Re: Steering wheel cleaner
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.
Re: Steering wheel cleaner
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.
Re: Steering wheel cleaner
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.
Re: Steering wheel cleaner
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!
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler..._wheel_014.JPG
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...
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The car is red and I think the steering wheel used to be red?
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First I spray some cleaner onto the fingers and palm of a clean microfiber glove...
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Then after putting an orange nitrile glove on my hand, next I slip on the microfiber glove...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...wheel_011c.jpg
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Now it's real easy to clean all the circumference of the steering wheel without struggling or missing any sections....
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Just grip it and twist your hand a few times....
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And BOOM!
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Cleanliness!
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Then continue working your way around the steering wheel until it's completely clean....
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler..._wheel_018.JPG
Next, apply your dressing, for this I'm using the new BLACKFIRE Multi-Surface Dressing Concentrate diluted at 1:1 with water
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler..._wheel_020.JPG
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....
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How slick is that?
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Wipe wipe....
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler..._wheel_025.JPG
Looking so much better....
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Finishing the job....
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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!
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Perfect.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler..._wheel_037.JPG
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
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Re: Steering wheel cleaner
Thanks I’ll give the BLACKFIRE a try. It seems to have taken the shine out of the steering wheel.
Re: Steering wheel cleaner
Blackfire Leather Complete works exceptionally well. Completely cleans without ever feeling overpowering on any surface.
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Re: Steering wheel cleaner
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.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f5d13906f4.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...23b3cc4802.jpg
Leather & Vinyl Interior Scrub Brush
Re: Steering wheel cleaner
^^^^ 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.
Re: Steering wheel cleaner
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.