How do you clean Steering Wheels

[Kean]

I usually use a dampened towel for general wipe-downs and for periodic deeper cleanings I'll use LM Strong cleaner and a horse hair brush. I'll probably be crucified for even mentioning the use of any sort of protectant on a steering wheel but I have had good success with LM Protection Cream. After using it a couple of times on seating surfaces and liking the natural look/feel, I began using it on my steering wheels and shift knobs. I never felt that it made a notable difference in slickness of the finish/feel and looks very natural when dry (no shine, etc.).

 

[Accumulator]

... I'll probably be crucified for even mentioning the use of any sort of protectant on a steering wheel but I have had good success with LM Protection Cream...

Despite my having (good naturedly!) teased people on this thread for being so fastidious about their steering wheels, I will *not* give you any grief for using that on yours :grinno: I have Leather Doctor's Draggy Feel Protectant on the S8's wheel and shifter.

 

[togwt]

I usually use a dampened towel for general wipe-downs and for periodic deeper cleanings I'll use LM Strong cleaner and a horse hair brush. I'll probably be crucified for even mentioning the use of any sort of protectant on a steering wheel but I have had good success with LM Protection Cream. After using it a couple of times on seating surfaces and liking the natural look/feel, I began using it on my steering wheels and shift knobs. I never felt that it made a notable difference in slickness of the finish/feel and looks very natural when dry (no shine, etc.).

Leather's greatest enemies are; sun, heat, body oils, perspiration (that contains urea as well as organic salts and acids) and ultra violet radiation (UV), which dries the hide, fades the colour by bleaching, and can cause the leather to fail by drying out the fibres causing the urethane and / or the hide to crack.



A leather covered steering wheel is subjected to all of the above; so the use of a leather protection product should be of paramount importance

 

[Kean]

Leather's greatest enemies are; sun, heat, body oils, perspiration (that contains urea as well as organic salts and acids) and ultra violet radiation (UV), which dries the hide, fades the colour by bleaching, and can cause the leather to fail by drying out the fibres causing the urethane and / or the hide to crack.



A leather covered steering wheel is subjected to all of the above; so the use of a leather protection product should be of paramount importance

I hear ya. I mentioned the potential for negative feedback to my use of such products since I have run across others in the past who seem to feel it’s a safety issue. ….as if all protectants will leave a slick, slippery finish.



While the surfaces treated with the LM Cream do tend to feel smoother, I've never had an issue with the wheel getting away from me even with a light grasp. ….although I'm a little curious to try the Leather Doctor Protection-D Accum mentioned (for an even more appropriate finish for this sort of application). As long as it isn't “grabby” to the point that it’s “tacky” or “sticky”.

 

[Accumulator]

..I'm a little curious to try the Leather Doctor Protection-D Accum mentioned (for an even more appropriate finish for this sort of application). As long as it isn't “grabby” to the point that it’s “tacky” or “sticky”.

Heh heh, yeah...I was quite leery of it being some kind of, uhm...issue like that! But no, nothing like that at all. Dried/buffed to a "just right", nice and smooth feel, sorta like "squeaky clean" leather with a *very slightly* exaggerated texture (probably a matter of the texture not being "filled" with product or something like that)....hard to verbalize but I think you can get my drift.



I never had a problem with the LeatherMasters stuff either, but I gotta say that I do like the Leather Doctor Grabby Feel stuff a bit better for this application. No, I didn't bother redoing any of the other vehicles with it, but it's what I'm gonna use on the S8 from now on and I might think about it if I ever start caring about the other cars that much (probably use it on the Jag if/when I get it out of mothballs).