What are some ways of protecting the interior plastic?

silentak1 · 07-15-2005, 06:41 PM

I find the Prius interior plastics to be very delicate and prone to scratches. I'd like to hear what you have all done to address this.

I do NOT want to:
1) Put on the leather cover (even though i've read excellent reviews about it)
2) Armorall

Has anyone found any sort of "interior plastic wax"? I've ordered the Zaino plastic cleaner with hopes that this will at least create a very thin layer of protection.

bshef · 07-15-2005, 07:01 PM

I think the only way to deal with this is to accept the fact that your going to get scratches no matter what you do......
My Jack Russell Terrier has already broken in much of mine on the drivers door just below the window.....I'm not too worried about a few scratches.

[align=center:e5d7d5cd51]

[/align:e5d7d5cd51]

silentak1 · 07-15-2005, 07:38 PM

I thought so... any other salvation?

galaxee · 07-15-2005, 08:03 PM

minor scuffs can be restored with a good interior cleaner (and armorall is NOT good in my opinion)

i used mother's back to black on the darker trim below the window after i helped a friend move. someone loaded boxes into my back seat and closed the door on a box... scuffing up the door very nicely (but not actually scratching). a bit of wiping with that stuff made it look all better.

i don't know about actual scratches because that goes down to the lighter colored plastic beneath. those can't be erased magically i don't think...

Bill Merchant · 07-16-2005, 01:57 AM

[font=Comic Sans MS:a6de63ee21]I've used 303 Protectant and it makes the plastic look better and stay dust-free longer. Scratches going through the paint have no remedy short of covering or repainting.[/font:a6de63ee21]

silentak1 · 07-16-2005, 11:12 AM

Thank you. I will go to Autozone and look at the Mothers' bottle, and if i'm not convinced i will try 303 Protectant.

Bill Merchant · 07-16-2005, 08:13 PM

[font=Comic Sans MS:789244f4d4]You can also use the 303 on your tires, FWIW.[/font:789244f4d4]

jandrada · 07-31-2005, 01:17 AM

Ok, got my Silver Prius yesterday. Tinted windows today. Now I'm stressing about the interior plastics. The question I have is, given that the 'burgundy' stuff is not really shiny and I would like to keep it as close as that as possible, do Mother's or 303 change that and make it shiny?

By the way, Galaxee and Bill, I've been reading your posts in different threads and they're really helpful. Thanks!

Juan

Jaguar88 · 07-31-2005, 01:51 AM

If you are going to use microfiber cloths to clean with buy them on line. I paid $8 for one and I found the exact same one onine for $3. If you use them to clean the glass and dry your car a dozen might be the right number and at some places you get an extra discount. Supposedly you can use lower concentrations of detergents and some people report using them with just plain water. I haven't tried them using less cleaner yet.

galaxee · 07-31-2005, 09:19 AM

Juan- congrats!

I know Mothers does make it shiny. And knowing Bill, he wouldn't use 303 if it didn't also keep the surfaces shiny. So it's pretty much whatever you like to use.

07-15-2005, 06:41 PM	#1
silentak1 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 548 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	What are some ways of protecting the interior plastic? I find the Prius interior plastics to be very delicate and prone to scratches. I'd like to hear what you have all done to address this. I do NOT want to: 1) Put on the leather cover (even though i've read excellent reviews about it) 2) Armorall Has anyone found any sort of "interior plastic wax"? I've ordered the Zaino plastic cleaner with hopes that this will at least create a very thin layer of protection.

07-15-2005, 07:01 PM	#2
bshef Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Left Coast Posts: 337 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Re: What are some ways of protecting the interior plastic? I think the only way to deal with this is to accept the fact that your going to get scratches no matter what you do...... My Jack Russell Terrier has already broken in much of mine on the drivers door just below the window.....I'm not too worried about a few scratches. [align=center:e5d7d5cd51][/align:e5d7d5cd51]

07-15-2005, 08:03 PM	#4
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	minor scuffs can be restored with a good interior cleaner (and armorall is NOT good in my opinion) i used mother's back to black on the darker trim below the window after i helped a friend move. someone loaded boxes into my back seat and closed the door on a box... scuffing up the door very nicely (but not actually scratching). a bit of wiping with that stuff made it look all better. i don't know about actual scratches because that goes down to the lighter colored plastic beneath. those can't be erased magically i don't think... __________________ black 2005 prius, a few mods that make me happy g: class of '09 in intense science DH: class of '09 in medical equipment hoping to discover the 'reward' part of the sacrifice-reward cycle soon!

07-16-2005, 01:57 AM	#5
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	Re: What are some ways of protecting the interior plastic? [font=Comic Sans MS:a6de63ee21]I've used 303 Protectant and it makes the plastic look better and stay dust-free longer. Scratches going through the paint have no remedy short of covering or repainting.[/font:a6de63ee21]

07-16-2005, 11:12 AM	#6
silentak1 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 548 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: What are some ways of protecting the interior plastic? Thank you. I will go to Autozone and look at the Mothers' bottle, and if i'm not convinced i will try 303 Protectant.

07-15-2005, 07:38 PM	#3
silentak1 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 548 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I thought so... any other salvation?

07-16-2005, 08:13 PM	#7
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	Re: What are some ways of protecting the interior plastic? [font=Comic Sans MS:789244f4d4]You can also use the 303 on your tires, FWIW.[/font:789244f4d4]

07-31-2005, 01:17 AM	#8
jandrada Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Panama City, FL Posts: 12 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Ok, got my Silver Prius yesterday. Tinted windows today. Now I'm stressing about the interior plastics. The question I have is, given that the 'burgundy' stuff is not really shiny and I would like to keep it as close as that as possible, do Mother's or 303 change that and make it shiny? By the way, Galaxee and Bill, I've been reading your posts in different threads and they're really helpful. Thanks! Juan

07-31-2005, 01:51 AM	#9
Jaguar88 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 172 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	If you are going to use microfiber cloths to clean with buy them on line. I paid $8 for one and I found the exact same one onine for $3. If you use them to clean the glass and dry your car a dozen might be the right number and at some places you get an extra discount. Supposedly you can use lower concentrations of detergents and some people report using them with just plain water. I haven't tried them using less cleaner yet.

07-31-2005, 09:19 AM	#10
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	Juan- congrats! I know Mothers does make it shiny. And knowing Bill, he wouldn't use 303 if it didn't also keep the surfaces shiny. So it's pretty much whatever you like to use.

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