I am learning that using Armor-All does make things worse.

I recently bought a 1980 VW Rabbit Pickup.  The previous owner took
meticulous care of the paint and interior, leaving me with a 'deserves to
be detailed' vehicle.

On the advice of the Car Care Specialties web page (www.carcareonline.com)
I purchased two products that are working great.

#1.  Black Again.  This creamy stuff smells like tanning butter and it
really works at restoring black vinyl and paint.  It'll work on other
colors, but on my truck it's either black, red or silver.  Car Care
Specialties recommends using Meguiar's #42 Rubber Treatment to extend the
life of Black Again, but I haven't tried it yet.  I understand that
repeated treatments may be required to overcome the effects of silicone oil
products (A-A) but the results so far have been amazing - all that cloudy
white crap on the bumper ends is gone!

#2. Vinylex.  This stuff is made by Lexol, the people who make the
legendary leather care stuff.  Vinylex sprays on milky like A-A, but leaves
a deep, real German-looking patina to the dashboard and seats.  Smells good
too.

I'm not knocking Armor-All.  It's good stuff.  But time and science marches
on and the new stuff works great.

Usual disclaimers apply - no connection with Car Care Specialties, Black
Again, Meguirs, Lexol, or any other legitimate business for that matter...

Luke
Seattle

----------
> From: mv_54@OMALP1.OMERESA.OHIO.GOV
> To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Black rubber/vinyl/plastic care
> Date: Friday, September 25, 1998 12:31 PM
>
> Hi all,
>         ANy suggestions for restoring the backness to the vinyl, plastic
> and rubber areas on my Vanagon and Jetta?  I've used some polishes and
> such but after a few weeks in the sun that stuff just seems to make the
> trim fade to that dull white.  I swear Armour ALl just makes things
worse.
>         I seem to remember something about a "food" for those materials
> that kind of replaced the oils in them and kept them black.   Any
> suggestions?
>
> Eric