Armor All® Car Wash is a safe and effective product for all automotive finishes, including clear coats. It is primarily used on plastic surfaces, while 303 is designed for exteriors and interior surfaces. Meguiars is designed for dash and trim. Armor All leaves a shine on surfaces, while 303 Protectant reseals paint, preventing UV light and harsh chemicals from creating imperfections and gaining a foothold on the vehicle’s exterior.
Armor All has designated products for the exterior, and as long as the correct Armorall product is used, using it on the car exterior is perfectly safe. The Armorall MPC can be used on painted surfaces with a dilution ratio of 30ml:4000ml. Armor All does not have enough UV or weather resistance to hold up in exterior applications, but it is good for preserving rubber during storage. It won’t hurt the paint, but if you ever need bodywork, the new paint will not stick to anything that has had silicone on it. Most ArmorAll products use water-based silicone emulsions, which do not cause cracking or damage as some skeptics assume.
However, Armor All is not recommended for use on dashboards due to its potential to damage the wax on the car. Some users have reported that Armor All drops when it rains, running down the paint and being easy to get off. Additionally, someone noticed the gloss on the dash and said, “Don’t use Armor All, it destroys plastic and rubber!”
In conclusion, Armor All® Car Wash is a great product for cleaning and protecting all components of your car, but it may not be the best choice for all automotive finishes.
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Can you use Armor All Multi-Purpose cleaner on the outside of a car?
Armor All® Cleaner products are not specifically designed for use on car paint, as they may leave a dull or streaky appearance. However, Armor All® Car Wash has been thoroughly tested and found to be safe for all automotive finishes, including clear coats. This product adds shine without stripping the wax on your car, and can be used on all types of automotive paints and clear coats. To use, rinse your car, mix the concentrate with water, wash, and dry.
Can I use Armor All on patio furniture?
Cast and extruded aluminum furniture can be cleaned with water or mild soap and wiped clean. If the frame becomes dull, Armor All wipes or Rust-Oleum wipes can be used to brighten it. Modern metal framed patio sets are rust-resistant, so rust-resistant furniture can be painted or pasted waxed. Wrought iron furniture can be hosed down with water or mild soap and wiped clean, but a plastic cover is recommended to protect it from rusting and outdoor elements.
Most fabric umbrellas are machine washable, but it’s important not to put the fabric in the dryer. Instead, place it back on the frame wet and air dry to maintain the fabric’s life and remove stains or debris.
Can you use Armor All on vinyl siding?
It is possible to use general cleaners such as Simple Green®, Nice and Easy®, and Armor All® to remove dirt, bird droppings, and spider webs. However, it is important to note that stain-specific cleaners should be rinsed before the surface is allowed to dry.
Is Armor All waterproof?
The Armor All all-weather floor mat has been designed to withstand a variety of extreme weather conditions, including high temperatures, low temperatures, precipitation, and snow. The mats offer reliable, year-round durability. Prime subscribers have the benefit of fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and access to award-winning movies and TV shows. Amazon orders exceeding $35 in value will be eligible for complimentary delivery on October 4.
Can I use all-purpose cleaner on my car exterior?
A good all-purpose cleaner should work on various surfaces, including rubber, plastic, car paint, chrome, textiles, upholstery, wheel cleaners, suspension parts, engine bays, and bare metal. However, it should not be used as a glass cleaner, as it should be a high-quality, ammonia-free glass cleaner. It should also be suitable for RVs, motorcycles, boats, or other home surfaces. It should be capable of removing grime and dirt without excessive elbow grease and should not harm surfaces it claims to clean or leave residue that requires another cleaner.
Some great APCs are ready to use, safe for multiple surfaces, and perform well. Before shopping, consider whether you’re looking for an easy-to-use product or one that can be customized for specific tasks. The best APCs offer both RTU and Concentrate versions, making it clear to buy the right product.
Is Armor All good for exterior plastic?
Armor All® Car Wash is a quick and easy car cleaning product that is safe on plastic and glass surfaces. It is recommended to test on household surfaces first before using it on exterior windows and outdoor furniture. The product’s shelf life is typically five years. Armor All® Protectant is not designed for use on paint, as it may leave a dull or streaky appearance. For best results, try Armor All® Car Wash.
Can you use Armor All on the exterior?
Armor All® offers car exterior cleaners that maintain showroom condition, including bumpers, tires, and trim. The product is safe for all automotive finishes, including clear coats, and adds shine without stripping the wax. It is safe on all types of automotive paints and clear coats. To use, rinse the car, mix the concentrate with water, wash, and dry. Armor All® Car Wash does not contain any harmful ingredients and provides a spot-free, streak-free shine.
What can I spray on my patio furniture to keep it from rusting?
