First, I've been reading a while. LOTS of good info. Thanks!

Wanabe - I've seen you mention controlling shine with 303. How? I put some on the door panels, and it seemed a bit too shiny. Need to get it right before I do the dash. Thanks!

 

the wanabe answer:

1. 303 is prob the least shine of any vinyl/rubber protectant

2. to make it even less shiny:
a. you can "cut" it by adding water (you can add a filtered water into the bottle, or put some in a new bottle to do the mix)
b. use a rag that is dampened with some water misted onto it-
then spray the cut 303 onto the rag. wipe on and wipe off of the dash- buff off with a dry rag- a damp rag will also work, and some guys prefer the damp one for minimal shine.
c. to get more shine, use full strength- put lotsa product on the rag- wipe on and let sit. buff, and repeat as many times as you want until you get the shine you want. when i want shine, i usually do not go 303- i like vinylex better if i want more shine (easier to control on the high end of shine)

3. best to spray on the rag so that you dont get it on the glass and on the rest of the car

4. no matter which way you go- minimal or maximal shine- you can always follow up with a dry rag and wipe off

5. spraying onto the door panels directly puts the product on full strength- that is the main cause of shine- full strength, and letting it sit.

 

I just recently put some 303 on my interior and I have no shine at all, the panels look a little deeper/darker color, no shine, no greasiness. I just spray a few times on the microfiber and apply. Go over all the surface again with a clean microfiber after.

 

Ok someone else has to try meguiars 57 besides me.

http://marinerv.meguiars.com/product/Vinyl...-Conditioner-57

 

It's the same stuff as #40 I believe but marketed to the boating crowd. I've used #40 in the past and it's a little on the shiny side IIRC. Also, a little greasy but the formula could have been changed since it's been awhile.

While I've never cut either product with water, IME DP Interior Surface Protectant is even less shiny than 303.

 

One thing to do as well is clean off any other protectant that might remain on the interior dash surfaces prior to protecting with 303.

This can be done with a 10:1 mixture of water:woolite in a spray bottle. Use a interior microfiber towel and spray the solution on the towel and wipe down the panels. Follow up with just a wet interior MF towel to remove any residue remaining. Let dry and protect with 303 following the "spray on MF, wipe on, and then buff off" method.

 

That's a GREAT point! Making sure you start with a clean surface helps reduce the shine quite a bit. I've never bought into using Woolite in the car (I feel it's a soap intended to be rinsed off so if not rinsed it will leave a residue which will attract dirt/dust), but Meguiar's Interior Quick Detailer is a great cleaner available locally.

Personally, I use Meguiar's APC cut 10:1 for interior cleaning. It's hard to find in sizes smaller than 1 gallon though.

 

CG or PB Natural shine is the most matte of any interior dressing.

TO cut down on 303 shine, you can rewipe with a damp towel or spray lightly onto an already damp towel.

 

It's actually about disgusting how much dirt and crud can build up on the interior of the car.

MikeyC, I agree that Woolite defintely leaves a residue if not re-wiped down with a damp cloth. The Woolite/water mixture is good though at cleaning up interior panels. If you use a bucket to rinse out the MF while you're cleaning, you'll find the water gets dirty really quick.

By the way, just thought I'd remind folks again that this trick is especially important with leather. Clean first and then condition. Cleaning the leather with a pH balanced cleaner (such as Lexol which can be found locally) enables the conditioner applied to be more easily absorbed. Good for that matt finish, but great for the longevity of the leather.

 

translation:

cg = chemical guys

pb = poor boys