What interior protectant do you use?

The Wraith said:
Windshield tint = ghetto. I always keep a clean microfiber towel in the car to wipe down the dash as I'm stuck in traffic, the bank drive through, etc. I've never needed any "protectant" since using the Megs Q.I.D. I found the "protectants" ruined my dashes quicker in my previous cars especially in this Florida heat.
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I think my TX heat has you beat. I didn't say I liked Windshield tint, but frankly without tinting the whole window (which is legal NOWHERE in the USA) you are letting in plenty of harmful light/uv. A little protectant doesn't hurt, and if you are a dash stroker like I am (and I think you are) one that adds little/no sheen is much appreciated. Check out Optimum Protectant Plus :)
 
Will do. I'm always looking for high quality products that last. BTW, it was 97 degrees by 11 am here today with like 100% humidity. How bad was it in Texas?
 
2007TBSS said:
Not really a shine that I'm looking for. More of a "healthy" finish, like the 303 I guess. I guess I'm pretty new to the product selection and expected the dash to look different after I applied it than before I applied it. Other wise i could just wipe it off with a clean rag, throw $5 out the window and call it a day.:lol
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....well, in all fairness QID does have some cleaning ability and (as mentioned earlier) UV protection. Here's a comparison to a non-shine product like 1ZCP vs. the satin look of 303 on an interior panel I had laying around. It was cleaned thouroughly with APC+ prior to application of the products:



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303 isn't that bad but even a little bit of the satin sheen it provides I'm not fond of on my dash and other interior bits. Products like 1Z, QID, etc. on the other hand are great for wipedowns/light cleaning, leave a clean/fresh scent and don't noticeably alter the finish. It really depends on what you're looking for in a product.
 
That's absolutely what I saw today. It had been weeks since I treated it with the 303 and I thought the interior looked dull and dry so I was wanting to freshen it up a bit. I thought I had gotten a bad batch. :lol



Perfect side by side. Thanks!
 
I bought a bottle of 303 and it left more of a shined than I liked. I had to wipe the interior again with a dry towel to get it back to the way I like.



I have some Eagle One interior detail spray and it leaves no sheen. I like it pretty well. I'm going to try some of the others suggested here I'm always looking to try something new
 
Twister said:
I bought a bottle of 303 and it left more of a shined than I liked. I had to wipe the interior again with a dry towel to get it back to the way I like.
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....in all fairness, that is what you are supposed to do. The pictures I provided above were the result of applying the product and then buffing dry with a clean MF towel.



Per their directions (cut and pasted directly from their site):



Spray on, wetting the surface with 303. Wipe COMPLETELY dry. Turn cloth over to a dry area (or use a second clean, dry, absorbent cloth) and polish to remove any and all excess. Following these simple instructions.getting the surface wet (not just damp) with 303, then wiping COMPLETELY dry.will give you a beautiful, like-new finish that repels soiling and stains and LASTS LONGER.
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I am also a big user of Meg's Quick Interior Detailer. I find that it is usefull to preclean with a diluted APC then follow with the Meg's Quick interior detailer. I have not used the 303 product yet. I have started to use Vynlex from Lexol and i like it alot.



Bottom line is that prep work is equally as important with the interior as it is with the exterior of a vehicle. The Vynlex says "cleans, protects, and beautifies" on the bottle. However, I clean with some APC first and achieve better results. Kinda like if you clay the paintwork on a vehicle before using a cleanerwax/AIO product you will achive better results than you would if you just went stright for the AIO product.



Hope this helps a bit
 
....products like 1ZCP and QID have cleaners in them. However, if the surface(s) are particularly dirty or if I am trying to remove previous products, then I will use an APC first. I regularly maintain my own vehicles so I see very little need to use an APC solution on my dash and related trim bits. A wipedown with 1Z (or QID) is usually enough. ....my seats, steering wheel, etc. may see deeper cleaning a little more often.
 
Kean said:
....in all fairness, that is what you are supposed to do. The pictures I provided above were the result of applying the product and then buffing dry with a clean MF towel.



Per their directions (cut and pasted directly from their site):
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I followed their instructions and it was still too glossy. I went back over it again with another cloth. I actually sprayed a mist of water on the towel to remove the shine
 
i use simple green interior all purpose anti bacterial cleaner then wipe with damp cloth, then apply 303 Aerospace !!! nothing better for a dark clean natural non greasy shine !!!!
 
Scottwax said:
Optimum Protectant Plus for a satin sheen, Meguiars Interior QD for zero shine.
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Easily my fav products to use. :xyxthumbs OPP leaves nice conditioned sheen that I love. Not shiny, just right. And it smells great too. Looks nice on my GTI dash and console.
 
I use QID on a weekly basis for dusting.



However, every couple months I'll put some Megs #40. It probably puts more shine than I would prefer, but it's not like it lasts a long time.



Someone mentioned using a protectant like this could ruin your dash sooner? Is this possibly true? I'd hate to think using #40 every couple months could ruin my dash.



Thanks.
 
slk911 said:
I use QID on a weekly basis for dusting.



However, every couple months I'll put some Megs #40. It probably puts more shine than I would prefer, but it's not like it lasts a long time.



Someone mentioned using a protectant like this could ruin your dash sooner? Is this possibly true? I'd hate to think using #40 every couple months could ruin my dash.



Thanks.
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....you should probably ask that "someone" what facts they base their conclusions on.
 
2007TBSS said:
I think I heard that years ago about the original formula Armor All?
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....you and everyone else (for years). ;) There are several threads on the subject if you're really interested in folks opinions on the story. Even so, I wouldn't use alledged problems with an old formulation from a manufaturer as a reason to assume other protectants cause similar issues. Just as an example, plenty of folks have been using products like 303 AP for years without a problem. The only reason I don't like using most protectants on the interiors of my cars is simply because I don't like the finish most of them produce. The exception is something like QID which supposedly is a protectant as well but does not leave any type of shine.
 
I used to use 303... For the money it just didn't give me anything special over anything else out there OTC that I cam across so I quit using it. Lately I seem to grab for the HD Protect more than anything. A nice natural finish. Decent smell and it's anti-static properties are something that proves quite useful.
 
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