Armor All Heavy Duty Multi Purpose Cleaner, All Purpose Car Cleaner for All Auto Surfaces, 24 Fl Oz

Why I reached for this cleaner

A few weekends ago, I set aside time to bring a well-used truck and a commuter motorcycle back to presentable shape. The plan was straightforward: one product for most of the grime so I wasn’t juggling a basket of specialty cleaners. I grabbed Armor All’s multi‑purpose cleaner and put it through typical real-world tasks—interior plastics, grimy cup holders, fender liners, under-hood wipe downs, and a handful of oil-stained hand tools. By the end of the session, I had a solid sense of what this bottle does well, where it needs a little technique, and where I’d use something else.

What it is and where it fits

This is a ready-to-use spray cleaner designed for automotive plastics, vinyl, and metals. It’s not a dressing or protectant; it’s meant to lift grease, oil, and general dirt so you can wipe surfaces back to neutral. Think of it as a workhorse for interior hard surfaces, engine bay wipe-downs, and light degreasing on tools and small engine parts. It’s a straightforward formula—spray, let it sit for a few seconds, agitate if needed, and wipe clean.

Performance on interior plastics and vinyl

I started inside with door panels, center console trim, and the dreaded cup holders. The cleaner cuts through typical fingerprints, sunscreen smears, and coffee splatter quickly. On lightly soiled areas, a single pass with a microfiber towel was enough to restore a clean, matte finish without added shine—exactly what I want for modern interiors.

For the cup holders and switch surrounds, I let the spray dwell about 15–30 seconds and agitated with a soft detailing brush. The gunk loosened easily and wiped away without me needing to scrub hard. One note: if you overspray on glossy plastics (piano black trim, for example), the product can leave a faint film. A quick secondary wipe with a damp microfiber removes that haze. To avoid it altogether, spray onto the towel or brush rather than directly onto those glossy pieces.

Under-hood wipe-downs and exterior plastic

Under the hood (engine cold), the cleaner handled dusty plastics and oily fingerprints on covers, battery trays, and painted metal lips. I wasn’t chasing a show-car engine bay; I wanted “clean and tidy.” The spray lifted light oils and road film well. For heavier deposits around the oil filler area, I gave it two cycles: spray, dwell, wipe; repeat once. It’s not a replacement for a dedicated engine degreaser on a truly caked bay, but for routine cleanup it’s more than capable.

On exterior plastics like fender liners and textured step pads, it cut through road grime convincingly. I found that using a stiffer nylon brush sped things up. After rinsing or wiping, the surfaces returned to a natural finish without residue—again, no unexpected sheen.

Tools and small engine parts

I sprayed a few oily wrenches, a garage scissor jack, and the underside lip of a lawn mower deck. The product loosens fresh grease and oily fingerprints quickly; for baked-on grime, I needed a nylon brush and a second application. Rinsing tools with water after wiping gave the best result, as it removes any leftover film that can collect dust. I wouldn’t use it as a heavy-duty parts washer for chain lube or tar—there are stronger, solvent-based options for that—but for routine shop cleanup, it’s effective and convenient.

Odor, residue, and user experience

The scent is mild and unobtrusive—easy to use inside a closed cabin without feeling like you need to air it out for hours. The trigger sprayer on my bottle produced a consistent, medium fan that’s controllable enough for interior work. I prefer spraying onto a towel for delicate areas to keep overspray in check.

As mentioned, it can leave a slight film if you saturate glossy surfaces or forget the follow-up wipe. The simple fix is: apply sparingly, agitate, then do a quick pass with a damp microfiber followed by a dry towel. Used this way, I ended up with a clean, neutral finish across plastics and vinyl.

What it shouldn’t be used on

A few cautionary notes based on typical material behavior:

• Leather: I stick to dedicated leather cleaners and conditioners. This is aimed at plastics, vinyl, and metals.
• Infotainment screens and clear gauge plastics: use a screen-safe cleaner to avoid micro-marring and haze.
• Uncoated or sensitive metals: test first on bare aluminum or polished finishes, especially if you care about a pristine luster.
• Hot engine parts: let everything cool before use to avoid rapid evaporation and spotting.

As with any cleaner, I do a quick spot test in an inconspicuous area when I’m unsure about a surface.

Technique tips for best results

• Pre-vacuum interiors so the cleaner isn’t trying to float loose grit.
• For light dust and fingerprints, spray onto a microfiber and wipe—no dwell time needed.
• For sticky spills (cup holders, door pockets), 15–30 seconds of dwell makes a big difference. Agitate with a soft brush, then wipe.
• On textured plastics, use a soft-bristle brush to reach into the grain.
• For under-hood, work panel by panel; apply, wipe, then move on—don’t soak electrical connectors.
• If you see hazing, follow with a damp microfiber and a dry towel for a streak-free finish.

How it compares in a kit

If you’re already running a concentrated all-purpose cleaner you dilute for tasks, you can tune strength to the job. The advantage of this ready-to-use bottle is convenience and predictability—no mixing, safe for the stated surfaces, and consistent results. It pairs well with a separate glass cleaner, a dedicated leather product, and (if you want shine or UV protection) a protectant for plastics after cleaning.

Value and size

At 24 fl oz, the bottle lasts longer than I expected. Because it works effectively with modest application, I wasn’t going through half a bottle in a single detail. For typical maintenance cleaning across interior plastics, engine bay wipe-downs, and a few shop tasks, one bottle should cover several full-vehicle sessions.

Strengths

• Cuts through everyday grime, oils, and sticky residues without a fight
• Leaves a clean, matte finish on plastics and vinyl
• Mild scent that won’t overwhelm an interior
• Versatile: interiors, exterior plastics, under-hood, and tools
• Ready to use—no dilution guesswork

Limitations

• Can leave a light film on glossy plastics if overapplied; needs a damp follow-up wipe
• Not a replacement for a strong degreaser on heavily caked engine parts
• Not for leather or sensitive screens
• For polished metals, spot test first

The bottom line

After using the Armor All cleaner across a realistic spread of automotive and garage tasks, I’m impressed by how reliably it handles the “80 percent” of cleaning jobs most of us face. It excels on interior plastics and vinyl, is perfectly serviceable under the hood for maintenance-level grime, and doubles as a practical cleaner for tools and small engine parts. The finish is neutral and consistent, the odor is mild, and the process is simple: spray, wait a beat, wipe.

It isn’t the strongest choice for baked-on grease, and it asks for a little technique on glossy surfaces to avoid faint residue. Those caveats are easy to manage with a damp follow-up wipe and, when needed, a dedicated heavy-duty degreaser for the really tough stuff.

Recommendation: I recommend this cleaner as a dependable, ready-to-use staple for anyone who wants one bottle to handle most automotive hard-surface cleaning. It’s versatile, effective, and easy to live with. Keep it alongside a glass cleaner and a leather-specific product, and you’ll have a compact, capable kit that covers nearly all routine cleaning without fuss.