Tacky Steering Wheel

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Andrewdugas

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Good Morning All,
I am new to the forum, as a member, however I have been reading through for tips a lot.

I have an interesting problem that eludes me for the moment. Maybe someone can provide some outside input.

I have a 2013 Ram 1500. I've been really nitpicky about keeping it up since I bought it. However, leaving work the other night my hands may not have been as clean as they could be. I decided to give my wheel a quick wipe down with meguiars leather cleaner and conditioner, after doing my center console. I have read a few nightmare stories about the product, and that has me a little leery altogether. I just got meguiars, because I'm a big fan of their ultimate compound and NXT tech wax. However, to my point, my steering wheel is now tacky. I have read through other posts, although the majority seem to be with regard to leather wheels.

However, I did take note from the other posts an attempted a cleaning with hot water and just a touch of Dawn dish soap. It doesn't seem to have helped too too much. But, I will say there was a small improvement. I cleaned the wheel with a terry cloth towell.

I'm trying to avoid experimenting too much, for fear of damaging the wheel in my brand new truck (my baby, haha). If anyone has run into this in the past and has found a solution, I would really appreciate any advice. Thank you very much, in advance!
 
Do you have any APC or a dedicated leather cleaner?
 
It's more than likely residue from the dish detergent making the steering wheel sticky. My wife used it once on her steering wheel and it too became sticky! Use some leather cleaner and conditioner to get the sticky off and the put one of these on! It's neoprene, grippy, soft, and thin. And my heated steering wheel works just fine with it on! Walmart...$4.99!

 
It could be tacky from begin clean but meguiars leather condioner/cleaner leaves the surface tacky at time use woolite or a apc to get rid of the tackyness
 
I do not have a dedicated leather cleaner. I hate to admit it, but I cheaped out and bought a combo. The only interior cleaner I have is an old bottle of meguiars interior. It's like 8 years old, and I'm not sure I trust it. Anything that you've use that worked great, I'm all ears... Er... Eyes.

Also, thank you for your reply!
 
I have a 2013 Ram also with all leather.
I recently used CG leather cleaner and CG leather serum after with great luck.
Not sure their durability (time) claim is as good as they say but it did make the leather very soft and smooth.
 
Andrewdugas said:
I do not have a dedicated leather cleaner. I hate to admit it, but I cheaped out and bought a combo. The only interior cleaner I have is an old bottle of meguiars interior. It's like 8 years old, and I'm not sure I trust it. Anything that you've use that worked great, I'm all ears... Er... Eyes.

Also, thank you for your reply!
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Cloth and some white vinegar in a bucket of hot water and a few wipes should help get the sticky out. I'm assuming you have a leather wrapped wheel?
 
Also, and because of your suggestions, I rummaged through my "car care" kit they gave me with my ram. I have a bottle of Mopar Total Clean-All Purpose Cleaner. Does that seem like what I'm in need of? Forgive my ignorance.
 
Just02896, I just have the base model plastic steering wheel. Thank you!
 
Andrewdugas said:
Also, and because of your suggestions, I rummaged through my "car care" kit they gave me with my ram. I have a bottle of Mopar Total Clean-All Purpose Cleaner. Does that seem like what I'm in need of? Forgive my ignorance.
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At this point you should probably refrain from adding to the stickiness by using yet another surfactant (cleaner). If this is in fact the reason for the stickiness, you just need to remove the residue from the previous cleaning. Try a bucket of hot water and a half a cup of vinegar. After that wipe down, grab another cloth with just hot water on it and wipe off again. :-)

Woolite also works well for sticky steering wheels!
 
If you have a basic plastic steering wheel you can use a lightly diluted APC on a microfiber towel, rub it in, then rub if off with a damp microfiber and it should be as good as new!
 
I found the soapy type cleaners work better than the all purpose type ones in preventing tackiness.

I like Mothers VLR as a one step steering wheel cleaner on my cars.
 
I really appreciate all of the great advice. I think I will try starting out with the hot water with diluted vinegar, then go from there. I owned a ranger before this, and somehow the wheel had dried out and cracked. I'm not sure what the previous owner did, but my goal is to avoid that and be as gentle as possible.

I will have to try it, tomorrow. My doors are currently frozen solid, thanks I the freezing rain we're getting in PA. But, I will be sure to update with the results.

Thanks again! Yinz are awesome!
 
Turtle wax ICE interior cleaner and a microfiber towel do a wonderful job of cleaning up the steering wheel and it can be used for the entire interior, its like $9 but it last for a while...I'm just up I-79 in Erie so I know what this crappy winter weather can do to a car or truck

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using AG Online
 
I apologize for the extremely long follow up time on this. Just0289, thank you! For that matter thank you all. Ultimately, the two bucket hot water and vinegar did the trick. Steering wheel is like brand new. I've also noticed some stickiness on my dash (it's probably been there since I bought the truck. My habit is to dry wipe with a microfiber towel, just to remove dust. I will likely use the same technique on it, in the spring. Thanks again, yinz are awesome!
 
Andrewdugas said:
I apologize for the extremely long follow up time on this. Just0289, thank you! For that matter thank you all. Ultimately, the two bucket hot water and vinegar did the trick. Steering wheel is like brand new. I've also noticed some stickiness on my dash (it's probably been there since I bought the truck. My habit is to dry wipe with a microfiber towel, just to remove dust. I will likely use the same technique on it, in the spring. Thanks again, yinz are awesome!
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Glad to hear you've remedied the sticky wheel! Sometimes the most simplistic methods work the best! :-)
 
I know this is an old post, buy t I have similar issue on a leather wrapped Infiniti steering wheel. Is two bucket method with vinegar safe for letter wrapped wheels?
 
kamisn said:
I know this is an old post, buy t I have similar issue on a leather wrapped Infiniti steering wheel. Is two bucket method with vinegar safe for letter wrapped wheels?
Click to expand...

I would use a dedicated leather cleaner cut 50/50.
 
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