Interior materials - help plz

[MTRkazoh]

I'm looking to clean the interior of my Stinger but I'm a bit concerned about using the wrong products on each surface. I know the seats center arm rest and some of the door area are leather, so leather cleaner there but what about the dashboard area, it looks like faux stitching and it feels soft. Is this some sort of soft plastic or another material? On my old cars, the dash is usually a harder plastic and I used plastic cleaners on it. Also the Steering wheel is leather and rubber I believe (upper leather, side grips rubber?). The back of the seats seem to be a hard plastic which is good since the kids kick the back seat while strapped into the car seats, so that's easy to clean.

Any help on these areas would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Revvdmedia]

While this might not be the perfect answer, I've typically used a leather cleaner on any surface I think is leather which includes armrests, door panels covered in leather, even the sides of seats which are normally a faux leather and not real. Anything else except glass is usually cleaned with an all-purpose interior cleaner. I've never seen any unusual wear or damage using this method on numerous cars I have owned over the years. If anything, using a leather cleaner on a non-leather surface might cause it to clean less well, or you're just wasting a more expensive cleaner, but not causing damage.

For the dash, I would use an all purpose cleaner. I'm quite certain it's not leather, it feels more rubbery.

I did notice the aluminum trim on the center console scratches very easily, so I asked our local high end detailer what they suggest, they said they normally get as much off as possible with compressed air, then use a cleaner as a lubricant and as little friction with a MF towel as necessary to clean it.

I never use that shiny dash Armor All junk, matte is where it's at.

 

[funesto]

FWIW, I used Chemical Guys Leather Quick Detailer using a similar thought process to the post above... If it looked leather-ish, I used it I also used the CG Leather Protectant Serum.

I have an "all-purpose" interior quick detailer from Chemical Guys as well, which I used on all other surfaces. With microfiber applicators and cloths, of course.

I guess I will keep an eye on this thread to see if I need to change my methods, haha.

 

[Revvdmedia]

I should note based on some owners' experience with the leather, I strongly recommend applying a good quality leather conditioner (I use a cream) to the outside bolsters of the seats, at least the driver one, frequently. To date I only have noticed a couple lines of wear on the bolster and I think that's just because I have the bolsters set as tight as they go, so they're tightening and loosening numerous times per day as I start and stop the car. It won't hurt anything other than your wallet and time to do this.

 

[BertBert2019GT]

I use AMMO NYC products. I couldn’t be happier with the results. I gave all my Maguires and Chemical Guys stuff to my gf. The AMMO NYC products smells like a new car after—no fragrances. And the owner has videos of pretty much anything your trying to accomplish cleaning/detail related on youtube


AMMO NYC Lather for:
- dash pad
- plastics

AMMO NYC Shag for:
- Carpet
- Rubber mats
- Headliner

AMMO NYC Mousse for:
- Leather
- Dash pad (after Lather is used for cleaning)

AMMO Interior Regimen Kit | AMMO AUTO CARE INC.

 

[MTRkazoh]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I know of AMMO products and watch the videos daily but the shipping cost to Canada + duties + conversion is just atrocious right now. I don't know any other way to get the products other than to ship from the States which sucks for me.

My two main concerns were the dash material which everyone seems to think is not leather so a general cleaner should be fine. The other concern was the Napa leather. I was told newer model cars have a Urethane (spelling?) coating on the leather and conditioners don't penetrate. I'm currently using Sonax Foam Leather and conditioner. It's an amazing cleaner and it's made for perforated seats. How much that actually conditions is questionable.

 

[AV8R]

Chemical guys stuff is fantastic, lasts for ages and makes the interior look soft and new 24/7. Worth the money.

 

[G-585186]

Has anyone noticed white scuffs on their dash using a microfiber cloth? I got so many today using a microfiber cloth and chemical guys interior spray. It’s devastating. I’ve been seeing this issue in a ton of forums with cars with similar materials, but not for stingers. Surely I’m not the only one to experience this with a stinger! If you have suggestions to remedy these scuffs, let me know.

 

[byebyeSTI]

i have the same issue ! i cant belive using a super soft cloth can "scratch" the dash pad im pissed

 

[MerlintheMad]

I managed to create some scuffs in the far right corner of the dash, but nowhere else, and not since very early on: the rest of the dash looks new still. It's possible that the scuffs were there and I just didn't notice them: it sure couldn't be from me scrubbing too hard or using the wrong cleaner. All I use is distilled (previously soft) water to dampen a microfiber or terrycloth. And mainly I'm intent on getting dust off; there isn't anything else to clean up.

 

[RedCal]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I know of AMMO products and watch the videos daily but the shipping cost to Canada + duties + conversion is just atrocious right now. I don't know any other way to get the products other than to ship from the States which sucks for me.

My two main concerns were the dash material which everyone seems to think is not leather so a general cleaner should be fine. The other concern was the Napa leather. I was told newer model cars have a Urethane (spelling?) coating on the leather and conditioners don't penetrate. I'm currently using Sonax Foam Leather and conditioner. It's an amazing cleaner and it's made for perforated seats. How much that actually conditions is questionable.

You are correct that modern leathers are coated, cleaning it is the important part, it will help prevent dirt / debris from damaging the seats - I use The Chemical Guys Leather cleaner / conditioner for the seats, for the dash, doors, and other bits I use their "Inner Clean" all with a good microfiber cloth (use dedicated ones for the seats, and separate ones for the other interior bits)

 

[jthrelf]

What leather conditioner are people have good luck with? Standard leather - not GT2 Nappa.

 

[byebyeSTI]

What leather conditioner are people have good luck with? Standard leather - not GT2 Nappa.

im having good luck with the lexol line of products

 

[G-915186]

Has anyone noticed white scuffs on their dash using a microfiber cloth? I got so many today using a microfiber cloth and chemical guys interior spray. It’s devastating. I’ve been seeing this issue in a ton of forums with cars with similar materials, but not for stingers. Surely I’m not the only one to experience this with a stinger! If you have suggestions to remedy these scuffs, let me know.

I do have a couple of these similar scuffs and actually that's why I'm here is looking for a solution. Going to check out some of these cleaners and will report back. But I think when I was maybe cleaning my front window my finger or finger nails maybe caught the dash a bit. Not sure if an MF cloth would do that.

 

[byebyeSTI]

I do have a couple of these similar scuffs and actually that's why I'm here is looking for a solution. Going to check out some of these cleaners and will report back. But I think when I was maybe cleaning my front window my finger or finger nails maybe caught the dash a bit. Not sure if an MF cloth would do that.

same issue here . idk what is going on with the dash pad material , its not like anything ive seen before, you cant really clean the "scuffs of it " very frustrating . im just using a light interior cleaner on it ,, and using compressed air to dust it off .

 

[RM7]

i have the same issue ! i cant belive using a super soft cloth can "scratch" the dash pad im pissed

The finish is too polished and smooth. Dust particles in the air will get in between the cloth and the surface, stick to the cloth, stick to the surface and they will scratch it. I too plan on upgrading to the brushed aluminum center piece. I'm ok with the other gloss black parts, as they are generally out of the line of constant touching, but the center one has to go.

 

[RedCal]

You can wrap the gloss black with PPF - keep the look without the scratches, or peel and redo it when it's badly marked up

Also make sure you are using decent MF cloths, and cleaning and drying them properly (no powdered detergent, cold wash, no heat dry)

 

[cjbigcog]

I have been using a Swiffer duster for the past few years. Great for a quick dusting without getting more involved.