How to clean dashboard? (2005 xle) - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

moeharri · 01-28-2005, 08:43 PM

Hello, I just purchased a new 2005 silver XLE about a week ago. I've already noticed that the dashboard seems to be showing fingerprints, etc, even though no one has touched the dashboard? It looks kind of "greasy" in a way. I'm afraid that if I use the wrong cleaner, I might ruin the "soft finish" that it has. Does anyone know for sure what would be safe to use on the dashboard? Thanks a lot for your help. Here are a few pics, I'll put up better ones once the snow goes away :-)

ArmyofOne · 01-28-2005, 08:59 PM

i find that if there is something NASTY on the dash, windex will tak eit right off.

however, DONOT make windex a common practice, it takes the oils right out of the leather/vinyl. make sure you apply the windex to a towel, and THEN wipe the dash. when you are done with the windex, a VERY mild soap (preferably with moisurizers) and warm water combo. then dry and apply lexol or similar product.

i will NEVER reccomend armor all for ANYTHING except tires. their producsts are straight up just not good for your cars leather/vinyl, IMO. their formula worked wonders in the days of old (probably pre 1997 or so) but their formulas are outdated and cause more harm than good (IMO) to your cars interior. the only thing i find it does is leave a VERY annoying sticky substance all over the inside of your car.

i had a ford contour (most of you know) that had leather (RIP-9/16/04

). it was only 2 years old when needing new leather in 1997, because i used armor all. i now use lexol or other cleaner, followed by a real protectant, like meugiars leather conditioner. i was around contours for a long time, i NEVER saw one that with regular care from another product, needed new leather after even 5 years...so its not inferior materials.

as i said above PLEASE DO NOT MAKE WINDEX ON YOUR DASHBOARD COMMON PRACTICE. IT ISNT GOOD FOR YOUR DASH OR LEATHER. ITS A VERY HARSH CHEMCIAL.

but it is good to use a little bit of it to clean with, in fact, i dilute it in a ~70water/30%windex mix when i use it. then spray on towel and wipe.

anuthaCamry · 01-28-2005, 09:56 PM

My method of cleaning the dash on that model is by using a brand new swifter pad, and lightly wipe the dust off of the dash. No other pad will work, just the first generation swifter pad. Not the duster version, but the floor version. It doesn't have any conditioners, liquids or semi-liquids in fact it has no chemicals at all, just pure mechanical electrostatic cleaning.

brazilgoal · 01-28-2005, 11:12 PM

I use a regular dash duster with a handle and it works fine. Just have to reclean everyweek or so. Do stay away fromChemical additives or rubbing too harshley even with water.

moeharri · 01-28-2005, 11:17 PM

I'm guessing I'm going to definitely have to use a liquid of some sort, since it's not dusty, it looks greasy. I can't believe that it already looks this bad after only 1 week and no one has even touched the dashboard :-(

anuthaCamry · 01-28-2005, 11:25 PM

armor all is good for exterior plastics (at least on my 93) but not for tires

don't armour-all tires, they will crack

as far as the interior is concerned I don't know what to put or if armour all may damage the materials. I have no idea what those dashes are made of, but they kinda remind me of a synthetic basketball. If you have any suggestions I would like to know. Check the manual it might say there.

by the way, why no leather? it's a no-cost option for the 2005 v6 xle's.

moeharri · 01-29-2005, 09:03 AM

I decided to get the 4 cylinder XLE for better gas mileage since I travel so many miles per year--and I'm not sure yet if I'm a "leather guy", as I'm sure it would get very cold (even with seat heaters) in Wisconsin in the winter and also very hot in the summer. I just hope to figure out what to do with the dash without permanently ruining it.

Toysrme · 01-29-2005, 01:59 PM

Lexol is the greatest period. Nothing touches the two part leather cleaner/conditioner, and the vinyl cleaner is very good too! You can buy it by the gallon and put it in generic spray bottles. Awsomeness follows soon after!

If you don't want to spend money on stuff, diluted woolite is the second greatest leather cleaner on Earth. You still need to follow with a conditioner.

Meguiars makes some good leather/vinyl cleaning and conditioning products. Easyier to find if you're not up for ordering Lexol online.

FYI - Apply cleaner, or conditioner with a terry cloth towel. Remove with a clean terry cloth towel. I fyou ahve any micro fiber towels, use those to remove the excess.
(You're not trying to rub ALL cleaner/conditioner OFF the surface. You're just rubbing the excess off)

Armor All-ish petrolium producs suck. They will dry out real leather quickly, leave brown deposities on clean rubber, and are too harsh for vinyl's over time

BTW guess what every local Toyota dealer has started selling as their ONLY leather cleaner in the past year and a half??? Lexol's cleaner & conditioner. Smart people.

Toysrme · 01-29-2005, 02:03 PM

Gonna whore this.
btw the idea of leather and faux leather is not to be a deep color with a shiney finish....

It should be a matte finish.

anuthaCamry · 01-29-2005, 03:18 PM

even the 04&05 owners manual recomends diluted "woolite," but since they don't endorse that brand they refer to it as a detergent for cleaning wool or something.

but what about the stretched basketball of a dashboard?