Meguiar's Interior Protectants and UV protection

[The Guz]

Mike this question is steered more towards your technical expertise. I recently received a product to review from 3D Car Care (their HD Protect interior dressing). I had a question about the product and whether or not it offered any type of UV protection. This is the response I received back from the 3D rep.

I truly believe that interior UV protection that many products claim is unsubstantiated hype. I've done quite a bit of research over the years and have not discovered any documentation of a interior protection product to actually offer any significant amount of UV protection. And I also feel that if one did actually offer any, that it's really unnecessary with the way modern interiors are designed & manufacturers. Plus, your interior glass blocks out nearly most of the harmful UV anyways due to glass having a built in solar tint.

When's the last time you witnessed a plastic and/or leather dash board or trim panel fading? Even on a convertible that isn't protected by glass. If anything, fabric components such as carpeting, floor mats and back window carpeting are the only parts that can be compromised by heavy UV exposure, but I don't see any products that are claiming to guard against this?

It's so convenient for a product company to claim/market their product as having UV blocking ability. It seems that NOBODY ever calls them out on it. And NONE every offer/promote any documentation to support their claims. So, they use this magic buzz word to the fullest to capture more customers.

I also feel that the best way to protect your interior for the long haul is to keep it clean. This means regular wipe downs with either water or a light cleaner to keep the buildup of soiling off. And if you desire something that richens up the sheen or feeling of the components then choose one that isn't leaving anything that will promote re-soiling. HD Protect does all these things. In fact, it does them very well.

It was later stated that their product does not offer any type of UV protection. The product states that it adds a durable NANO polymer barrier to your interior that will protect against friction and resoiling degradation.

It's a nice product but a lot of us tend to pick up the product that states some type of UV protection. This led me back to ask the what is the Meguiar's philosophy on interior protectants and UV protection? I would tend to think that some sort of UV protection is better than not having anything. Thus I keep reaching for Natural Shine, New Car Scent or Ultimate Protectant.

Thanks

[Blueline]

Re: Meguiar's Interior Protectants and UV protection

For what it is worth, I have to agree with the 3D rep. The glass in my car has UV block, and I use nothing but water on any of my interiors, leather seats, dash, windows, etc. Even the owners manual, (and I think they should know), excludes the use of anything but water. Car interiors are much better protected and as the rep says, when was the last time you saw an interior fade or crack from UV? Maybe in 1970. The only time I would ever use interior products, would be on an older car that has lost the new car smell and would like a nifty smell and shine, (or if I was a professional detailer and wanted to make my customer "feel good" about what they just spent). As far as UV protection...nonsense, in my opinion. I don't believe there is much, if any protection, and in any event, it is not needed. The rep said they add protection against friction, and that seems to be more of a requirement and desired feature. One of my older cars, had an area on the driver seat where the coating had started to wear away, through the friction of getting in and out...not UV damage. Just my opinion, even though it was not solicited.

[davey g-force]

Re: Meguiar's Interior Protectants and UV protection

Interesting question. I'm keen to hear Mike Stoops' response.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Meguiar's Interior Protectants and UV protection

I happen to know David Fermani so I'm a bit surprised that he would call interior UV protection "unsubstantiated hype". There is absolutely no doubt that modern automotive glass provides excellent UV protection in and of itself. Nobody has ever gotten a sunburn driving across country with the windows rolled up, and that well known "trucker tan", where just the left arm is super tan due to it resting on the open window sill for countless miles, just reinforces this. But that does not mean that at least some UV protection isn't warranted at all, or that it's merely "hype". Is it as important as, say, UV protection in a product designed to protect exterior plastic and vinyl components? Definitely not - the glass does do an excellent job at UV screening. But if you regularly drive with your windows open, the sunroof open, or you always have the top down on the convertible (as I do with mine) then UV protection does come into play. And if UV protectant can be incorporated into an exterior vinyl care product, why is it so hard for anyone to believe that those same ingredients can be used in a product geared toward interior use?

Our VP Research & Development (yes, he's a PhD chemist) came to us from the cosmetics industry, and he often reminds us of the (sometimes surprising) similarities between car care and cosmetics/skin care. The cross over in raw materials is, at times, almost jaw dropping!! (Seriously, I could tell you guys stuff that would probably get me in trouble for revealing so I'll just leave that at that!). Suffice it to say that we do in fact use ingredients that are UV screening (photo-reflective in nature) in our interior and exterior vinyl/rubber care products. And those ingredients are strangely similar to those found in sunblock products that most of you apply before heading to the beach or golf course for the day. Are they critically important to the well being of your interior surfaces? Probably not as much as most people think, but they are there and since they don't really add much to the cost of the product, you might consider them more as a bit of insurance than a true necessity. For my convertible, however - especially here in SoCal - I'm glad they're there. Can an interior care product be considered to be a really good product if it's lacking any sort of UV protection? Sure it can.

[The Guz]

Re: Meguiar's Interior Protectants and UV protection

Thanks Mike. This helps a lot.

[davey g-force]

Re: Meguiar's Interior Protectants and UV protection

Thanks Mike.