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Author Topic: Best way to clean your steering wheel  (Read 8454 times)

Offline Frenzy

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Best way to clean your steering wheel
« on: July 07, 2014, 02:38:47 pm »
So my steering wheel is getting progressively shinier as i've never cleaned it.

What do you do to get your wheel as OEM as possible and keep it that way?

What is/are the best product/s to use and the best technique/s?

Offline Simon_2.0t

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Re: Best way to clean your steering wheel
« Reply #1 on: July 07, 2014, 04:26:28 pm »
So my steering wheel is getting progressively shinier as i've never cleaned it.

What do you do to get your wheel as OEM as possible and keep it that way?

What is/are the best product/s to use and the best technique/s?

I've had good results with JML Magic Eraser (Flash also do one now). Carful tho as is taking a fine layer off, just make sure treat with leather conditioner after, I use Megauirs. Some pics earlier on my thread.

Si

Offline stetheo

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Re: Best way to clean your steering wheel
« Reply #2 on: July 07, 2014, 04:30:56 pm »
I use a combination of leather cleanser as a first step to help remove the grime giving it the shiny appearance and then follow this up with a good condition afterwards.

I currently am using a Angelwax combination which is okay - not as good as I had hoped. I found the gliptone leather conditioner a really great product.

Offline Veee-dubber

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Re: Best way to clean your steering wheel
« Reply #3 on: July 07, 2014, 04:42:24 pm »
MR SHEEN  :driver: :rolleye: :jumping:

Offline BarberVW

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Re: Best way to clean your steering wheel
« Reply #4 on: July 07, 2014, 05:42:09 pm »
I used Gliptone's cleaner and conditioner on mine. The cleaner did do a pretty good job, however I found the conditioner left the wheel feeling quite tacky in the hand. Does anyone know why this is?

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Offline Frenzy

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Re: Best way to clean your steering wheel
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2014, 05:49:31 pm »
Cheers for the replies fellas

Quote

I've had good results with JML Magic Eraser (Flash also do one now). Carful tho as is taking a fine layer off, just make sure treat with leather conditioner after, I use Megauirs. Some pics earlier on my thread.

Si

currently reading through your build thread Si and the work you have put in is EPIC  :notworthy:

« Last Edit: July 07, 2014, 05:54:17 pm by Frenzy »

Offline Frenzy

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Re: Best way to clean your steering wheel
« Reply #6 on: July 08, 2014, 02:38:12 pm »
I used Gliptone's cleaner and conditioner on mine. The cleaner did do a pretty good job, however I found the conditioner left the wheel feeling quite tacky in the hand. Does anyone know why this is?

I'm guessing here but i think you will have lifted body oils from the leather with the cleaner but then failed to remove them sufficiently and then 'sealed' them to the surface with the conditioner or the oils have mixed with the chemicals in the conditioner to produce a tacky finish. I'm guessing you still need to 'degrease' the wheel.

Having had a read up on leather on the internet, I'm thinking about doing the following:

1.) Warm a damp towel in the microwave
2.) wrap the steering wheel with the warm towel and leave for 20 mins to lift the body oils from within the leather
3.) use a cleaner to remove the oils from the wheel
4.) give the wheel a good wipe down with a damp cloth to remove the degreaser
5.) possibly use a leather protector or maybe just leave it as is...

My son's ill at the moment so i haven't got a chance to give it a go but once he's better i'll find some time to give this a go, unless the wife goes into labour and then i'll have to postpone it further!  :laugh: i guess  :evilgrin:

Offline SL4VE

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Re: Best way to clean your steering wheel
« Reply #7 on: July 08, 2014, 03:36:54 pm »
Cheers for the replies fellas

Quote

I've had good results with JML Magic Eraser (Flash also do one now). Carful tho as is taking a fine layer off, just make sure treat with leather conditioner after, I use Megauirs. Some pics earlier on my thread.

Si

currently reading through your build thread Si and the work you have put in is EPIC  :notworthy:



to much in one go. i find gliptone works better in thin layer(s)

Offline howie1987

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Re:
« Reply #8 on: July 08, 2014, 03:53:44 pm »
Ive been using a dfs cheerish
Leather cleaning kit.

Its for sofas etc but works just as good in the car seats and steering wheel.

Offline Beddie

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Re: Best way to clean your steering wheel
« Reply #9 on: July 08, 2014, 07:48:50 pm »
I used Gliptone's cleaner and conditioner on mine. The cleaner did do a pretty good job, however I found the conditioner left the wheel feeling quite tacky in the hand. Does anyone know why this is?

Leather 'conditioner' or oils are pretty much pointless on modern car leather surfaces, in fact they just help to attract and retain dirt making the leather lose it's matt finish quicker...

Modern leather is coated with a PU clear finish outer layer which conditioners and creams cannot penetrate, they just sit on the top attracting dirt, best to use a water based cleaner and protection layer for great results  :happy2:

I use the LTT auto kit, fantastic clean matt OE finish everytime  :happy2:


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Offline DANBOY66

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Re: Best way to clean your steering wheel
« Reply #10 on: July 08, 2014, 08:19:58 pm »
Autosmart g101 my wheel came up fantastic the red stitching proper stands out like its new  :happy2:

Just sprayed it on and used a detailing brush to agitate it then wiped it dry with a micro fibre cloth

Dan..

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Offline NathED30

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Re: Best way to clean your steering wheel
« Reply #11 on: July 09, 2014, 12:12:48 pm »
Dr leather wipes best I've used! :happy2:


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Re: Best way to clean your steering wheel
« Reply #12 on: July 10, 2014, 02:40:04 pm »
Dr leather wipes best I've used! :happy2:




+1  :happy2:

Offline Frenzy

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Re: Best way to clean your steering wheel
« Reply #13 on: July 13, 2014, 10:58:23 pm »
Finally got around to doing this today using the method i outlined earlier in the thread, only i couldn't keep the heat in the towel for 20 mins so that was left on for more like 10 mins. I used a bottle of leather cleaner we already have for the sofa and i used a soft bristle toothbrush to agitate. I also used a leather protector (not conditioner) so hopefully the effort lasts for a while.

It's looking very good now though it wasn't exactly terrible in the first place. There were a few shiny bits but now they are gone and i have a nice black matte finish all round. I also did the leather wrap on the handbrake  :innocent: Couldn't be arsed to do the gear knob - it doesn't look bad anyhow and if it is, it certainly isn't noticeable to the naked eye  :evilgrin:

Thanks for everyone's input into this thread - it's always good to hear tried and tested methods and then give them a go yourself  :happy2:

Offline TForrest94

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Re: Best way to clean your steering wheel
« Reply #14 on: July 14, 2014, 12:22:36 am »
Throw some pictures up of your success? I love detailing but leather has always thrown me off
As mentioned earlier I've used the flash pads and dr leather both are good but I'm always open to newer ideas which could be safer

Its just a way of life.