You may be in possession of a car you've owned for many years. Or perhaps you've just bought a brown Volvo C30 as your first car. In either case, the new car smell has faded into obscurity, and time has replaced it with a rich aroma of memories instead. But additionally, years of exposure to UV and general wear have begun to degrade the interior trim of your car.
Is there anything you can do about it? Yes. A dependable interior dressing will restore interior plastics, rubber, and vinyl and provide UV protection. It's a simple task, but only a handful of products get it right. Many leave greasy or glossy finishes to treated trim. Some forget about the UV protection bit and are just cleaning products.
Here, we recommend our top-rated interior dressings for keeping your car trim looking clean, healthy, and protected.
Best interior dressings: podium winners
It's a bit pricey and only comes in a small bottle, but this spray is superb. C6 Matt Dash provides the most durable and effective protection you'll find in an interior dressing. In addition, it leaves a non-greasy matte finish on treated surfaces, which is exactly what you want. C6 Matt Dash doesn't clean, it's a focused protectant, so use an interior cleaner beforehand if you need to.
Read our full Gtechniq C6 Matt Dash review
Pros
- Best interior protectant on the market
- Easy to apply
- Leaves a non-greasy matte finish
Cons
- Small volume bottle
| Volume: | 100ml |
| Finish: | Matte |
| Scent: | None |
| Anti-static: | Yes |
| UV protection: | Yes |
| Materials: | Plastic, vinyl, rubber |
| Extras: | Antibacterial, abrasion resistant |
Best value interior dressing
Autoglym's Rubber & Vinyl Care is uncomplicated and unpretentious. It cleans reasonably well and provides good protection. For a more expensive interior dressing, one might expect better cleaner or more durable protection, but at this price, Rubber & Vinyl Care is hard to fault. The only niggle is that it leaves a mildly greasy finish on rubber.
Read our full Autoglym Rubber & Vinyl Care review
Pros
- Decent protection
- Good value
Cons
- Slightly greasy finish on rubber
- Autobrite and Gtechniq sprays are more durable
| Volume: | 500ml |
| Finish: | High or low gloss |
| Scent: | Lemon |
| Anti-static: | Yes |
| UV protection: | Yes |
| Materials: | Plastic, vinyl, rubber |
| Extras: | Prevents door shuts from freezing |
This interior dressing also works as an effective cleaner, making it a handy time-saving option. Suitable for all plastic interior surfaces (as well as wooden panels), this cleaner will leave behind a fresh scent and nice matte finish. This spray contains no silicone which means there's no chance of greasy marks being left, while the anti-static properties will ensure a dust-free dashboard.
Pros
- Excellent cleaner and dressing
- Good value for money
Cons
- Only offers a matte finish
| Volume: | 500ml |
| Finish: | Matte |
| Scent: | New car |
| Anti-static: | Yes |
| UV protection: | No |
| Materials: | Interior plastics, wood |
| Extras: | Interior cleaner |
- Tested by Chloe McWinnie: When someone says ‘clean the car’ our minds often go straight to the exterior, we’ll rinse it, shampoo it, and maybe even add a bit of wax if you’re feeling risqué. The interior though? A quick once over with a wipe will be fine, right?
We think your cabin deserves more, after all that is where you spend majority of your time. This is where Sonax Xtreme Cockpit Cleaner comes in. Coming in a simple spray and wipe down bottle, this interior cleaner will not only successfully leave your car smelling like its brand new, but it also provides a lovely matt finish after a wipe down and some light buffing.
It’s a perfect cleaner for those looking to give their car a freshen up from their garage. While it won’t get rid of those nasty scratches on plastic trims, it does help lessen the look.
More top-rated interior dressings
Best 2-in-1 interior dressing
One of the potential cases against Gtechniq C6 Matt Dash is that it doesn't clean. Autobrite's Pink Sheen exploits that by doubling as an interior protectant and cleaner. That does mean its protective abilities aren't as good as the C6 Matt Dash, but it's still one of the best on the market.
Strangely, Autobrite Pink Sheen is a mild silicone-based product. The result is reasonably good durability and cleaning ability, but it does leave a slightly glossy finish to surfaces.
Read our full Autobrite Pink Sheen review
Pros
- Cleans and protects
- Can be used on metal too
- Quite durable
Cons
- Slightly glossy finish
- Silicone-based, so don't get it on your hands
| Volume: | 500ml |
| Finish: | Matt-satin |
| Scent: | Floral |
| Anti-static: | Yes |
| UV protection: | Yes (but it’s not explicit) |
| Materials: | Plastic, vinyl, rubber, metal |
| Extras: | Works on internal and external trim, cleans and protects |
This is very nearly a podium winner. Like Gtechniq C6 Matt Dash, this spray from detailmate leaves a non-glossy finish and lasting UV protection. It also comes with an applicator pad and buffing cloth.
Pros
- Great UV protection
- Non-greasy finish
- Comes with pad and buffing cloth
Cons
- Tad pricey
| Volume: | 500ml |
| Finish: | Low gloss |
| Scent: | Sweet fresh |
| Anti-static: | Yes |
| UV protection: | Yes |
| Materials: | Plastic, vinyl, rubber |
| Extras: | Comes with applicator and cloth |
Autobead's effort is a decent one. Some of the products above provide slightly more durable protection, but Autobead Interior Detailer is an accomplished cleaner too. It's a great double act. This does have a fragrance of coconut, so you may or may not be attracted by that. Whatever your position, the scent doesn't last long.
Pros
- OEM finish
- Effective at removing smudges and fingerprints
- Use on metal and leather too
Cons
- Better UV protection offered by others
| Volume: | 500ml |
| Finish: | Low gloss |
| Scent: | Coconut |
| Anti-static: | Yes |
| UV protection: | Yes |
| Materials: | Plastic, vinyl, rubber, metal, leather |
| Extras: | Suitable for metal and leather too |
The obscure American brand does the typical American thing of making a big song and dance on the label. Three products in one? Wow! Closer analysis reveals its job of cleaning, restoring, and protecting is similar to that of Autobrite Pink Sheen. In fairness to it, this MyMe Lab's Total Interior Detailer is a good protectant, but use it sparingly because it leaves a glossy finish.
Pros
- Good UV protection
- Reasonably good value
- Can be used on leather
Cons
- Apply too much and the finish is glossy
| Volume: | 500ml |
| Finish: | High gloss |
| Scent: | None |
| Anti-static: | Yes |
| UV protection: | Yes |
| Materials: | Plastic, vinyl, rubber, leather |
| Extras: | Can be used on leather |
There are a couple of reasons why we like this product. It's great value, coming in a one-litre bottle it lasts a long time too. Cockpit Cleaner Silky Gloss is a very good protectant, although, like MyMe Lab's Total Interior Detailer, it creates a shiny finish. You can tone this down by applying sparingly.
Pros
- Big one-litre bottle
- Lasting UV protection
- Great value
Cons
- Glossy finish
| Volume: | 1000ml |
| Finish: | High gloss |
| Scent: | None |
| Anti-static: | Yes |
| UV protection: | Yes |
| Materials: | Plastic, vinyl, rubber, leather |
| Extras: | Large spray bottle |
Cleaning your car interior properly
The key to properly cleaning your car interior is the same as properly cleaning your car's exterior. It's a multi-step sequence that results in a deep clean.
Begin with removing rubbish, then clean your dashboard and trim. Afterwards, vacuum thoroughly before cleaning the upholstery. It's simple but effective.
Regarding trim restoration and protection, remember there are products designed for exterior trim too. Like interior dressing, there is only a small selection of truly effective options.