Car Care Products

[silverRS]

I have a qustion which might sound totally crazy but here it is. You see I like the black matte finish of the interior of my Yaris but, if I put on say Armourall, Meguiars etc will it ruin that finish it has now and make it all shiny?

[stuffy]

it does, i've armouralled my dash and it is now shiny, but i think it looks good that way too

you can probably get armourall or comparable product in matte finish.

[devinlamothe]

I used the Armorall on my dash and other plastic things in my Yaris and it looks a lot better than it used to (in my opinion anyhow).

It also protects it against dust and scratches, or so I'm told.

[echo_hrs]

I use Meguiar's Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner/Conditioner

http://images.canadiantire.ca/media/images/CarCare/InteriorCare/0390489_450_CC_2fbd9.jpg

Helps maintain that 'like new' look on all vinyl and rubber
Leaves a rich, matte finish
Increases darkness and shine with two applications
Penetrates and cleans while conditioning and protecting against UV damage

This stuff is non-greasy, adds depth to the plastic, but doesn't leave that glossy armor-all shine, and it UV protects the plastics...

[Ziv]

I have just brought armorall wipes in the weekend in canadian tire, they are on sell. You don't need the specific 'car' wipes, just get the regular one for rubber, plasic..etc. it work as well as the car one and much cheaper. And it looks good to me! =)

[SophieSleeps]

A simple few questions for you all.

What's the purpose of using an armorall type of product on your car?
If your dash is really all that dirty, what is making it dirty?

My dash gets dusty. I wipe it with a damp cloth and it seems to do just fine.

What's the point of spraying all these chemicals on plastic/rubber? You really want to be breathing all that stuff in?

Why do you need something that penetrates and cleans? I don't want anything penetrating my dashboard, and I don't think I need the help cleaning the dust off.

[silverRS]

Ok well thanks for all the responses, I think I'll try that Maguiars product, looks pretty good. And I do think it's easier to wipe the dust off when one of these products are used......in my opinion. I do use a damp cloth now but it takes more time lol

[echo_hrs]

A simple few questions for you all.

What's the purpose of using an armorall type of product on your car?
If your dash is really all that dirty, what is making it dirty?

My dash gets dusty. I wipe it with a damp cloth and it seems to do just fine.

What's the point of spraying all these chemicals on plastic/rubber? You really want to be breathing all that stuff in?

Why do you need something that penetrates and cleans? I don't want anything penetrating my dashboard, and I don't think I need the help cleaning the dust off.

A quality product will prevent UV from fading and deterioration of the plastics, which is similar to how the sun will age your skin without protection...

Cheers

[SophieSleeps]

A quality product will prevent UV from fading and deterioration of the plastics, which is similar to how the sun will age your skin without protection...

Cheers

So what in these products does that?
That's what their marketing tells you.

My girlfriends 93 camry has been parked outside for 13 years and is not fading.
My 02 land rover's dash doesn't fade and my 01 IS300 dash is fine.

If you're concerned about your dashboard after 13 years of outdoor parking in the sun on a 13k car...there is a problem.


My honest opinion is that this stuff just coats your plastic in shiny silicone or some other sort of petroleum product. Dashboards don't get dirty. They get dusty. Just wipe it off. There's no need to spend money on gimicky products.

I love how people spend money on products and think for some reason they're gonna get the car looking better than it came from the factory.

[SophieSleeps]

I don't want to seem like the asshole so I'll explain why I'm so negative.

I used to use all that crap when I bought my IS300. It's nice having a new car and you want to take care of it.

So right away you go and buy stuff that companies tell you will do wonders for your car.

If you look at ingredients, most of this stuff is just to make it shine. A lot the ingredients aren't good for the car.

So water is your friend. Polish is not your friend...only when you need it.


After a few months of owning your car, total all your cleaning supplies and see how you feel. It sucks to know you spent all that money.

Anyway. Good luck.

[echo_hrs]

I don't want to seem like the asshole so I'll explain why I'm so negative.

I used to use all that crap when I bought my IS300. It's nice having a new car and you want to take care of it.

So right away you go and buy stuff that companies tell you will do wonders for your car.

If you look at ingredients, most of this stuff is just to make it shine. A lot the ingredients aren't good for the car.

