Cleaning fabric, center console, armrests

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by pasadena_commut, Sep 8, 2025 at 7:59 PM.

  1. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    Our 2007 has a grey interior and the cloth on the front door armrests and the center console lid have developed black edges. It looks a lot like the first picture here:



    Further down in that thread people suggest using a Bissell steam cleaner. Well, I don't have one of those, but I do have one of those steam generators which are used for removing wall paper. I could hold it at a distance but worry that even that will be "too much".

    Also, is there an easy way to take the fabric part off the console lid and the armrests? (In such a way that it can be put back on again!) Tons of steam won't hurt fabric usually, but it could melt the plastic parts of the lid underneath.

    Thanks.
     
    #1 pasadena_commut, Sep 8, 2025 at 7:59 PM
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  2. Carall

    Carall Active Member

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    Buy an Awesome All purpose Cleaner at the Dollar General store and yellow towels at Costco.
    Spray the cleaner on the fabric parts and rub them with the wet yellow towel.
    Don't spay the cleaner on the black plastic in your prius otherwise it will turn white.
    You will need a wet vacuum cleaner to remove dirt from your seats, especially coffee stains.

    Awesome Degreaser All purpose Spot Remover Spray 20 oz - Dollar Store
    https://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-ultra-plush-microfiber-towel%2C-yellow%2C-16-in-x-16-in%2C-36-count.product.100356999.html
     
    #2 Carall, Sep 8, 2025 at 9:01 PM
  3. BiomedO1

    BiomedO1 Senior Member

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    I've had a black hand towel from dollar tree, draped over it since day one. I've got a black interior.
    I had a beige interior in my old Honda and learned my lesson. Had to buy new door handle grips and center console tops, because I couldn't clean the materials. Most of it would come off, but it still looked dirty.
    You got almost 20 years out of it, see how much a new or junk yard unit would cost.
     
    #3 BiomedO1, Sep 9, 2025 at 9:36 AM
  4. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    In southeast USA we still have real upholstery shops I can run the car by my buddy in for like $130 he'll do the console and the two front armrests or similar . Generally my resolve is to get the door panels out of leather cars . The arm rest I can do here in 25 min in any material I want .. not to thick
     
    #4 Tombukt2, Sep 9, 2025 at 9:42 AM
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  5. gmbs

    gmbs Junior Member

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    Why yellow towels at Costco? I have microfiber towels already but I’m curious.
     
    #5 gmbs, Sep 12, 2025 at 9:06 PM
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 13, 2025 at 1:39 AM
  6. gmbs

    gmbs Junior Member

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    I hope it’s ok if I tag on to the second part of your request. Apologies if it’s not!

    I need help with this too, for a different reason. I have a 2006 with a grey interior too, and one day I happened to take my car into my usual shop for a problem with the dashboard lights. Later that day I took it into another shop for an oil change. One was definitely in the driver seat and the other was likely to have been there, too.

    Later that day, I noticed the fabric had been yanked out of the passenger side of the console. I think one of the guys had maybe leaned their elbow on it to reposition himself and that could have caused the dislodging? I didn’t ask either of them if they were the cause. I think I feared having to make a stink. Of course, I should have. I don’t know how to permanently replace the fabric back in. I’d appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.
     
    #6 gmbs, Sep 12, 2025 at 9:28 PM
  7. pasadena_commut

    pasadena_commut Senior Member

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    I saw a youtube video of a person gluing the fabric in place. Actually it was two people, as there were often more than two hands in the frame. I was hoping it was more of a "fabric clamped in place by inner piece" situation, but apparently not. They used shoe goo. A thin layer on the outer edge of the fabric, a thin layer on the corresponding location on the lid, let both dry, then position the fabric and press the dried adhesive regions together.
     
    #7 pasadena_commut, Sep 13, 2025 at 12:39 AM
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