Armour All is not so good long term on plastic.
all marketing and not much performance, sort of like WD-40

so good for you for giving up on it.

What you need/want/should use is Formula 303 Aerospace Protectant.
http://www.303products.com/

Contains UV inhibitors and plasticizers that actually refresh the plastic and vinyl without leaving it slippery and fake shiny.

Two illustrations:

1) way back the plastic windows on my CJ soft top were all brittle and yellow. friend turned me onto 303. A thorough cleaning and probably a couple applications and yellow is gone and the windows feel soft and supple...as new.

2) My current Patriot...a bit of, um, a, burning material fell down between the window crank and the soft touch material on the door panel. Left an owie but 303 to the rescue and you now have to actually look for it, it didn't disappear but it sure minimized. The small crater is still there but all the frayed and discoloured stuff around the edges is simply gone.

The enviroment causes little almost microscopic "hairs" of the plastic or vinyl to stick up...these catch both dirt and light, giving you that gungy look and feel. The plasticizers in 303 make these hairs lay back down and become one with the surface again. Makes cleaning going forward much easier and totally restores appearance and feel.

try it, you will like it I am sure.

Its a protectant, not a cleaner tho.
I simply use micro cloths and warm water with maybe a small bit of car wash soap but mostly just warm water and cloth. 303 makes my cleaning go fast and easy too.

 

I can't say it is the best or anything, but I keep a Meguire's Quik Interior Detailer Cleaner Wipes in my Jeep.

 

I use Meguiar's products and like them from car shampoo to interior cleaner to tire shine.

Sent from my Nexus 7

 

I was going to say Aero 303, but someone beat me to it. I use it on my 7 year old LeBaron top, and it's still like new. I also use it in interior and cv joint rubber, etc. It won't give a shine, but it makes it look good and protects it.
I also use Meguiars Endurance on the tires- lasts a long time. I have used this on ext rubber on the LeBaron, and it makes black plastic and rubber beautiful. Heck, I put it on weathered headlights to buy some time before polishing or replacing them.
I don't see any down side to any of these applications, and have been doing it for years, but if anyone knows of ANY incompatibility, let me know. This Patriot is the first new car I have owned in almost 30 years...so it has to last!

 

Looks like I'm buying some aero with two people suggesting it


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If you do a search you'll find threads on this that go 3 pages long. A lot of people agreed and said that pledge is cheaper and works great on the interior as a cleaner and finish.

I would go pledge just BC of all the reviews frm the old timers.

My second choice would be poor boys interior or the 303. Both of those also had great reviews in the same thread.

 

Pledge stinks, 303 doesn't.

I really, really dislike fake smells in my unit.
Now...the lingering chemical warfare smell of recycled pepperoni and beer that sometimes permeates my Patriot is a natural smell...you will get used to it.

 

Another vote for 303 protectant. It leaves a clean look and not greasy. I also use it for the exterior.

 

I just bought a gallon of the 303 off Amazon for $50. Its the best deal when you break it down per liter.

 

Another vote for 303. Recommended by boat owner friend and that is a far worse environment. I have used it for years.

 

Chemical guys products are good.. As is poorboys too. I have also just started to use sonax interior cleaner and can't reccomend it enough. Fresh smelling, cleans great and leaves a lovely Matt finish for weeks !
To get rid of any mud and crap before using your expensive interior cleaners, I always wash down the surfaces especially near the doors with all purpose cleaner (apc)
Meguiars do one.. Although the stuff you can get in the supermarket such as star drops etc is just as safe to use !!

 

I don't put anything on the dash, since all the products I've seen give it substantial glare.
That bothers me when the sun hits it.

 

I haven't used it yet but apparently 303 has a matte finish with no glare. Maybe someone who has can chime in.

 

Lately I have been using Meguiar's for the interior, trim, and tires. Turtle Wax Platinum or whatever it is for wash soap and spray wax.