Linseed oil is a popular choice for protecting metal patio furniture due to its quick application and hardness. Boiled linseed oil is better than cold-pressed or mineral oil as it creates a harder surface and dries faster. To improve penetrability, heat up the metal and thin the oil using a solvent. However, most garden furniture is too large to be heated in the oven. Dust and sand down the furniture before applying oils.
For rust-resistant furniture, use rust-resistant paste wax instead of oil. This option is time-efficient and more realistic for busy schedules, as it only needs to be reapplied every two to three years. This method is ideal for those who often lag behind on outdoor furniture maintenance.
Can you use Dawn to clean car exterior?
Dish soap is not an appropriate choice for car washing as it is not formulated to be compatible with car paint. Even detergents like Dawn can potentially damage the protective top coat of a vehicle.
What surfaces can you use Armor All on?
Armor All® Protectant is a product designed to clean, protect, and shine car surfaces, but can also be used on household surfaces like vinyl, rubber, and hard, colored plastic. It’s recommended to test on inconspicuous areas and avoid using it on slippery surfaces. Armor All® Auto Glass Cleaner is specifically formulated for factory installed and most aftermarket tinted windows. It’s not recommended for use on leather, so Armor All® Leather Care Gel, Armor All® Leather Wipes, or Armor All® Leather Care Protectant is recommended.
Does Armor All stain driveway?
Armor All® Tire Foam® Protectant is a product that keeps tires shiny and makes your vehicle look perfect. It is recommended to spray it on the road to avoid staining asphalt or concrete, and to let it dry completely before driving to avoid flinging black onto your car. It is not for use where slipperiness may be hazardous and should not be used near clear plastic surfaces or glass. It is important not to allow wash water to enter storm drains, streams, or lakes.
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Been using it for decades with no issues. It’s great on exterior and interior. I’m using the matt finish these days on the interior, it’s not actually matt it’s a lowsheen gloss. It does not cause the issues people claim, those issues are just issues related to the vehicles themselves. A mistake some people make is they don’t buff it off after a few minutes. On exteriors don’t get it wet for a full day to allow it to cure off.
back in 1983 my brother and I each bought 1983 Toyota 4×4 pickup trucks I always put armor all on my dash and interior and my brother did not and just wiped it down once in a while with various cleaners now 40 yrs later my dash is still smooth soft and nice and black . my brothers dash started cracking many many yrs ago and now sits in his back yard rusting all apart . mine has been garage kept for many many yrs now and is still in great condition and I have been offered crazy amounts of money for it . armor all works well but the main thing is covering your vehicles up and take care of them and they will be worth many times what you paid for them
Here in North America there have been several lawsuits against Amorall where they were blamed for cracking dashboards. Part of it may have been the quality of the materials used 20 years ago, and like you said everyone used it so it would’ve been easy to make that assumption but there have been former employees that say Armorall knew and covered up the findings. Despite that, their interior products feel greasy which no one likes, also newer interiors have a matte finish and that’s the look a lot of people go after, just a clean, dry the touch look so all other car companies offer superior products and armor all has not improved or moved on from their original, controversial formulation. Turtle wax is at least coming out with new products to try and stay relevant but Armor all, I’m surprised they’re still in business. In fact I think they’ve had their fair share of financial problems over the years.
Never spray Armor all on your convertible top’s back window or it will make it white instead of clear. Also I am VERY allergic to Armor all interior it makes me fell terrible! I cough and get scratchy throat. I am going to clean it off the best I can with i cup vinegar 2 cups warm water and one TB dish soap. I would much rather enjoy life than have a slick dangerous floor mat and smelly slick dashboard. My advice~ find a normal product or just use vinegar water to clean and stop the over-kill. Plastics are always mostly BAD!
I’ve just started the article so im going to comment first duhh. Ok so, armorall would look great in the first 30 minutes of application, and then I noticed in UV exposure – would honestly leave stains and look weird. I have piano black in my interior – therefore there would be swipe/smudge marks between the leather and piano black interior. It was never consistent. I honestly found cleaning my leather and interior with windex was the absolute sweat spot. For some reason, the windex would bring the leather back to its natural form, and not smudge the screen, piaono black and plastics of the car. Also, armorall messes your hands skin up. So I can see why its not liked. I’ll play the vid now 🙂
Hello. I have a 2010 Altima and I live in South Florida. Altought I put one sun shield on the dashboard and another one behind it, my dashboard starts cracking. It’s still flexible and does not feel rigid but still cracking. Do you think I can protect it from cracking if I apply silicon spray or vaselin or Armor-All on it? If not, what do you recommend? TY
I used Armor All protectant when it became available in South Australia 🇦🇺 and I blessed the makers every time I used it. There was nothing like it at all on the market and it was awesome on my Valiant’s Vinyl Roof. I never had a problem with it until I used it on a very old be Type 3 which I bought from a deceased estate (lady owner). After I applied the Armor All Protectant the dash padding cracked. There are times where I still use it and there is always some at home. I have also purchased some Matt Finish Protectant for the interior but have yet to try it. I found that Paint Shops don’t like it and claim that Silicone drops fly around in the air and cause pin holes in the paint.
