How to Clean Leather Steering Wheel

Leather wrapped steering wheels and leather covers on steering wheels tend to get worn out and shiny with use. Hence they require regular cleaning and maintenance to keep them looking fresh.

How to Clean Leather Steering Wheel

How to Clean Leather Steering Wheel

Steps for Cleaning a Leather Steering Wheel

  1. Wipe it down with a wet towel to soften the dirt.
  2. Directly spray good quality leather cleaner on the material.
  3. Gently rub with a soft, clean cloth with back and forth motions in small sections. Do not wipe too hard or you might damage the leather.
[N.B. An old cotton sock or terry cloth works well for this step. If you don’t want to spray directly onto the steering, you may spray on the cloth and then wipe.]
  1. For the hard-to-reach crevices and detailing, swap the cloth with a Q-tip for effective dirt removal.
  2. For dirt hidden between the leather grain, use a soft-bristled toothbrush in a slow, circular motion.
  3. Once you see that it is almost clean, wipe once in a 360-degree circle to ensure that the cleaning is uniform.
  4. Wipe with a clean wet towel.
  5. Finally, apply a leather protector (conditioner and restorer) of your choice and leave it on for some time.

If the steering wheel is very dirty or extra-grimy, you might need to repeat the above process a couple of times.

Tips

  • For sticky leather steering wheels, you can use a clean microfiber towel made damp in mild soap water for getting rid of the condition.
  • Steam clean perforated leather with the small brush attachment of a steamer to make it look like new.
  • If grease has accumulated on your steering wheel, get rid of it using a leather degreaser.

Dirt of any kind on white, tan, cream, beige and even black leather steering wheels in the interiors of your classy Audi or BMW make them look old. Just try these tips and tricks and you will have nothing to complain.