Armor All?

[bohomus]

Finished washing my trike and put the finishing touches on by "armor alling" the plastic stuff and seat. My neighbor came over and informed me the worst thing you can do to vinyl & plastic is to use armor all or any other such thing. Really? Is that true? If it is, what do you use as a protectant?

 

[tfdeputydawg]

Quit using years ago. Used to coat all my "plastic" in/on my cages. Was always trying to clean some kind of haze off the inside of the windows. Had a professional detailer tell me armor all outgassed and to stopped using it on interior surfaces.

 

[bohomus]

What do you use now?

 

[keepinon]

On my old Dodge hot-shot trucks, those massive plastic dashes would always crack in this southern sun & heat. On my last, a '98, I used armor-all at least once a week. I think I had the only Dodge with an uncracked dash. Worked well there.

Dunlop MC tires, for me, are notorious for weather cracking on the sidewalls. The Dunny front on my trike now gets armor-alled each time I wash it. Near two years & no cracks yet. I like it there.

My leather Ultimate seats get the armor-all treatment. Seems to help weather proof them. I like it there. (I gots plenty of butt to hold me on )

But, the trike plastics & windshield I use Lemon Pledge. Just as easy, not quite as oily looking.

 

[SMSgt]

Amor All is worst thing you can put on tires, IMHO. It sucks the natural oils out of the rubber and makes the tires, especially on motorcycles slick. I've witnessed more than one accident because of Armor All on a motorcycles tires. As for what I use now I use scouring cleanser/power on the tires to keep them clean and leave them alone. As far as seats go I don't use Armor All on the vinyl because it makes the seat slick and I slide all over it. So just use mild soap and a good thorough rinse.
Now on my show car I use it everywhere there is rubber or plastic. But then again I drive it from the trailer to a show parking spot and then back to the enclosed trailer. It only sees the sun when it is parked in an outside show for a few hours then gets tucked away back in the trailer which is then parked in my shop.
So it is different that a motorcycle that is driven and used all the time.

 

[Ozarkryder]

Haven't used Armor All in years, but if I remember there is a line in the fine print on the package cautioning folks not to use it on motorcycle or bike seats as it will make them slick.
As far as what I use, I like Original Bike Spirits . Some like Lemon Pledge, and I have had some luck with it. It works as a polish and makes the trike smell lemon fresh, too.

 

[SMSgt]

Yeah and it really sucks when you slide sideways off the seat in a tight turn. :laugh::laugh: I mean since you can't lean into a turn on a trike and all.
I do use lemon pledge to clean the bugs off the front. Or a damp drier sheet.

 

[rhino 2]

I use Turtle wax leather conditioner for the seats, And Turtle wax Ice spray for the plastic/fiberglass..
Armor-all seems to attract dust. Might be its greasy texture.:Shrug:

 

[keepinon]

Ya'll notice I said leather seats, with no plastic between the leather and foam. Much cooler riding than vinyl, just have to keep a rain cap handy. Not near as slick.

I do not use it on motorcycle tires, but trike tires are different, they don't lean, so armor-all wiped on the side has been safe for me for many years.

 

[RcSuD]

Lemon Pledge here too, but do not get any on the seat or grips, makes them too slippery.

 

[Veritas44]

Used to hate the "greasiness" and dirt attraction of ArmorAll. Now been using the Armorall Ultimate Shine and it is awesome. Lasts much longer, no Greasy feeling, does not attract dirt and lint. The Real Deal-Highly recommend the Stuff and it is worth the try if you don't like regular ArmorAll.
Always use Meguire's Leather-Vinyl conditioner/cleaner on Seats (& Steering Wheel in truck). Keeps it from drying and cracking, looking good, and don't slide around on it (or hard to grip in the Truck).
I saturate a small terry cloth rag & carefully rub ArmorAll Ultimate on Tire Sidewalls only.

For the Tupperware and Shields I use Cycle Care #33. Does a great job cleaning and polishing in one step and doesn't abrade or swirl the finish. It doesn't leave a fake harsh "wax" or sealing film.

 

[bohomus]

Crap! I like the shiny look Armor All gives plastic. It seems like anything that I like either ends up being bad for my health, hurts the thing, is illegal, causes cancer, or makes you go blind. After 61 years on this planet, life never ceases to amaze me. I'm a little concerned because I absolutely love riding my trike. It's not going to make me go blind is it?

 

[tbear]

Finished washing my trike and put the finishing touches on by "armor alling" the plastic stuff and seat. My neighbor came over and informed me the worst thing you can do to vinyl & plastic is to use armor all or any other such thing. Really? Is that true? If it is, what do you use as a protectant?

You are gonna have to trust me on this; but; LEMON PLEDGE !! been using it for years and works great on EVERYTHING!

 

[bohomus]

Will throw away my big bottle of Armor All and get some lemon pledge. I do like the smell of lemons in the morning. Thanks for the responses.

 

[Mick]

Armor all makes 2 different kinds of detailers. They have the original which has the shiny greasy look and they have one called DETAILER. The detailer leaves the original shine and feeling but protects the plastic and rubber. A lot of car dealers use the Detailer as it leaves the interior of the cars with the original sheen on the plastic and a mildly pleasant scent. Ive been using detailer on my trike for 6 years now and i have no complaints. But I wouldnt use the original anymore.

 

[DakotaTG]

I stopped using ArmorAll several years ago when I switched over to using 303 Aerospace Protectant. I had found this on a website for car care products called Autotopia (they also have a section for motorcycle cleaning and detailing supplies). They call it SPF40 for vinyl, rubber and leather as it has UV blockers it in. I use it on the sidewalls of the tires and occasionally on the seat and backrests. I do run out of it occasionally as it is hard to find except by ordering online. I like to use Zimol cleaners and conditioners for the seat and backrest two or three times during the riding season with the 303 weekly or when I clean the trike.

I have also used Pledge to clean and shine the trike and I like to use Wizard's Mist and Shine as a detailer for the painted surfaces.

2011 Merlot and Black TG

 

[MDGeorge]

Nothing beats good soap and water for cleaning. (Dawn or specialty car soap is good for car or bike).
Rinse well.
Pledge, and Original Cleaner for shine.
Keep it simple.

 

[oahe]

Crap! I like the shiny look Armor All gives plastic. It seems like anything that I like either ends up being bad for my health, hurts the thing, is illegal, causes cancer, or makes you go blind. After 61 years on this planet, life never ceases to amaze me. I'm a little concerned because I absolutely love riding my trike. It's not going to make me go blind is it?

It's not riding the trike that will make you go blind. I think blindness will be a result of the trike putting a smile on your face. At least that's what I got out of the story my mother told me when I was a teenager. :xzqxz:

 

[RcSuD]

........... It's not going to make me go blind is it?

Just keep your hands on the bars and you'll be ok.

 

[bohomus]

LOL! There's not a lot point to living without that occasional smile. The problem is my bike puts that smile on me possibly way too much.

 

[Shimpy]

The very best product I've ever used by far is 303 Aerospace Protectant. It also contains a sunscreen that is SPF 40.

 

[Pegasus1300]

If you can find it use unscented Pledge. The lemon does attract bees and wasps. Otherwise I have used it for years. I also quit using Armor All years ago but switched to STP Son of a Gun.Don't know if they still make it but it did not have any of the Armor All vices. Yamaha Spray Cleaner works really well even on plastic and rubber.I also use Back to Black or Black Chrome on the black plastic and rubber. Those work really well.