BLACKFIRE Interior Protectant vs. Detailer's Pro Series Interior Surface Protectant

[Angus]

​For this comparison review I'm going to test BLACKFIRE Interior Protectant vs Detailer's Pro Series Interior Surface Protectant on my 1998 Honda Civic EX Coupe's grey interior previously protected by 303 Aerospace Protectant.

Prior to applying these two products, I cleaned the entire interior with Detailer's Pro Series Total Interior Cleaner:



(http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...omparison.html)

From AG's product page for BLACKFIRE Interior Protectant:

"BLACKFIRE Interior Protectant with Polycharger is the only product you need to maintain the look and feel of leather and soft vinyl upholstery. This 100% water based protectant uses micro-engineered polymers that are readily accepted by leather and soft vinyl. BLACKFIRE Interior Protectant contains no oils, silicones, or petroleum distillates. It leaves a deep, satin, natural-looking finish on interior auto surfaces."

For applying BF IP I sprayed 1 shot on a round microfiber applicator pad. BF IP bottle was given a quick shake before use:



When sprayed BF IP has a milky consistency that is quickly absorbed by the mf applicator pad.

From Autopia's product page for Detailer’s Pro Series Interior Surface Protectant:

“Detailer’s Pro Series Interior Surface Protectant is a multi-surface shield for your vehicle’s interior. It maintains the supple, fresh texture of vinyl, leather, plastic, and rubber while blocking out harmful UV rays. Treated surfaces resist fading, drying, and cracking so your interior maintains a fresh new look. Detailer’s Pro Series Interior Surface Protectant keeps interior surfaces looking like new for the life of your vehicle.”

For applying DP ISP I sprayed 1 shot on the reverse side of a the same round microfiber applicator pad. DP ISP bottle was also given a quick shake before use:



When sprayed DP ISP has a grey-blue gel consistency that is slowly absorbed by the mf applicator pad.

Side by side results: Both products were applied to an equal size section on the passengers side dashboard:




(A little blurry, sorry)

I then waited a 5 minutes before giving them a quick buff to knock down any high spots and removed the blue tape to expose my clean control surface:




(With iPhone flash)

Even though the results may appear similar, BLACKFIRE Interior Protectant left more of a satin finish then Detailer’s Pro Series Interior Surface Protectant. To make sure this difference in sheen wasn't being caused by my light source (daylight CFL bulb) I adjusted my work light so it was directly over the center of my control area.

Smell: BF IP has a very neutral smell. On the other hand DP ISP has a subtle hint of banana but you really have to give the bottle a good sniff to notice it. I've read the banana odor in earlier versions of DP ISP was significantly stronger and hard to miss. Thankfully this doesn't seem to be the case any longer.

Cost: Of the size options available, 128oz is the only one both products come in so I’ll base my cost break down on 128oz thus making price 100% comparable:

BF IP $.70 per oz/ 89.99 per 128oz bottle
DP ISP $.47 per oz/ $59.99 per 128oz bottle

At the largest and most economical size option BF IP is 40% more expensive per oz then DP ISP.

Conclusion: Both are excellent products, contain no offensive odors, can be used on all types of interior and exterior surfaces, are silicone free, and have UV protection from the Sun's damaging effects. DP ISP however is quite a bit cheaper then BF and personally I prefer the finish DP ISP leaves behind more than BF IP.

Additional observations: Interestingly I noticed BF IP dries much faster than DP ISP. While comparing the two products in my small test area, BF IP was 80% dry to the touch after 5 minutes where DP ISP wasn't at all dry and did require a quick buffing. This factor may be worth considering if you’re short on time when detailing your vehicle's interior.

After removing my test area of both products I decided to apply BF IP to the whole dashboard, center console and door cards. Since this the very first time I've used BF IP I want to see how it holds up over time. I’ll be sure to update this tread with any observations I have.

Hope this review was helpful!

In addition, my prior review comparing DP ISP to 303 can be found here:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...rotectant.html

[Sizzle Chest]

Great review! Thanks!!

[Angus]

Thanks, Sizzle Chest!

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Nice review! Well executed!

[Radarryan]

Great review! Thanks for sharing! I am still partial to Ultima Interior Guard Plus+. I really liked the look that it imparted but after you review, I may have to check them out. I couldn't tell which finish I liked better, but a lot of times it is one of those things that you have to do it in person to really grasp the look of it.

Here's a link to the UIGP review if you're interested:

Review: Ultima Interior Guard Plus+

[Angus]

Nice review! Well executed!

Thank you, Sir! What's your go to interior cleaner Mike?

Great review! Thanks for sharing! I am still partial to Ultima Interior Guard Plus+. I really liked the look that it imparted but after you review, I may have to check them out. I couldn't tell which finish I liked better, but a lot of times it is one of those things that you have to do it in person to really grasp the look of it.

Here's a link to the UIGP review if you're interested:

Review: Ultima Interior Guard Plus+

Thank you! I agree, interior LSP's need to be seen in person under various light conditions to be fully appreciated. I'm currently running long term comparison test on 3 different cars with interiors protected exclusively by either 303 AP, DP ISP, or BF IP.

One interesting observation I've had so far is how super matte/ deep black 303 appears on a dashboard in direct sun when viewed through polarized sunglasses. This may be a factor worth considering for reduced eye fatigue on long drives.

Also, thank you for the link to your review on UIGP. Very nice, and GREAT car. I've always loved Porsches. How's UIGP holding up? Do you still have the same application on the interior surfaces? 1Z Cockpit Premium is a wonderful product. For a really deep clean prior to your next round of ILSP you may want to consider DP's Total Interior Cleaner. I've become a huge fan of its cleaning abilities.

My review on DP TIC if interested:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...omparison.html