Plastic Door Panel Scuffs Easily

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rmille2 @ Jun 26 2006, 06:53 PM) [snapback]277119[/snapback]</div>

The crystal on my watch has left many scars on the inner door panel caused when I reach for the seatbelt.

Same damage, but I have not found a cure short of replacing the panel.

Walt

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(wstander @ Jun 26 2006, 07:02 PM) [snapback]277121[/snapback]</div>

oh no a scuff mark..what shall I do...oh please get a life and a box of klennex

 

zzz

 

While this isn't exactly the same, my gf's dog loves to stick her head out the window when we take her out. her claws leave marks on the top part of the panel that seem very consipicous at first. I took some armor all all purpose auto wipes and wiped them down. Its shiny at first and when it dries, the marks are much less conspicous. As for the bottom portion where your sneakers scuff, I don't know what to tell you. I have the same thing but its at such a inconspicous place that it doesn't really matter. Any car that has been driven frequently have the same problem. My mom's mercedes has the exact same thing. As for the upper panel, I was wondering if maybe some shops sell leather that I can have placed over them. Leather seems to wear a lot better than the plastic.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jun 27 2006, 02:08 AM) [snapback]277247[/snapback]</div>

I have also found Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to work really well. I don't really know how it works (what is its cleaning mechanism). I can't find anything on the packaging. It doesn't seem to have any harsh chemicals

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jun 27 2006, 01:08 AM) [snapback]277247[/snapback]</div>

That's the ticket! Works like a charm.

 

The "Magic Eraser" is melamine foam.. ie the same very hard phenolic resin that your countertops are made from, but made in a foam. The foam allows the normally brittle material to flex and conform to surfaces where the little webs of melamine literally scrapes contaminants off with virtually no damage to the host surface (as long as the surface is reasonably hard; the Magic Eraser can scratch softer surfaces and/or mark highly polished surfaces).

 

Well boys aren't we being a little too thin skinned here? rmill2 post was ridiculous...a smudge mark on a 'KICK' panel...pleeeeeze and he can't figure out how to remove it? And as for past my bedtime..what is that to imply...agisim? Mr. Libertarian! As far as being a 'troll' (your inference) and having me banned for my'cynical' or 'nothing to add' remarks...who made you king to decide what remarks someone can make? And for the record, please reread my posts (in between acting as the minister of good taste), and there you will find some very insgihtful if not pointed remarks. And one last thing...the PRIUS is a car, it's meant to be driven and inherent in that is they get dirty...DWEEB

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(powrfuel @ Jun 27 2006, 07:07 AM) [snapback]277359[/snapback]</div>

 

Well I guess I was not clear enough in my original post. My appologies to the group. The scuff is not a removable mark, dirt, grease or any other material that transferred to the door panel. The scuff is almost white and is permanent damage to the grainy pebble surface finish. I looks like the only way to fix it would be a paint or vinyl dye. By the way, if you rib your finger nail on the plastic it leaves a permanent mark.
It seems to me the plastic is very easy to damage. I have owned a lot of vehicles and have never had plastic that damaged so easily.
Perhaps Mr. Powfuel now understands what I ment to say

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jun 27 2006, 09:23 AM) [snapback]277398[/snapback]</div>

believe me, I keep ALL of my cars spotless as can be..you miss the point as well...enough said on this topic..I'm out.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hogbob99 @ Jun 27 2006, 12:05 PM) [snapback]277388[/snapback]</div>

That's what I thought too. I had a white scuff and it looked like permanent damage. I thought about trying to find some paint but figured that anything I would do would just end up making it look worse. Replacing the panel would be too expensive and it would probably just get scuffed up again.
Then I tried the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and it just came right off. It was like new again.
I think when the panel scuffs it is leaving behind some kind of residue and it just gets trapped in there. None of the cleaners I tried were able to get it off except the Magic Eraser.
I agree that the plastic scuffs way too easily.

 

I do not mind people providing information about the issues and problems that they have, such as scuffs. It seems to provide insight into what to be careful about and what you might do if it happens to you. Sure, our cars age and get nicks and cuts, but it does not mean that you have to accept it easily.

For my own part, I had was stupid enough to put an empty propane gas cylinder in the back of my brand new Prius and rake a short drive to get it filled. The cylinder rolled around in the back a couple of times and dug up the plastic portion of the rear hatch.

Live and learn, I guess.

P&G, fellow Prians.