Even though steering wheels don’t look dirty, they’re very often one of the dirtiest parts in cars. That’s because they’re in contact with our hands all the time, and all the sweat, dirt, and other contaminants from our hands end up on the steering wheel. To keep the leather steering wheel in good condition, you need to clean it regularly. Today, we’ll show you a few quick steps for cleaning leather steering wheels.

leather steering wheel

Before we dive into the steps, I just want to show you a few reasons why it’s essential that you clean the leather steering wheel in your car:

  • You’ll remove all the bacteria from it
  • It’ll look nicer
  • Leather won’t crack and fade for a long time
  • It won’t be slippery, which increases the driving safety

How To Clean Leather Car Steering Wheel In 3 Simple Steps

I’ll try to be as simple as possible, so all the steps will be pretty short, but you’ll easily understand them.

What you’ll need:

As you can see, you only need a few basic auto-detailing products/equipment. So, without further ado, let’s see the steps.

1. Vacuum the steering wheel

You should first vacuum the steering wheel to remove as much dust and dirt as possible. That way, cleaning all the sweat, bacteria, and other contaminants will be much easier. Just grab your vacuum and thoroughly vacuum the steering wheel by using a brush attachment.

2. Spray cleaning solution on the brush and brush the steering wheel

Now you can spray a cleaning solution on the brush and gently rub the steering wheel with it. You can also spray the cleaner directly on the steering wheel, but I avoid doing that since it’s easy to apply too much of a solution, which isn’t good. Thoroughly brush the whole steering wheel, and pay attention to the stitches. They tend to hide a lot of dirt. I also suggest you repeat this step twice, just to make sure there’s nothing left on the steering wheel. Between brushing, make sure to wipe the dirt off with a clean microfiber towel.

cleaning leather steering wheel

3. Wipe it off with a clean microfiber towel

When you’re finished brushing, you can take a clean microfiber towel and wipe the steering wheel. A microfiber cloth will pick up all the residue, and it’ll also dry the steering wheel. After the initial wipe, you can spray some solution on the microfiber cloth and do the final wipe. That’ll make the steering wheel even cleaner – just don’t forget to buff it once you’re finished. Remember, if a leather steering wheel looks shiny, it’s dirty. Clean leather should always have a matte look, and that’s the best indicator of a clean leather steering wheel.

How Often To Clean Leather Steering Wheel

I like to clean it whenever I detail my car interior – which is ca. two times a month. And that’s what I suggest you do as well, especially during the summer when we’re all sweaty because of the heat. If you don’t drive your car very often, you can clean it once a month but avoid neglecting the steering wheel for a few months. Dirt, dust, sweat, and other contaminants will cause the steering wheel to crack, fade, and tear, making it look old and hackneyed.

Can You Apply Leather Conditioner On The Steering Wheel

I like to apply leather conditioner on the steering wheel. That way, the leather becomes softer, and the steering wheel will last even longer. Why didn’t I suggest you do that as well? Well, I suggest everyone do it, but if they know what they’re doing. Only high-quality, non-slippery leather conditioners should be used. Otherwise, it might become a safety concern. So, applying leather conditioner to the steering wheel is fine, but only if you’ll use proven leather conditioners that won’t make it slippery.

Bottom Line

Cleaning a leather steering wheel is pretty straightforward. And even better, it only takes 3-5 minutes to do it, and you’ll have a clean and, even more important, healthy steering wheel. I hope that the three steps I’ve shown you will help you clean the leather steering wheel properly without harming it.