It’s essential to keep the cockpit of your car in the best possible shape. Autoglym Vinyl and Rubber care will help you do just that!
As a driver, you pay more attention to your dashboard and interior than you may think.
It’s also what the next person who buys the car will look at when they buy it
Using Autoglym Vinyl and Rubber care restores the original surface color and protects it at the same time!
It’s the perfect all-in-one interior product. Gently cleaning, restoring & protecting the various surfaces inside your car.
Where To Buy Autoglym Vinyl And Rubber Care
Autoglym is originally a British company but is starting to expand beyond the UK.
It’s available in the UK, EU, and US.
Click here to check the price and availability on Amazon.
If you want to buy it the same day as reading this article, your best option would be to check your local auto store.
How To Use Autoglym Vinyl and Rubber Care
The first step to using Autoglym Vinyl and rubber care is to buy it! (Click here and buy it from our Amazon link to support the site).
BUT before you even consider applying vinyl and rubber care to your interior, you need to clean it.
Yes, this product does have cleaning properties, but it’s more of a dressing than a cleaner.
Make sure to clean all dirt and dust off the surface using an interior shampoo or all-purpose cleaner.
Once the surface is clean, you should test the product in an inconspicuous area.
It’s unlikely that this product will cause any issues, but it’s best to try it in a lesser-seen area first.
This way, if any issues come up, your attention won’t be drawn straight to it
It’s highly unlikely to cause any issues, but, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Onto actually applying the product.
There are 2 ways to apply the product, both of which achieve different finishes.
Method #1 – Matte Finish: To achieve a matte finish, apply the product onto the surface very liberally.
Once applied, buff it off with a microfiber cloth. This will work it into the surface and remove any excess.
Alternatively, you could apply the product to a sponge first. This will help to control the amount of product you apply and prevent any overspray.
Method #2 – Glossy Finish: For a glossy finish, apply generously to the surface and then buff it with a cloth or sponge.
Again, to prevent overspray or dripping, you could apply generously to a sponge.
I’ve found that this product is extremely runny, even after shaking well as the bottle says.
To prevent overspray and drip, I seriously recommend applying it to a cloth or sponge first.
This will prevent it from running into any fabrics, clusters, or user interfaces.
It will also limit any streaking.
Where To Use It
As the name suggests, it’s to be used on vinyl and rubber.
Autoglym says in the product description that it’s usable on all interior and exterior plastic & rubber surfaces.
This means you can use it on pretty much anything you wish.
The areas I tend to use it on most are:
- Dashboard
- Interior Trim
- Scuttle Panel
- Engine Bay Plastics
- Wheel Arch Mouldings
- Scraper Seals/Belt Mouldings
If you have any areas that are fading on your car, this product will help to bring back its color.
It will also help to prevent fading, cracking, and blistering over time. Thanks to its UV ray protecting qualities.
Autoglym also recommends using the product on door seals over the winter to prevent doors from sticking.
I haven’t done this myself, so I cannot guarantee that it works.
However, you could also apply this to seals and other rubbers to keep suppleness.
Over time door seals become faded and lose elasticity. This can sometimes lead to seals failing and leaks occurring.
Keeping the seals in tip-top condition with rubber & vinyl care will prevent this.
There are many different surfaces this product works on. It’s just a matter of how far you want to take it.
Where Not To Use It
The most obvious place where not to use it would be any area it causes a reaction.
If you’ve applied the product to an area and it starts to react or cause defects, stop immediately.
Secondly, since this is a liquid product, avoid spraying it on any buttons or screens.
Finally, while it’s not greasy or “slippy”, it is still liquid. Avoid applying this to any key areas such as pedals, floor mats, steering wheels, or any other driving controls.
While in theory, it’s “fine” to do so, as long as you leave it to dry. It’s a risk you need to decide whether you’re willing to take.
Results
I have absolutely no doubt that this product does work. Just look at the photos in this article.
While using the product, it worked every time and never caused an unwanted reaction.
Whether you’re looking for a cleaner matte finish or a wetter gloss look, it can do both.
If you follow the instructions in this article or on the bottle and experiment a little yourself, it’s a great product.
The versatility and finish that it provides really are great.
As for the protective qualities, the plastics certainly aren’t degrading in a hurry.
That said there probably are better-specialized coatings on the market for UV protection.
Longevity
This is a very cheap product that provides short-mid term results.
Over the course of 6-8 weeks, you’ll start to see the color fading a little.
This can be quicker depending on how much you use your car and whether it sits in direct sunlight.
It doesn’t take long to apply this product at all.
If you were to apply it after a thorough cleaning of your interior every month or so, it’d last until the next.
If it’s that big a deal you could quickly go over and top up the areas you feel are important.
There’s no harm in bringing it out and topping it up before a date, car meet, or any other important occasion.
While there are some coatings that will last longer, you’ll struggle to find any as cheap as this.
Overall Rating – 4.5/5
- Results – 4/5
- Durability – 4/5
- Ease Of Use – 5/5
- Value For Money – 5/5
I cannot fault Autoglym Vinyl and Rubber care, especially at the low cost it is.
My main issue has to be the fact it’s so runny, but that’s solved by applying it to a sponge or cloth first.
That’s also a bonus though, as you don’t need much product to make it go far.
At this price point, I don’t think you’ll get any better.
It’s a fairly neutral-smelling product that does exactly what it says on the bottle.
Perfect for short-term results and a great budget option if you don’t mind re-applying it every so often.