So water is your friend. Polish is not your friend...only when you need it.


After a few months of owning your car, total all your cleaning supplies and see how you feel. It sucks to know you spent all that money.

Anyway. Good luck.

I think we get the message that you don't put any stock in this stuff, now for those of us who want to use it, please stop clogging up the thread...

It's not like this is the Davinci Code vs all of Christianity here....

Cheers

[YotaYarisUSA]

Well,I getting my new Yaris Sedan Tuesday the 30th,and as soon as I get it home I"m going to wash and wax it,and I will protect the inside with the Meguiar's quick all surface interior detailer wipes,they protect from UVA,UVB rays,remove dust,etc protect your interior and they don't live it all greasy like the armor all stuff,and they leave a natural,not as glossy like look.



Have a great day Guys!


YotaYarisUSA

[SophieSleeps]

I think we get the message that you don't put any stock in this stuff, now for those of us who want to use it, please stop clogging up the thread...

It's not like this is the Davinci Code vs all of Christianity here....

Cheers

well, some dude asked what ther people used.
Other people gave no reason why they use the stuff that they do.

Just trying to get people to think with their head instead of running out and buying stuff blindly.

[SophieSleeps]

Well,I getting my new Yaris Sedan Tuesday the 30th,and as soon as I get it home I"m going to wash and wax it,and I will protect the inside with the Meguiar's quick all surface interior detailer wipes,they protect from UVA,UVB rays,remove dust,etc protect your interior and they don't live it all greasy like the armor all stuff,and they leave a natural,not as glossy like look.



Have a great day Guys!


YotaYarisUSA

waxing a car that has fresh paint causes delayed cure time and possible problems down the road.

You probably shouldn't wax the car for about 6 months so you can let the chemicals in the paint move their way out.

[Ziv]

My honest opinion is that this stuff just coats your plastic in shiny silicone or some other sort of petroleum product. Dashboards don't get dirty. They get dusty. Just wipe it off. There's no need to spend money on gimicky products.



Do you have any suggestion to prevent the dash get dusty? Or are you the kinda guy that wipes it every few days just for the heck of it? I used to keep wiping the dash whenever it gets dusty, but I find using these product either 'hide' the dust or not as easy to get dusty. Maybe I am dead wrong.

[SophieSleeps]

Do you have any suggestion to prevent the dash get dusty? Or are you the kinda guy that wipes it every few days just for the heck of it? I used to keep wiping the dash whenever it gets dusty, but I find using these product either 'hide' the dust or not as easy to get dusty. Maybe I am dead wrong.

Personally, I just wipe my dash.
I would rather have my dash dry and dusty than put a layer of moisture on it.
I don't put anything on my walls at home. When they get dusty, I dust.


Look at the ingredients of what you buy.
Most of these protectant type things are just silicone.
It's the same stuff as tire shine, but in lesser quantity.
If you read the label for tire shine, and if you've ever used too much tire shine you would know that it discolors paint...it actually eats through it. So why would someone put this on their dash to protect it?

[Ziv]

Personally, I just wipe my dash.
I would rather have my dash dry and dusty than put a layer of moisture on it.
I don't put anything on my walls at home. When they get dusty, I dust.


Look at the ingredients of what you buy.
Most of these protectant type things are just silicone.
It's the same stuff as tire shine, but in lesser quantity.
If you read the label for tire shine, and if you've ever used too much tire shine you would know that it discolors paint...it actually eats through it. So why would someone put this on their dash to protect it?

ahh... Noted. It's just that the dash get dusty really easily, and I thought it doesn't seems to hurt to try 'protecting' it.

[SophieSleeps]

ahh... Noted. It's just that the dash get dusty really easily, and I thought it doesn't seems to hurt to try 'protecting' it.

Well, you could try it like some of the other people on here. They seem to like it.

I just know that I never will again.

[fearturtle44]

Items such as ArmorAll does NOT clean. You need to clean first and then apply ArmorAll. Armorall is important to use as not only does it makes your dash look nice, it also keeps it from cracking/drying out. The sun can do some damage on the dash if left untreated. I am not one to suggest you put on once a day, but would suggest every couple of months. Just take a few seconds.

Kevin

[why?]

Dust is my friend, if I don't want it their I'll open the windows.

