Useful Tips on How To Clean Your Steering Wheel

For most people, cleaning their steering wheel isn’t a priority when it comes to maintaining their vehicle. After all, a sticky steering wheel hardly seems like a big deal.

What they don’t know is that a dirty steering wheel can make you sick, especially with how often you touch it and come in contact with all that bacteria. For your own good, you should clean your steering wheel at least once a month.

How To Clean Your Leather Steering Wheel

Unsure of where to start when it comes to cleaning a leather steering wheel? Well, learning a few useful tips never hurt anybody. Here are a few examples that can make the entire process less challenging:

Prepare Everything You Need

To make things easier, prepare everything you need before getting started. You’ll need microfiber cloths, a cleaning solution, and a bucket of water. You might need a soft interior brush if you have to scrub out any stubborn stains, but a clean toothbrush can work too.

Use a Microfiber Cloth To Remove the Dirt

If you haven’t cleaned your steering wheel in a long time, you probably have a lot of layers of dirt and grime to get rid of. To start, apply the recommended amount of leather cleaner on your microfiber cloth, and then gently wipe the surface of your steering wheel to avoid scratching the leather.

Be sure to be thorough and clean your steering wheel’s front, top, and back.

Don’t Use All-Purpose Cleaners

All-purpose cleaners can be handy, but it’s best to keep them on the shelf when cleaning your leather steering wheel. All-purpose cleaners can damage the leather, which can be a lot more expensive to fix than a sticky steering wheel.

Instead, use a cleaner specifically formulated for your leather steering wheel. If you don’t have any, you can try using cleaners made for leather shoes instead.

Avoid Getting Solution Into the Buttons

Most modern cars have steering wheels with buttons that control the sound system, cruise control, and other systems. If you aren’t careful, the cleaning solution can seep into the buttons and cause them to malfunction.

Use a Second Cloth To Wipe Away Residual Dirt

Once you’ve wiped away that first layer of dirt, go back in with a clean microfiber towel to get rid of any leftover grime. Using the same microfiber towel will probably just spread all that grime around, making your steering wheel dirty all over again.

Apply Leather Conditioner

With your steering wheel squeaky clean, your job is almost done. All that’s left to do is apply a dime-sized amount of leather conditioner on your steering wheel. This isn’t a necessary step, but it’ll help make your leather feel soft and flexible.

Massage the conditioner into the leather using clean hands, and leave it to dry for about 30 minutes before rubbing away any excess with a clean microfiber towel.

The Best Steering Wheel Cleaners for Other Types

Despite their popularity, leather isn’t the only material steering wheels are made of. There are several types of steering wheels out there, and each one comes with its own special cleaning instructions. Here are some examples:

Faux Leather

Cleaning faux leather is a lot like cleaning real leather. You’ll need a cleaner that isn’t too harsh and a conditioner to refresh the faux leather. You can even find a lot of two-in-one products online that can clean and condition your steering wheel.

Plastic

Plastic steering wheels are a lot less sensitive than leather ones, but they still need a good cleaning every now and then.

You can use all-purpose cleaners on your plastic steering wheel. Just spray it onto a clean microfiber cloth and gently wipe the wheel.

Synthetic Resin

Unlike leather steering wheels, synthetic resin steering wheels are a lot easier to clean. They’re less sensitive to cleaning products, so you can use all-purpose cleaners or car wash shampoo.

If you’re going to use car wash shampoo, be sure to dilute it in water. Then, use a wash mitt to scrub it into your steering wheel before rinsing it off with water and drying it with a clean microfiber towel.

Microfiber

Cleaning microfiber steering wheels can be challenging, but with the right tools, it certainly doesn’t have to be. Invest in a good fabric cleaner that can get rid of all that dirt. Some fabric cleaners can even repel and protect your steering wheel from grime.

Apply the cleaner directly onto any stubborn stains, and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, use a soft-bristled brush to scrub the dirt away. Be extra careful when spraying the product. You don’t want to get any on your dashboard.

Suede

Did you know that suede is one of the most delicate steering wheel materials out there? Unlike plastic or synthetic resin, suede can bleed color. It can also be fragile and all too easy to rip with a hard brush.

Because of this, it’s best to use gentle cleaners and a soft microfiber cloth. If you want to avoid harsh chemicals altogether, you can use vinegar as an alternative to commercial cleaners.

Wood

Use furniture polish for wood steering wheels. Furniture polish helps clean and maintain the wood while protecting it from dirt and grime. Just buff it into your steering wheel using a microfiber cloth.

Make sure to wipe away all the cleaner from the wood, or your wood steering might get slippery, making it dangerous to use.