center and side arm rests for around $150. Also, keep car mats in the car ALL the time. The TRAC car came without mats and the rugs don't have the same resilient type finish as the seats; some of the stains I picked up were impossible to get out. If you're really bothered, shop around for after market leather/vinyl seats, which I've seen on this site at prices starting around $500, uninstalled. Don't let the cloth seats keep you from enjoying your new Prius. __________________ Vincent _________________________________ 2010 Silver Prius - Package V with Navigation, Mats, Accent Stripe, Chrome Tire Valve Caps (replaced my 2006 silver package 8 with 71K miles on 5/30/09) 2007 ES 350 (Purchased aftermarket Navigation without Toyota lockout controls)

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01-21-2006, 04:08 AM	#2
Bill Merchant absit invidia Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA \| Oregon \| Portland area \| 97004 \| Posts: 4,100 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 18 Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts Friends: 60	Since you are overwhelmed with replys (is anyone just whelmed these days?) I thought I'd chime in. I've had good luck cleaning the center console cover with a damp white washcloth. That gets most of the grime off. In November last year, a parking valet brought the car back with ball point pen marks all over the side on the cloth. For that I successfully used Shout towelettes (from the grocery store) to just wipe away the stain. You could always try foam upholstery shampoo, too, but I bet the damp washcloth does the trick.

01-21-2006, 02:15 PM	#4
Jack 06 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Winters, CA: Prius capital of US. 30 miles W of Sacramento Posts: 2,567 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Oxy-Clean! The greatest advance for cleaning slightly-out-of-the-ordinary household dirt I've ever seen! I used to use just ordinary dish soap and a sponge to clean the armrest cover on my earlier ('01-'02) Priuses. And that was good enough. Then I broke down and bought a small tub of Oxy-Clean, after verifying in Consumer Reports that it is indeed something new, and indeed works. The stuff is amazing (as now testified to by the horde of imitators on store shelves)---and not cheap, compared to regular detergents. You mix very little of the powder with water. (They include a little measurement scoop and an explanation of how much to add to different quantities of water, for different cleaning jobs.) I use it mainly for carpet stains/excessive dirt, but just a tiny bit of it will bring back the armrest cloth like new (unless it's something like India ink or red dye #9, etc.)

01-22-2006, 09:27 AM	#5
jimfah Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Thanks for the inputs. Not an exciting topic. A powerful shop-vac seemed to do the trick this time. Gotta take the dogs - they love to go. Save the oxy-clean for when it gets bad. Or get some shop to put leather on it. Or vinal. It was just a shock when the new car got to be a used car.

01-22-2006, 11:15 AM	#6
seasalsa Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 1,202 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	I have Robin's covers on the armrests and console, I chose black leather and they work great and look good too. She sells them on eBay and is a member of PC.

01-22-2006, 07:35 PM	#7
geologyrox Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 513 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	She also can make them in vinyl, though I appear to be the only person who would rather not have leather. I'm going with black even though I have the ivory interior - I think it will look good with the dash.

01-22-2006, 07:56 PM	#8
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,675 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 94 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	i got this center console cover with my GTcovers: http://priuschat.com/forums/album_showpage...ll=&pic_id=1366 it cleans up so easily. a wet rag and a bit of scrubbing and you're set.

01-22-2006, 08:41 PM	#9
hdrygas Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Olympia Wa Posts: 3,650 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	I have to say that the fabric on the seats etc is very easy to clean! I have been amazed at how well plain water does on removing stains including coffee.