Armor All Original Protectant: A Shiny but Risky Choice for Your Car

Armor All Original Protectant

( Amazon Link) (Wipes)

Armor All Original Protectant is a product that claims to clean, protect and enhance the appearance of various surfaces in your car, such as vinyl, rubber, plastic and leather. It also claims to prevent cracking, fading, discoloration and premature aging caused by dirt, dust, UV rays and oxidation. But does it live up to its promises? In this review, I will evaluate the product based on five categories: application, performance, durability, value and better alternatives.

Application

The product comes in different sizes and forms, such as spray bottles, trigger bottles and wipes. You can either spray it directly onto the surface or apply it with a clean cloth. The product is easy to use and spreads evenly on most surfaces. However, you need to wipe off the excess to avoid leaving a greasy or sticky residue. You also need to be careful not to use it on floors, vehicle controls, clear plastic, glass, fabric, woven materials or paint, as it may cause damage or slipperiness. For best results, you may need to apply it three times on previously untreated surfaces.

Performance

The product does a decent job of cleaning away dirt, dust and debris from your car's interior and exterior surfaces. It also adds a nice shine and enhances the color of the surfaces. It works well on dashboards, vinyl seats, door panels, consoles, tires, trim and bumpers. However, it does not work well on sun-damaged leather or surfaces that have deep scratches or stains. It also does not repair or restore the surfaces that are already cracked or faded. Some customers have reported that the product causes discoloration or damage to some surfaces over time; I myself have not experienced this on test panels though.

Durability

The product claims to provide long-lasting protection against UV rays and oxidation. However, the protection may not last very long depending on the weather conditions and how often you wash your car. You may need to reapply the product frequently to maintain the appearance and protection of the surfaces. Some customers have also noticed that the product loses its effectiveness over time or after opening the bottle.

Value

The product is relatively affordable compared to other similar products on the market. You can find it in various online and offline stores for around $4 to $14 depending on the size and form. However, you may need to use a lot of product to cover all the surfaces in your car, especially if they are untreated or dirty. You may also need to buy other products to clean or protect other parts of your car that are not compatible with this product.

Better Alternatives

There are many other products that offer similar or better benefits than this product. Some of them are:

- Meguiar's Ultimate Interior Detailer: (Amazon Link) This product cleans and protects all interior surfaces in one step. It leaves a natural matte finish and provides UV protection. It also has a pleasant scent and does not leave any residue. (Review Coming soon)

- Chemical Guys VRP Vinyl Rubber Plastic Super Shine Dressing: (Amazon Link) This product restores and protects vinyl, rubber and plastic surfaces with a dry-to-the-touch shine. It repels water, dirt and dust and prevents fading and cracking. It also has a water-based formula that is safe for all surfaces. (Review Coming soon)

- 303 Aerospace Protectant: (Amazon Link) This product provides superior protection against UV rays for vinyl, rubber, plastic, leather and fiberglass surfaces. It prevents fading, cracking and brittleness and restores lost color and luster. It also has a non-greasy formula that dries quickly. (Review Coming soon)

Pros:

- Easy to use

- Cleans and shines various surfaces

- Enhances color

- Prevents cracking, fading and discoloration

- Affordable

Cons:

- Leaves a greasy or sticky residue if not wiped off

- Not compatible with some surfaces

- Does not work well on sun-damaged leather or stained surfaces

- Does not repair or restore damaged surfaces

- Loses effectiveness over time or after opening

- Needs frequent reapplication

- May cause damage or discoloration to some surfaces over time

Conclusion

Armor All Original Protectant is a decent product that can clean, protect and enhance the appearance of various surfaces in your car. However, it has some drawbacks that may outweigh its benefits for some customers. It may not work well on some surfaces, it may leave a residue if not wiped off properly, it may lose its effectiveness over time or after opening, it may need frequent reapplication and it may cause damage or discoloration to some surfaces over time. Therefore, I would give this product **2 out of 5 stars**. I think there are better alternatives that offer more benefits and fewer risks than this product. But if your on a budget this is not bad in a pinch.

Source:

(1) First hand experience

(2) Armor All Original Protectant (28 fl. oz.) - amazon.com. https://www.amazon.com/ARM10228-28-Original-Protectant-Trigger-Bottle/dp/B0007898UI.

(3) Original Protectant | Armor All US. https://www.armorall.com/product/original-protectant/.