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

Do you think the Prius abnormally collects dust?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by BZzap!, Mar 7, 2013.

  1. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    1,607
    877
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I know my Winter Gray color is not the easiest to keep clean but my god, this thing gets dusty so quick. I keep it garaged and I still have to wipe it down just about every day. Well, in fact
    I do wipe it down every day. I guess what I'm getting at is: Do you think it has anything to do with all electricity running through it's veins ? Any theories?
     
    Bluegrassman likes this.
  2. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    5,597
    3,771
    0
    Location:
    So. Texas
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Interior, exterior, or both? Assuming you're in the northern hemisphere, winter typically means drier humidity and static electricity buildup. My desert sand metallic Gen III was the absolute best at hiding exterior dust.
     
  3. Lutchenko

    Lutchenko Will Perrin

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2011
    307
    211
    21
    Location:
    Milton Keynes England
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    I have to agree with you that the dash does seem to attract dust with alarming efficiency. I guess this could be a function of the material and static charge perhaps
     
  4. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,924
    4,427
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    That's the nature of owning a new car you love... It's an OCD thing, not a car that gets dirtier than other cars thing!
     
    fuzzy1 likes this.
  5. Lutchenko

    Lutchenko Will Perrin

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2011
    307
    211
    21
    Location:
    Milton Keynes England
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    This is a fair observation :)
     
    PriusCamper likes this.
  6. WilMent

    WilMent diacritic

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2013
    369
    149
    0
    Location:
    New York
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    I've put a couple of layers of Zaino 5 on mine, and it collects a little less dust. Also made the grey a little darker, less bluish purple grey.:)
     
  7. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2012
    10,924
    4,427
    0
    Location:
    Pacific Northwest, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Out here in the Pacfic Northwest it's always raining and its hard to see how dirty a car is when it's always covered in raindrops... :)
     
    fuzzy1 likes this.
  8. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Either the Prius has the most dust attracting dash of any car I owned or I care because the dust interferes with my sticky pads. I can understand the dust accumulating on the displays due to the electricity.
     
  9. kgall

    kgall Active Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2009
    984
    152
    2
    Location:
    Olympic Peninsula, WA
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    My spouse is convinced that I attract dust, and since the Prius is "my" car . . .

    In any case,
    The rear exterior gets dusty quickly. I figure that's due to the spoiler and the rest of the design to improve fuel economy. Am I right?
     
  10. WilMent

    WilMent diacritic

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2013
    369
    149
    0
    Location:
    New York
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    Sounds right, now if you start attracting other females... you might have to come up with another excuse:D
     
  11. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    1,607
    877
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The exterior seems to collect dust on a rampant scale. I have always owned black or dark colored cars and can not remember so much dust. Something is amiss. I also notice that this car seems to build static electricity more than other cars I've owned. I get zapped a lot!!!
     
    Blu-ray likes this.
  12. Jon Hagen

    Jon Hagen Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2011
    336
    136
    0
    Location:
    North Dakota
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Ithelps to keep the HVAC blower on at all times , set to outside air,to keep positive pressure inside the car. This helps prevent any dust leaks through hatch or door seal leaks.
    I noticed early on that the plastic HVAC and radio screens attracted dust and scratched easily if I wiped them dry. I found that carrying a few sealed foil packs of Ziess brand lens cleaner wipes will eliminate existing scratches (wet buff alcohol gauze wipe)) and removes whatever makes the lenses attract dust. I toss a dozen packs in the top glove compartment so they are always avalible. They are cheap, a box of 200 at Sams club for under $10
     
    ewxlt66 likes this.
  13. BZzap!

    BZzap! Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2012
    1,607
    877
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I use an automotive paint tack cloth and just keep it in a ZipLoc bag in the glove box.
     
    ewxlt66 likes this.
  14. rcf@eventide.com

    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    173
    85
    0
    Location:
    Sedona
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    "After the first four years, the dust doesn't get any worse."

    Quentin Crisp
     
    PriusCamper likes this.
  15. ewxlt66

    ewxlt66 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2008
    535
    186
    0
    Location:
    Dana Point, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    YES!!! I've owned two and they both do it!

    So odd.
     
  16. ewxlt66

    ewxlt66 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2008
    535
    186
    0
    Location:
    Dana Point, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Gonna try this. Thanks!
     
  17. Koral

    Koral New Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2013
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Nevada City
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    I have also noticed excessive fine black dust build up on the exterior, mainly around the back door and rear bumper area. Even when I try to wipe it, it seems to cling to the car as if the car is a big magnet and the dust is made of metal. Has anyone found a solution to this? Could it be due to static electricity build-up and is there a way to eliminate it (like dragging a chain from the chassis) ?
     
  18. jgilliam1955

    jgilliam1955 Sometime your just gotta cry! 2013 Prius 4.

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2011
    368
    102
    0
    Location:
    Williamsburg, Virginia
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    I think you just like to pet your Prius...:)
     
    BZzap! likes this.
  19. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,710
    38,247
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Our grey seems to stay clean looking a long time. Actually cleaner looking with occasional rain. And I've not noticed the interior being extra dusty. There was the spider that was busy web weaving for a while, but that's another story ;)

    My only quibble with cleaning the Prius is the way pine needles and the like catch in the seams on the hatch air foil zone.
     
  20. Former Member 68813

    Former Member 68813 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2010
    3,524
    981
    8
    Location:
    US
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    +1

    This is my my first silver car and I wash it only twice a year. Looks always clean.
     
    Maroon likes this.