I've been reading on lots of forums about the "dangers" of Armor All--folks are saying, in effect, if you start using Armor All, you'd better keep using it, becuase it will dry your vinyl surfaces, and they'll crack, UNLESS you keep using Armor All! I'm not sure how much of this is urban myth--probably most--but since I've been using Armor All wipes to polish the interior of my XB in my month of ownership, I got skeered!

Anyhow, lots of people seem to recommend Meguiar's stuff, so I got a bottle of their Gold Class Vinyl/Rubber Protectant $5 at Target). Smells kinda funky, but it appears to do a great job without leaving a greasy, phony shine behind. That especially helps on the textured dash on the XB.

Anybody have negative experiences with Armor All, or do you like Meguiar's? Or did I do irreperable damage with those damed Armor All Wipes?

 

Nah, Armor all isn't that dangerous. Don't use it, but don't be afraid to change if you already have

I prefer warm water, a little dishsoap, and a sponge for cleaning plastic interiors. Does a great deep cleaning job without the residue or shine. Try it sometime, you'll be impressed!

 

i prefer using H20 and a microfiber for the insides, but when i do take something tougher to it, i love meguiars vinyl/rubber protectant for the reasons you've stated

i've never been a fan of armor, but i dont hate their products. its just that i've never been impressed with their products

 

I've used Nu-Vinyl in my XB and it makes my Interior look like from factory for the shows reaallly nice. http://www.autobarn.net/chnv-300.html i'm really happy with it. my car still as clean as the day i bought it practically...except the carpets....but we wont go there

stay away from Armor-all ive seen horrifying things with people who used that product.
anyways aside from that i trust Meguiar's as well when it comes to wax and car care.

 

I've used Armor All for nearly 30 years and have never had a problem with the stuff. I used Armor All Low Gloss protectant on my xB last weekend for the first time. Looked real nice.

I just apply a little of the stuff on a rag and wipe it on. Meguier's stuff is great too. I use their waxes on 1:1 cars and my model cars too!!!

 

I've used armor all on my 2 previous vehicles and while I owned them (and with constant upkeep with armor all) the interior always looked brand new. Very shiny.
For one of those vehicles, I sold to someone I see every now and then and he didn't continue the upkeep with the armor all. About a month and a half after he get the car from me, the interior started drying up and cracking. So within the span of about 45 days, the interior went from show room shine to POS. Every detailer I've spoken to refuses to use armor all. take that how you will.

For my xb, i use water and a microfiber towel. I don't want that armor all shine anyway and even if i did, i wouldnt use armor all again.

 

The soap and water approach is recommended by Scion. Because the textured finish on the dash and doors is meant to reduce glare you want to try to avoid adding shine to them.

 

Ive used it, mine is fine

 

All that glosser-junk is is silcones

silicones are take-over Alien Invaders of giant, organic molecules. Purely man-made nearly-immortal substances, creep and crawl into everything they touch; into vinyl, rubber, paint, your skin, your body. Not toxic to people, absolutely safe.

Armor All and Tire Shine your car and yes, you have a bit of that junk in your body, forever. Just like those women who had leaky silicone breast implants. Not toxic, but geeze, I don't need any more Dupont Chemical Comany in my system.

There is not a shred of data supporting Armor All claims. IF it really "preserved" stuff forever then there would be wonderful, scientific studies showing by graphs and curves and side-by-side photos the "with/without in Florida sun" results.

Toyota recommends -against- putting unknown compounds onto the plastics. Mostly, probably, to cover their own liability if some shiny-dash person has an accident due in part to dashboard glare. Maybe other reasons.

I like the matte look -=no glare there=-

But, like people of some color, this dead-rough (matte) charcoal plastic takes on an "ashy skin" look when I wipe my skin on it. A wet microfiber cloth fixes that in a jiff, as the wise man above already noted.

Say, does anyone here like ultrasuede? The SVX I had for oodles of years was de-luxed in gray, imitation suede. That material never failed. The car was -always- parked in Miami sun and that material never aged. It was soft to the touch, never looked dirty except on the armrest. Soap and water and a rub with a cloth removed that grime and again: the stuff returned to new look and touch. It was time-stable

hard plastics and most plastics in autos eventually begin to decompose. UV, or perhaps, just actinic light eventually may (may!) be the catalyst by which the plastic decomposes. In many instances, no light is needed. Just time. Once a plastic begins to decompose it is self-destructing.

Vinyl kept in the dark, protected, is about immortal (if the plasticizer is well integrated).

The oldest vinyl I have is in the form of phonograph discs made in the year 1931. They are perfect. They have never be Armor-All'd, either.

The oldest plastic, btw, is "celluloid". The history of plastics if fascinating and never-ending wonder. The future (pssssst) is in PLASTICS. Armor All is snake oil.

now, gloss your wheels with silicones and lick your fingers. Might as well. Dupont Chemicals are already in us all. Not toxic. Keep ya' from cracking

 

I use armor all but I can c why water would be best !

 

My brother and I use a mixture of cleaning stuff. And from what the peeps say when they see the Box, they think we do a fine job.
I use ARMORALL on certain parts of the car, (engine parts, dash, wheels), but in very small amounts. It does not take much to use..
Water cleans the glass fine.
And Meguiars Quick Detail is the best at cleaning the car.

And Dr. Pepper has wood rosin and I think plastic in it as well.

FYI, OT, I know.

 

s' cool! no worries! choices here are not fatal for the car's interior. Slick stuff sure will make it easier to avoid that ashy look in an xB interior. If I were to find some of that "low gloss" protectant it would not repell me to try it out.


Am gonna do an interior rubdown with Mountain Dew first, though. Then Dr. Pepper. Diet, tho! This is So. Florida, and the danged roaches go after sugar so strongly its not even funny!

 

meet archie the poet cockroach so slick that

http://www.entm.purdue.edu/Entomolog...998-11-26.html

he still shines

 

Well, I did the interor with the Meguiar's last night, and it looks really nice--low gloss (like the interior in XB's should look), and a nice, uniform, tone. No streaks, blotches, etc. And the smell went away overnight. Think I'll stick with the stuff. And, spooky! There's an ad for Meguiar's on the Google banner ad at the bottom of the page right now! WEIRD!

 

clearly it is a sign. it was meant to be.













now better check your computer for spy-ad-ware?

 

I exclusively use Stoner- Trim Shine for my exterior and interior plastic and vinyl surfaces...It's safe on all vehicle plastics, vinyl, rubber, and engine hoses as well...It's a great product and dries with a nice soft gloss and provides UV protection without sweating or oily buildup...

The best part is that when it begins to wear off, it doesnt leave the finishes looking dull and ashy as armor all and similar detailing products will :D

DAN

 

Meguiars NXT it rocks..and smells good..and smell is everything