A bottle of Armor All sits in millions of glove boxes and garage shelves across the country. According to one mobile detailer, they all belong in the trash. That's the strong opinion of mobile auto detailer Adam Pharaon (@pharaonmobiledetailing), who took to TikTok and voiced his belief that there are better wipes and coatings that vehicle owners should turn to when they want to clean and care for their car interiors. “Go ahead and throw it away. Armor All is very low quality. A lot of this stuff will dry out your interior,” he said in the clip that’s been viewed more than 2,000 times. Do Other Detailers Agree? In a follow-up conversation with Motor1, Pharaon said his stance isn't based on a one-off experience or a hot take for social media. It's something he says he's seen repeatedly while working on customer vehicles. “Being made for the masses, a lot of these products, especially the wipes, aren’t good,” he said. “They’re known to dry out interiors.” He said that the drying effect tends to show up over time on materials like vinyl and leather, where surfaces can lose flexibility and begin to wear sooner than expected. While he said he hasn't studied the specific ingredients behind that outcome, the pattern itself has been consistent enough to shape how he approaches interior care. Pharaon said that view isn't unique to him. Tell us what you think! View Comments “I’m in forums and groups with thousands of detailers,” he said. “It’s a very overwhelming consensus that you stay away from Armor All.” Rather than pointing to lab data or manufacturing specs, he described it as a conclusion drawn from experience that comes up again and again among professionals who spend their days cleaning and restoring interiors. “It’s just something I’ve observed, and that other detailers have observed,” he said. Instead of Armor All, Pharaon pointed to a handful of alternatives that he said strike a better balance between effectiveness and accessibility. One of the most approachable options, he said, is P&S Express Interior Cleaner, a brand commonly used in professional detailing but still easy to find online. He noted that with the right dilution and a microfiber cloth, a single bottle can handle most interior cleaning jobs. For those looking for higher-end products, he pointed toward Koch Chemie. “That one is used by many, many detailers, and that’s one of the highest acclaimed brands,” he said, adding that his recommendations aren't tied to any sponsorships or affiliate deals. He said his only goal with his post is to point drivers toward products that are both accessible and widely trusted within the detailing community. Car Interior Advice Needed In the comments section on his video, the conversation shifted from reacting to asking practical questions about what products to buy, how to use them, and whether basic tools like brushes or microfiber towels would get the job done. Pharaon responded with straightforward guidance, suggesting diluted all-purpose cleaners for most jobs, brushes for tight areas, and microfiber towels for larger services. Other viewers chimed in with their own preferences, with one commenter describing steering a shopper away from Armor All and toward Meguiar products. That guidance turned the clip from a blunt warning into something closer to a quick start guide, with viewers comparing notes and adjusting their approach with each other's help. For a product that's been the default choice for decades, the professional pushback highlights a gap between what's widely recognized and what those working in the detailing industry say they actually use. And for drivers, the takeaway may be less about tossing out a specific brand and more about paying closer attention to what goes on the surfaces that they see and touch every day. Motor1 reached out to Energizer Holdings, Inc., Armor All’s parent company, via email. We’ll update this if they respond. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team
Liked by Liam Labelle, Aiden White
Liked by Liam Labelle, Aiden White
Liked by Liam Labelle, Aiden White