Steering wheel cleaner

[sharpreflection]

Can anyone recommend a good steering wheel cleaner that is a solvent based cleaner. Lately I have been using diluted IPA and water but I need something a tad stronger to get the shine off. I have been neglecting my car since my kids have been born (3 years)... so just looking for something. Thanks.

 

[rlmccarty2000]

I’m going to assume you have a leather wrapped steering wheel. I use Mother’s Foaming Leather Cleaner, but any good leather cleaner should do the trick. Spray it onto a microfiber towel and wrap it around the steering wheel and twist. You’ll be amazed at the dirt and oils you will remove. It would be a good idea to follow with a leather conditioner, just wipe off really well.

 

[UncleDavy]

If it is not a leather wrapped steering wheel, you can use a good APC straight on a microfiber towel. Wrap it around the steering wheel and twist. I saw a video where Mike Phillips used microfiber gloves to wrap around the wheel.

 

[derass]

I clean my leather steering wheel with Optimum Power Clean (OPC) at 3:1 using a MF towel and the twisting motion described above. I then wipe the wheel down with a second clean MF towel soaked in water to neutralize any OPC residue left behind. That last part might be unnecessary, but it makes me feel better working with "delicate" leather. The steering wheel only needs cleaning once or twice a year anyways for me.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Once you figure out what product you want to use, here's how I do it...


Technique tip for cleaning your car's steering wheel



The microfiber glove!

I think I have 2-3 articles on the lowly microfiber glove. Not seen as an essential tool for car detailing, it actually offers a lot of functionality, you just have to think outside the box.

For example, cleaning your car's steering wheel is a tick on the awkward side to use a convential approach, but is super fast and very easy PLUS effective when you simply apply your cleaner directly onto the face of the fingers and the palm of the glove, then put the glove on and wrap your hands around the steering wheel and twist your hand back and forth. In less than a minute or two you can have years of grime and dirt removed.

I'll let the pictures do the talking, note that I like to put on a nitrile glove FIRST and then put the microfiber glove on so as to keep chemicals off my hand.

Also - You can apply your dressing or conditioner the same way, that is using a clean microfiber glove repeat the process only spray the dressing or the conditioner onto the new/clean glove instead of the cleaner. I chose to use the SONAX applicator pad because I was also going to use it to apply the BLACKFIRE Multi-Surface Dressing Concentrate to the seats and door panels.


Check it out...


Here's my victim car, it's an old 2-door Ford...

The car is red and I think the steering wheel used to be red?

First I spray some cleaner onto the fingers and palm of a clean microfiber glove...

Then after putting an orange nitrile glove on my hand, next I slip on the microfiber glove...

Now it's real easy to clean all the circumference of the steering wheel without struggling or missing any sections....

Just grip it and twist your hand a few times....

And BOOM!

Cleanliness!

Then continue working your way around the steering wheel until it's completely clean....

Next, apply your dressing, for this I'm using the new BLACKFIRE Multi-Surface Dressing Concentrate diluted at 1:1 with water

This is a SONAX microfiber applicator pad that has a sleeve on the back where you can slip your hand in to make applying dressings easy....

How slick is that?

Wipe wipe....

Looking so much better....

Finishing the job....

IMPORTANT: Anytime you work on the steering wheel, be sure to wipe off any excess dressing so as not to leave it slippery.


Now that looks MUCH gooder!

Perfect.

On Autogeek.com

Take my word for it - go ahead and get the 3 pack which is 6 pairs - you're going to love the glove!


Microfiber Gloves 6 Pairs


Don't trust me? Only want or need one pair? Here you go...

Microfiber Gloves - 1 Pair



Here's the other items I used...

SONAX microfiber applicator pad

BLACKFIRE Multi-Surface Dressing Concentrate

3 Detail Spray Bottles - 36 ounces



Heavy Duty Orange Nitrile Gloves

Medium Orange Heavy Duty Nitrile Gloves - Box of 100

Large Orange Heavy Duty Nitrile Gloves - Box of 100

X Large Orange Heavy Duty Nitrile Gloves - Box of 100

XX Large Orange Heavy Duty Nitrile Gloves - Box of 100

 

[sharpreflection]

Thanks I’ll give the BLACKFIRE a try. It seems to have taken the shine out of the steering wheel.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Blackfire Leather Complete works exceptionally well. Completely cleans without ever feeling overpowering on any surface.

 

[osiapstndp]

I use Optimum Power Clean at 1:5 or 1:3 or ONR at 1:256 and a leather scrub brush followed up by slightly damp (with ONR) microfiber towel.

This steering wheel was cleaned very gently with ONR and the below linked brush.

Leather & Vinyl Interior Scrub Brush

 

[LEDetailing]

^^^^ nice 50/50 ^^^^

I don’t think Lexol is a strong leather cleaner on seats, but it seems to work well on steering wheels. Extra soft toothbrushes work great for getting around stitching. Meguiar’s Quik interior detail gives the wheel a very nice feel. I think QID might add a hint of gloss and tad slickness so be careful.

 

[jwgreen6]

Does anyone use steam to clean a leather covered steering wheel? It seems to me that using a cleaner/conditioner will make the steering wheel slippery, or sticky.

 

[MarkD51]

I really like the Blackfire Interior Cleaner. It works very well on all surfaces and appears to be a very safe, well formulated product to use.

 

[MarkD51]

First time I tried BF Interior Cleaner, it was with a small free sample with an order. Liked it. and on my next order bought a pint bottle of the Cleaner. Was very impressed, used it neat to clean my entire interior, which I "thought" looked clean.

Same with the Steering Wheel, stitched Leather, and used Mike's method basically, and also a new soft Toothbrush to massage out the dirts at the stitching. Vast improvement on every surface.

Next nice AG sale I bought the large Jug, and as well the large Jug of Multi-Surface Protectant. Love both products, really top shelf stuff. Won't be without either anymore.

 

[Farmallluvr]

I use a degreaser soaked rag and grab and twist and back & forth then follow up with some leather conditioner

Mike's method intrigues me,time to get some microfiber gloves and try it

 

[Coleroad]

Blackfire Leather Complete works exceptionally well. Completely cleans without ever feeling overpowering on any surface.

+10 on this. Out of many different products I've tried over the years this is the only one I've ever liked for this application.