Woman Says You Can Restore Interior With This Common Product. Then the Internet Responds

There’s nothing like the shine of a freshly detailed interior. There are innumerable products that promise to restore that aging dash to its brand-new glory.

One woman has some unconventional advice for using a common household product in lieu of something designed specifically for cars.

It’s earning her significant criticism online.

In a viral TikTok, the Country Wife (@countrywifeonabudget) says that you can spruce up your interior with Vaseline. People who replied to her post largely disagreed—but they did watch the video. It has 5.9 million views as of this writing.

Country Wife’s video begins with her dabbing a microfiber cloth into a tub of Vaseline. Following this, she places a large gob of the stuff on her cloth and rubs it into the door.

She then explains why she’s decided to use the ubiquitous product to detail her ride. “Car dealer taught me this,” she pens in a text overlay on her video. Indeed, after dispersing it around the door, the vehicle’s interior shines.

Is Vaseline Good For Your Car’s Interior?

Throngs of auto enthusiasts have decried the practice of keeping petroleum jelly in your car cleaning kit. One Quora user strongly advised against using it to make your tires shine, which is another supposed DIY hack, and argued that Vaseline’s texture will “collect dirt and grime which would very quickly degrade the rubber composition of [their] tires.”

As for using petroleum jelly on a car’s dash, folks in a Toyota Nation discussion board had similar critiques. One said that they read online that Vaseline could be a great way to maintain an appealing aesthetic inside their whip.

But another cautioned against it. “It’s exceptionally slippery … [and] likely not compatible with the plastics used in the interior … i.e. it could degrade/eat the plastic and rubber over time.”

Additionally, they argued that the film left over by petroleum jelly could get on your clothes. And if you’re wiping down the steering wheel with the stuff, it could make the component harder to grip. A slippery steering wheel isn’t exactly the driving dynamic anyone would recommend.

Elsewhere online, people argue that petroleum jelly can actively eat away at some plastics. One user on  Answers.com shared their own experience attempting to lubricate a Rubik’s cube with the stuff. They said that after wiping the toy down with a paper towel, it was coated in black markings. They said this indicates the plastic layer of the Rubik’s cube was coming apart as a result of it coming in contact with Vaseline.

Petroleum manufacturer Petro Naft also reports that Vaseline can compile dust, dirt, and grime. So if there is any particulate matter accrued on your cabin, you could be spreading it around, causing scratches and embedding it deeper into your car’s interior. Petron Aftco further states that petroleum jelly can actually degrade and warp plastics over time.

Viewers Agree: Don’t Use Vaseline On Your Interior

Folks who responded to the Country Wife’s video also shared dubiousness about putting Vaseline on their car’s interior. “This must be Diddy's car they’re detailing,” one quipped. Another bluntly stated: “Worst thing you could ever do!”

Someone else added, “Petroleum jelly does not do well with plastics exposed to UV.”

Another opined that doing so would ultimately end up doing more harm than good. “And then a monster layer of greasy dust,” they said.

Some offered up suggestions from their own personal car detailing experiences.

“Meguiars Interior Detailer or 303 Interior is the ONLY thing allowed in my Q50 babe. That car dealer taught you wrong lol Vaseline causes damage over time. Please don’t do this,” one advised.

Motor1 has reached out to Country Wife via TikTok comment and direct message for further information. We'll update this if she responds.