Dr. Woo
New member
I've done a few searches, so I've already gotten some info, but I'd like to present my situation to see if anyone has any additional tips.
I have a 2008 Volkswagen with a leather-wrapped wheel. I've done my best to try and keep its original grainy, matte finish, but the spots where I keep my hands most of the time (3:00 and 9:00) are becoming smooth and reflective. I spend a lot of time in my car, so despite having only owned it since October, I've put over 16000 miles on it (30 mile one-way commute every day).
The searches have come up with a couple of ideas, and judyb has really dashed a lot of conventional wisdom (at least what I'd considered conventional wisdom) about cleaning and protecting leather.
My question boils down to: Is it possible to restore the original factory finish of the steering wheel? I picked up a couple horsehair brushes and of course have the now-standard water:Woolite in a spray bottle, and I also own some 1Z Leather Conditioner which is what I'd been using with a microfiber cloth to clean/condition the wheel. Would scrubbing with a horsehair brush and the w:W combo remove some of those oils and restore the original finish? I'm sure many of you have lots of additional tips I may not have come across in my searches.
I have a 2008 Volkswagen with a leather-wrapped wheel. I've done my best to try and keep its original grainy, matte finish, but the spots where I keep my hands most of the time (3:00 and 9:00) are becoming smooth and reflective. I spend a lot of time in my car, so despite having only owned it since October, I've put over 16000 miles on it (30 mile one-way commute every day).
The searches have come up with a couple of ideas, and judyb has really dashed a lot of conventional wisdom (at least what I'd considered conventional wisdom) about cleaning and protecting leather.
My question boils down to: Is it possible to restore the original factory finish of the steering wheel? I picked up a couple horsehair brushes and of course have the now-standard water:Woolite in a spray bottle, and I also own some 1Z Leather Conditioner which is what I'd been using with a microfiber cloth to clean/condition the wheel. Would scrubbing with a horsehair brush and the w:W combo remove some of those oils and restore the original finish? I'm sure many of you have lots of additional tips I may not have come across in my searches.