Cleaning Leather Steering Wheel?

[jbr1888]

Any ideas on how to clean this black stuff (dirt and dead skin, presumably) off of my leather steering wheel?

 

I tried meguires leather cleaner and then I tried Bick leather cleaner and didn't really get anywhere. 

 

It's actually not visible under usual lighting. This picture has a bright flashlight shining on the steering wheel. 

[Jus Cruisin]

That picture looks like the dye has come off. How old is the truck? 

[newdude]

What color is it supposed to be, brown?  Or black?  

 

Do you use hand lotions or have oiled or greasy or fuel covered hands?  Lots of death gripping the steering wheel?  

[jbr1888]

It’s a 2019. It’s supposed to be brown. 
 

my hands are usually clean with dry skin, but yeah, I do hold it with one hand at the top a lot, apparently. 

[AJMBLAZER]

Try Simple Green. 
 

Balistol might do it. 

[forest]

On my steering wheels this has been the actual leather breaking down from use.

 

I have bought leather steering wheel covers and hand stitched them on.  They are a pain in the butt ... but look nice.

 

I didn't use the same stitch pattern that they used from the factory but sewing this on by hand gave me a new appreciation for an OEM leather wrapped steering wheel.

Edited November 1, 2023 by forest

[Bikerjon]

23 hours ago, forest said:

On my steering wheels this has been the actual leather breaking down from use.

 

I have bought leather steering wheel covers and hand stitched them on.  They are a pain in the butt ... but look nice.

 

I didn't use the same stitch pattern that they used from the factory but sewing this on by hand gave me a new appreciation for an OEM leather wrapped steering wheel.

Ditto what Forest said. Looks like the leather is breaking down. Some of my older motorcycle jackets look like this. I don't think there is any way to restore this. Maybe replace the steering wheel? Be careful if considering Balistol (it smells like sh*t).

[repairman54]

It's worn off, not dirty. Got a lot of miles on it?

[KARNUT]

The only thing I put on my steering wheel is water on a towel. You don’t want to use an abrasive it wears it quicker. The other stuff makes it slippery. It’s just wearing. 

[diyer2]

Normal wear that can't be fixed. 

[jbr1888]

2 hours ago, repairman54 said:

It's worn off, not dirty. Got a lot of miles on it?

89k 

[Sqrls]

A new OEM steering wheel is surprisingly cheap on rock auto. Depending on trim between $100-200. My 2020 was starting to wear off as well at 100k but I ended up trading it in before swapping wheel. The refresh trucks use a different leather than the earlier trucks. 

[Jeff_C]

Stay away from the garbage "leather care/cleaners" they sell at Autozone, etc.  Find stuff called Leatherique.  It has a rejuvenator oil that's applied first, this works into the leather loosening up the dirt, grime, salt, etc.  Then apply the cleaner to remove the grime thus leaving clean, soft leather.

 

IIRC, it's available online at either autopia.com or autogeek.com