1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Cloth arm rest

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Argyle, Jul 6, 2009.

  1. Argyle

    Argyle New Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2009
    87
    22
    0
    Location:
    Rochester, NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    IV and V owners can tune out.
    For the rest of us non-leather folks, has anyone figured out a clever way to not get the center arm rest all grubby? I guess the arm rests on the doors would be the same thing, but at 6'2" I would not be resting my arms on those.

    I have not seen any manly doilies. I would throw or pin a small towel over it, but I think that would look lame.

    Clear Contact paper would also rate high on the suck-o-meter.

    I have thought about putting in a bunch of tacks so I won't rest my arm there, but by the time I leave the office, putting my bare forearm on a bed of tacks would seem pleasurable in comparison.

    I suppose layers of poly urethane would probably not be the best idea.

    But on a serious note, Scotch-Guard?

    Suggestions welcome.
     
    #1 Argyle, Jul 6, 2009
  2. adamace1

    adamace1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    1,403
    191
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    i was thinking about a way to keep mine from getting dirty also. I work outside in construction and can get pretty dirty some days.
     
    #2 adamace1, Jul 6, 2009
  3. dmvp

    dmvp Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2009
    364
    54
    9
    Location:
    Outskirts of Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Along the lines of your first suggestions, you could just carry a container of handy wipes and clean your arm before you put it down...

    ;)
     
    #3 dmvp, Jul 6, 2009
  4. Racedrvr

    Racedrvr Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2009
    16
    0
    0
    Location:
    Il/Ky
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Scotchguard?
     
    #4 Racedrvr, Jul 11, 2009
  5. fgp

    fgp Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2009
    503
    169
    5
    Location:
    daytona
    Vehicle:
    2023 Prius
    Model:
    LE
    scotch guard is a good way to go. i use a folded towel that i also use to wipe down the car after the car wash. its actually comfy because it pads it a little more.
     
    #5 fgp, Jul 11, 2009
  6. Argyle

    Argyle New Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2009
    87
    22
    0
    Location:
    Rochester, NY
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Oh Scotchgard, you magnificent example of better living through chemistry, is there anything you can't do? Sigh.:wub:

    I discovered that despite the name, it will keep Bourbon and rum from leaving stains too. But I would still be careful about drinking red wine when driving.

    Yeah, the arm rests should be something other than cloth. Even aside from dirt, it just seems that it will get worn down or shiny.

    I know you can't please everybody, but it seems that a company that can design and improve the hybrid engine system would be able to see a cloth armrest is not practical.

    I am sure many of you are neater than me and this might not be an issue for you, but I am no slob either and want the car to remain good looking.

    I am childless, but how do the families with young children deal with this stuff?

    I am surprised that the folks who make dash mats have not come up with a custom cover.
     
    #6 Argyle, Jul 11, 2009
  7. jim256

    jim256 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2009
    317
    69
    0
    Location:
    Eastern NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    It may be a Toyota concept of an upgrade because the Scion D they gave us to use while our Prius was on the way had cloth on the door armrest, which to me is a really bad wear spot, however my wife though it made the interior look better. It must come from some consumer survey data.
     
    #7 jim256, Jul 11, 2009
  8. rstark18

    rstark18 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2009
    442
    75
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Does the IV & V have leather in the doors and arm rest? I thought they had cloth also. If they are leather, I wonder how much it would be to order those parts. I am planning on getting Clazzio seat covers which come with an armrest cover.
     
    #8 rstark18, Jul 12, 2009
  9. Vincent

    Vincent Don't Wait Until Tomorrow

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2005
    641
    31
    0
    Location:
    South Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Gen III model IV and V come with vinyl center and side arm rests. My dealer installed vinyl center and side arm rest covers on my 06 Gen II for around $50.
     
    #9 Vincent, Jul 12, 2009
  10. MERIDIAN

    MERIDIAN Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2008
    82
    19
    0
    Location:
    Long Island, New York
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I cleaned my door armrests with a baby wipe,The detergent in the wipe was strong enough to lift out the dirt and left the cloth armrests looking brand new.
    Just stongly rub and you'll see them come clean like magic!;)
     
    #10 MERIDIAN, Jul 12, 2009
    2 people like this.
  11. hotgrass

    hotgrass New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2009
    18
    1
    0
    Location:
    tn
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    i purchased the 3030 fabric guard, see if that would help
     
    #11 hotgrass, Jul 22, 2009
  12. hotgrass

    hotgrass New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2009
    18
    1
    0
    Location:
    tn
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    any updates on this?
     
    #12 hotgrass, Jul 25, 2009
  13. hotfoot

    hotfoot New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    3
    1
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Model:
    IV


    Go to Walmart and get some sheep skin seat belt covers, then ad velcoro the sticky on one side. I did this to my mustang and after 4 years they still look good.

    Hotfoot
     
    #13 hotfoot, Jul 25, 2009
  14. hotfoot

    hotfoot New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    3
    1
    0
    Location:
    Florida
    Model:
    IV
    Go to Walmart and get some sheep skin seat belt covers, then ad velcoro the sticky on one side. I did this to my mustang and after 4 years they still look good.

    Hotfoot
     
    #14 hotfoot, Jul 25, 2009
  15. Buckeye

    Buckeye New Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2009
    16
    1
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Treat w/scotchguard or equiv. Then on those extra-wear days when your arm may be soiled or super sweaty, pull a clean athletic sock over the arm. A temporary, but effective fix. Sock goes in door pocket.
     
    #15 Buckeye, Jul 31, 2009
  16. Gaujo

    Gaujo Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2009
    43
    6
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Ha! I would die laughing if I saw someone with a sock on their arm driving down the road.
     
    #16 Gaujo, Oct 2, 2009
  17. Gaujo

    Gaujo Junior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2009
    43
    6
    0
    Location:
    Charlotte, NC
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    srsly though, my cloth center arm-rest in my 05 is worn out. I'm going to take it to an upholster shop and see if they can replace it with leather.
     
    #17 Gaujo, Oct 2, 2009
  18. taggart

    taggart Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2008
    249
    14
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    There have been a number of posts on PC regarding aftermarket leather arm rest covers. Some sounded affordable and high quality. You might try a search first.
     
    #18 taggart, Oct 2, 2009
  19. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2009
    2,945
    2,735
    0
    Location:
    OK
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    I used Scotchguard on mine and all the fabric surfaces.
     
    #19 Mark57, Oct 2, 2009
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)