I really want to try some of that 303 I can only imagine how well it would work for our Jeeps. Maybe I'll buy it when I run out of my current supply.

 

i use lexol vinylex for all my plastics. it gives it a brand new black look with no glare and no oily residue.

 

Most recently I've been using STP Son of a Gun. Seems to last longer than Armor All. Also for exterior black plastic (esp the strip on the rear bumper).

 

Finally got around to using 303 on the plastic interior and everything I've read about this stuff is true. It's absolutely an amazing product as my interior looks just like new without the huge glare that other products leave behind. I have a tendency of resting my left elbow on the top on the door trim panel and over the years it created what I thought was a wear pattern as my attempts to clean it with a damp cloth did nothing. The 303 got into the crevices of the texture finish and amazingly the door panel looks like new again.

It does cost a little more but it's well worth it. I highly recommend this product!!

 

The stigma that follows Armorall is nearly as great as the one about Pennzoil containing wax (parafin) that sludges engines.

Here are two links that I ask you to study with an open mind. The second one has a poster that claims to work for Mequires. It basically states that all of these milk-like products are extremely similar, comprising a water based silicone emulsion, surfactants, and water.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3421640/1

http://www.crossfireforum.org/forum/detail-shop/25914-303-protectant-vs-armor-all.html

Marketing, such as that done by 303 can be very persuasive. And, once group think mentality takes over, it is hard to change opinions.

 

. . . all of these milk-like products are extremely similar, comprising a water based silicone emulsion, surfactants, and water.

I will strongly agree. Ignore my post above (6/13/14). Right after I posted that I thought to myself Why am I saying that? Its nothing other than my impression. So, I decided to run a little experiment: I did one side of the black bumper strip with Turtle Wax Formula 2001 and the other with Son of a Gun. Is been a month to the day and there is no difference. Both products have failed equally. The only spot that looks better (not good, only less bad) is in the exact center where there was some overlap so there may be some benefit to applying heavier doses, but otherwise the black bumper strip is gray not black. The products' performance (or lack of same) are identical.

I have no axe to grind with either company, I just wondered if there really was a difference. Try it yourself. I may try again with a bottle of Armor All I have against one of these two.

 

I just used 303 on my new Pat. Wanted to cover as much of the rubber & plastic I could see while it is new.
I am impressed the way everything looks....the only issue now is how long it will last.
Time will tell.

 

There are other products that are designed to turn exterior faded plastics back to their original color. I have read of some that last 6 months to a year. But, that is an entirely different topic and I have no experience with them.

 

Also true. I've used Turtle Wax, Armor All and Son-of-a-Gun with satisfactory results on the interior plastic. I just figured putting them on the bumper strip would be a test of severe conditions.

 

I am using up my Meguiar's Natural Shine Protectant and it is quite good, but plan to replace it with 303 Aerospace Protectant when I'm out. The 303 is outstanding for the inside and outside plastic, as well as the rubber hatch gaskets throughout the Pat. I did, however, spread some silicone grease into the door gaskets to try to prevent the inevitable door freezes that occur up here in the winter.

 

I used to have Armor-All wipes for the interior plastic, cleaned it up and gave it a nice shine. Had some for the windows too. Ran out this past summer. They worked pretty nicely, but after reading this thread I'm considering getting some of that 303 stuff to try it out.

 

RossoRacer, the 303 does not produce a wet-looking shine, more like a clean, restorative darkened, satin finish. One of the reasons I love it is because it replaces the need for different interior and exterior trim treatments. When you read about the applications in which 303 is used, you'll be thoroughly impressed. After you use it a few times, you'll be thoroughly convinced.

 

The one thing I find truly amazing about 303 is that almost 8 weeks after application there is little to no dust accumulating on the dash. When I was using just a damp cloth I was dusting every month!!

 

Most of the time I use Lexol in cleaning my interior and for dressing either Meguiars or Pinnacle products.

 

I suppose Im gonna have to try out this 303 also now...