As for drying out, hmm, how old does a car have to be for that to happen, 30, 40, maybe 50 years old?

Let's see, my father's 1982 Toyota Supra's dash isn't dried out, and I know for a fact he never used any of that stuff on it. So that is 24 years old and nothing.

[TRD_Yaris]

So what in these products does that?
That's what their marketing tells you.

My girlfriends 93 camry has been parked outside for 13 years and is not fading.
My 02 land rover's dash doesn't fade and my 01 IS300 dash is fine.

If you're concerned about your dashboard after 13 years of outdoor parking in the sun on a 13k car...there is a problem.


My honest opinion is that this stuff just coats your plastic in shiny silicone or some other sort of petroleum product. Dashboards don't get dirty. They get dusty. Just wipe it off. There's no need to spend money on gimicky products.

I love how people spend money on products and think for some reason they're gonna get the car looking better than it came from the factory.



Yeah? Tell that to my 240SX's... and they even have tint!! Without proper conditioning of the dash it will eventually dry up and crack. atleast that's how it works in Texas..

[Chris07LB]

Here's what I use to keep my interior clean....

California Car Duster - http://www.calcarduster.com/dashduster.asp

Under 10 bucks, I've had it for YEARS, and it works awesome!

Pick up the larger one for the extrior while your at it!

[rstb88]

This is why you got to places like autopia.com or like me the tcca. You can ask professionals that make a living off this stuff and aren't scared how to tell you to use it or what they use. They won't tell you where to get it some of the times but still.My 1991 Ford Thunderbird dash is still fine but it has a seem in the middle that overtime cracked due to overexposure of the sun. My bf Nissan Truck 1995 dashboard used to be dark black and most other peices, they are now faded grey. Don't say thats its a Ford thing or a Nissan thing cause I've seen plenty of Toyotas with this problem. I agree IF you get something with Petrolium Gelly or anything relating to that your asking yourself for trouble, thats why you learn what to look for. I never touch ArmorAll cause it a low end brand(from my experience) Meguiars and Zymol and Stoners are the ONLY three brands that touch my car, because I know how my car reacts with these products and they work. If you want something thats professional grade and works use 303 products for your dashboard. I don't use it cause I don't want to order it. but I have seen this product in use and its great. And I personally like the shiny clean looks, I can see every little flaw in every vehicle I look at and it kills me. At least the glossy look distracts me. Oh and uh... read the sig on my opinion on how to wash a car.

[rstb88]

waxing a car that has fresh paint causes delayed cure time and possible problems down the road.

You probably shouldn't wax the car for about 6 months so you can let the chemicals in the paint move their way out.

Yes you can do that claiming that the vehicle hasn't already had cure time or you can speed up the process and thow shit at your paint to speed up the non protection process. I claybared,polished, and waxed my car in the first month. I also suggest claybarring the windows(use water as lubricant to prevent a film build up that make the wipers chirp. Then clean afterwards.)If I was still on the 6month waiting period I'd have 2pounds of bugs imbedded in my paint, but the wax coatings that I had on it allowed them to splat and then come clean off.

[ChinoCharles]

I use a product called Plexus Plastic Cleaner on my dash. I find that the dimpled plastic cover on the dash in the Yaris holds dirt really well... looks really nice but it is a very inefficient design. One of the biggest problems I have had are the cupholders near the mirrors... if you put a soda in there and hit a bump you'll have dripping soda marks everywhere. Also for some reason when you roll down your windows and your knuckles hit the door panels, that seems to leave rings that are hard to wipe out. Plexus cleans and protects in one step, and it doesn't leave a thick waxy coating on your dash like ArmorAll does. I suggest it. You can get it from marinestore.com for 14 bucks... not really sure who else distributes it though.

http://www.plexusplasticcleaner.com/

[07WYarisRS]

Just wipe my interiors with a damp cloth (water)
Usually I just wipe the interior with my chamois when finished drying the car.

I'll NEVER use anything on my dash. My father restors car and it's easy to see the ones that have used off the shelf so called protectants on their dashes and seats etc. MFG's recommend a damp cloth for a reason.
Additives like teflon and silicone will build up over time and your interior will fade, crack etc. No to mention a greasy dash attracts dust regardless what the %$#@*&^ battle says.