Why I hate Armor All? Haven’t used it in 35 years because it caused my tires to crack terribly on the sidewalls back then. Ruined them in less than a year of putting their coating on. Probably changed since then, but screw me once and shame on you is something I follow. Never giving them another chance.
Not only do I inspect my MF towels for debris, but when washing I separate my towels further into 3 categories: (A) Used for Body (generally cleanest), (B) Lower Panel/Undercarriage/Bumpers (second dirtiest), and (C) Tires (Dirtiest). The first two groups can be “safely’ washed together as long as a do a thorough pre-rinse of group (B). Group (C) will always be pre-rinsed and always washed separately, and oftentimes I only reuse Group C only a few times since tire towels gets so caked on with tar/oil, may not even be worth the effort. I will oftentimes take older towels in Group A-B and retire them to C. And that’s my towel management system.
True story..this happened years ago. We had a guy come into our body shop wondering if we could buff out his car. When I went out to take a look I was stupefied how bad it looked. I asked him what happened. He said he had waxed his whole car but it started raining so he thought he’d finish later. Needless to say his paint was destroyed. Never wash/wax your car in direct sunlight and work in small areas before you move onto the next.
I couldn’t figure out why those water spots kept appearing on my car after hosing it down. It only seemed tp be appearing in some spots and I assumed something was wrong with the water, since the water was foaming white for some reason when it touched the surface. I would then just use a paper towel or rag to wipe it off, then squeegee the windows. Thanks for setting me straight on that.
5:03 Yes, that’s typical at the gas station. Not only as a matter of dirt, but even more to avoid scratches on the body when the hose slides over the paint. If you are not careful when vacuuming, you quickly have scratches on the body. I always try to hold the hose up with one hand so that it doesn’t touch the bodywork.
people dry buff after they apply a wax too I get customers who have swirls from detailers dry wiping too much after they put on wax or sealant.. you even see pros doing it in their YouTube articles. once the residue is lifted.. please stop buffing. you will create love marks the more you buff to a shine
Hello Tino Great article once again and ive ordered your exterior detailer to use for the 2023 show season, ive a Mk1 Focus RS (nothing in the calibre league of cars you clean) but its our show car and is back on the road on May next year for the car shows. Looking forward to using your detailer when then RS is on the show stand 😎
These were so obvious it hurt me so I will put them all here so people don’t waste their time. 1. cleaning from the bottom to the top with contact 2. using a mitt/towel that is full of rocks and other crap (like after dropping it on the ground) on the car (duh…) 3. not prewashing touchless with pressure washer before contact washing with microfiber 4. letting the car dry by itself (if your car has any sort of ceramic/sealant/wax you can probably get away with just going for a drive after washing and most of the water will just fly right off, then you wipe the few droplets that are left) 5. using abrasives on the car (rags, towels, paper, whatever) use a microfiber instead 6. wiping a car with a dry thing (even microfiber) 7. using slippery / glossy products on controls (steering wheel, pedals, etc) 8. not cleaning your shit (microfibers in particular) duh; I recommend personally to wash the microfibers as hot as your washing machine will go, with a microfiber detergent. DO NOT USE REGULAR DETERGENTS OR HAND SOAPS OR WHATEVER, THEY LEAVE SHIT ON YOUR MICROFIBER 9. being too aggressive to a soft top roof; be wary of the pressure washer and hard brushes, the same goes for your fabric interior 10. letting a vacuum hose touch the ground, then touch your car steps and low trim; just use a car vacuum that plugs into your cig lighter please…doing some cleaning for around 5-10 minutes after using your car for a while on your normal commute is fine and won’t drain your battery to the point that your car doesn’t start; experiment yourself if you have a worn out battery or alternator; I’d start at 2 minutes of cleaning and whenever you notice your car is struggling to start, subtract like 3-4 minutes from your cleaning time and keep using the resulting time
Didn’t know about the microfiber tip I agree without lubrication is cause swirl marks I noticed that but didn’t know what to do love this if you can make a article on how to wash a brand new car and avoid touching all together ( if that’s possible ) that would be great for I plan on buying a new Cullinan and want nothing to touch it ever !
Hi, someone applied detailing product on my steering wheel and its been extremely slippery which is dangerous because sometimes it slipped out of my hand, it’s been like this for about a year and don’t know what to do, it’s leather. How do I get rid of the slipperiness and make it normal or mildly sticky again?
Actually i kno all the 10 mistakes. I avoid all these. But i was not aware of the bonus mistake that is no 11.😀 I think many people make this. D brand u show in d article is a luxury brand, then d driver / cleaning fellow should kno all this. I dont think d owner of Maclaren will wash his car. ( at least not in my place) Nice article bro…