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How to Clean a Leather Steering Wheel Download Article Co-authored by Angel Ricardo
Last Updated: April 22, 2025 References
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Cleaning off Everyday Dirt
|
Cleaning off Heavier Grime
|
Expert Q&A
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Tips
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Warnings
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This article was co-authored by Angel Ricardo. Angel Ricardo is the owner of Ricardo's Mobile Auto Detail headquartered in Venice, California. With over 10 years of experience in mobile detailing, Angel continues to attend auto detailing trainings to improve his customer service and auto detailing skills. This article has been viewed 65,313 times.
A leather steering wheel is regularly exposed to germs, dirt, and natural oils since you touch it every time you use your car. Over time, this residue build-up can leave your steering wheel looking overly shiny and make it harder to grip. Luckily, leather steering wheels are also easy to clean. Whether you're doing regular upkeep or a more thorough deep cleaning, all you need are a few simple products to make your leather steering wheel look brand new again!
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Cleaning off Everyday Dirt
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1 Brush the dirt off daily with a dry cloth. Keep a clean cloth in your glove compartment. The simplest way to prevent grimy build-up on your steering wheel is through regular maintenance. Every time you use your car, take a moment to wipe the steering wheel with the dry cloth. This removes dirt and prevents it from accumulating on the wheel.
2 Spray leather cleaner onto a microfiber towel. If your cleaner didn't come in a spray bottle already, transfer it into one. Spray the towel until it is saturated but not soaking.[1]XResearch source
You can try using the same cleaner that you would use on a pair of leather shoes.[2]XResearch source
If you don't have any leather cleaner at all, improvise by making a solution that is three parts water, one part multi-purpose cleaner.[3]XResearch source
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3 Wipe the cloth gently over the leather steering wheel. Start by wiping the entire wheel in a 360-degree turn. Then place the cloth over the wheel, grip the wheel through the cloth, and gently twist back and forth.[4]XResearch source Continue going over the steering wheel with the cloth to remove any residue.[5]X Expert Source Angel RicardoAuto TechnicianExpert Interview
4 Remove the leather cleaner with a wet cloth. Rinse a cloth in a little warm water until it is damp but not drenched, and then wipe the steering wheel to wash away any excess leather cleaner. Dry the wheel with a soft towel.[6]XResearch source
Be very thorough in washing the steering wheel if you have used a homemade water and multi-purpose cleaner solution, since multi-purpose cleaner can be a skin irritant.[7]XResearch source
5 Apply a drop of leather conditioner to the wheel with your hands. To maintain the suppleness of your steering wheel's leather, squeeze a dime-sized amount of conditioner into your palm and gently rub it into the wheel with your bare hands in a massaging motion. Let the conditioner dry for 30 minutes and then use a clean towel to remove the excess.[8]XResearch source You can do this once a week or so rather than every day.
If you don't have time to wait half an hour for the conditioner to dry, simply wipe off all the excess with a towel right away. Don't drive with the conditioner on the wheel, since it can be slippery and dangerous.[9]XResearch source
The conditioner creates a protective barrier on your steering wheel that cushions it from everyday wear and grime and repels stains.[10]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Cleaning off Heavier Grime
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1 Scrub the wheel with leather cleaner and a soft brush for a deeper clean. If you haven't been doing regular upkeep on your steering wheel, opt for a brush instead of a microfiber towel. Spray the leather cleaner directly onto the brush, taking care not to spray the dashboard, and gently scour the steering wheel to create a lather.[11]XResearch source
Immediately wipe the lather away with a clean, dry microfiber towel. Then rub your steering wheel down with a damp cloth and dry again with a towel.
If there is stitching on the wheel, use the brush to give a series of light taps to the fibers in between the threads. This tamping releases the dirt from the stitches.
You can improvise with a toothbrush if necessary.[12]XResearch source
2 Use leather cleaner with a scrubbing pad to remove serious grime. For heavy dirt build-ups on steering wheels that have previously been cleaned very infrequently, spray leather cleaner onto an interior scrubbing pad and wipe the wheel with short strokes. Before the cleaner dries, wipe it off with a microfiber towel.[13]XResearch source
Wipe the wheel down with a damp cloth to remove any excess leather cleaner and then dry with a soft towel.
3 Use a steam machine when you want to disinfect your steering wheel. If you have access to one, a steam machine is a great way to remove bacteria from the leather. Choose a steam machine with single-hole nozzle. Fill it with distilled water and put it on the medium setting, then spray the steering wheel. Work your way around the entire wheel, wiping the moisture off immediately as you go with a microfiber towel.
Remember to rotate the towel as you clean, to prevent the dirt and germs accumulated in the steam cleaning from being wiped right back onto the wheel.[14]XResearch source
You can purchase a steam machine at your local home improvement store or online.
4 Rub the wheel with leather degreaser to remove oil and grease stains. Degreaser, which comes as an aerosol spray, draws out the oil and grease and transforms them into a dry powder. Spray the degreaser onto a microfiber towel until it is saturated but not dripping and rub it all over the wheel. Wait while it dries into a powder. Once the powder is fully dry, you can wipe it off with a clean towel or brush.
The powder should be white. If it dries into a yellow color, there is still a lot of oil and grease left in your leather and you should repeat the degreasing process until the powder comes out white.
After degreasing the wheel, clean it again with leather cleaner and a microfiber towel, remembering to wipe it off afterwards with a clean wet cloth and then dry it with a soft towel.
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Expert Q&A
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Question Can you use Clorox wipes on a leather steering wheel? Angel Ricardo Auto Technician Angel Ricardo is the owner of Ricardo's Mobile Auto Detail headquartered in Venice, California. With over 10 years of experience in mobile detailing, Angel continues to attend auto detailing trainings to improve his customer service and auto detailing skills. Angel Ricardo Auto Technician Expert Answer Use leather cleaner and a microfiber cloth so you don't damage the leather. You can also use the leather cleaner to wipe down the other components in your car. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
Question How can I make my leather steering wheel look new? Angel Ricardo Auto Technician Angel Ricardo is the owner of Ricardo's Mobile Auto Detail headquartered in Venice, California. With over 10 years of experience in mobile detailing, Angel continues to attend auto detailing trainings to improve his customer service and auto detailing skills. Angel Ricardo Auto Technician Expert Answer Spray leather cleaner onto a microfiber towel and wipe the steering wheel down until there's no residue left. Leather cleaner is gentle enough to use without damaging the material. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1
Question What cleaner should I use for other surfaces in my car? Angel Ricardo Auto Technician Angel Ricardo is the owner of Ricardo's Mobile Auto Detail headquartered in Venice, California. With over 10 years of experience in mobile detailing, Angel continues to attend auto detailing trainings to improve his customer service and auto detailing skills. Angel Ricardo Auto Technician Expert Answer You can actually use leather cleaner to clean the other surfaces in your car as well. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 2
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Tips
In most cars, the center of the steering wheel is actually made of plastic or vinyl, not leather, but you can still use leather cleaner on it.[15]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Leather cleaners and conditioners help to protect and strengthen leather, preventing it from cracking and discoloring. These products also make leather easier to clean in the future. You may have heard of "oiling" leather, but avoid using oils on your leather because they actually cause it to deteriorate faster. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
You can replace the cracked or worn out leather on your steering wheel. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Warnings
Be gentle when you are cleaning your leather steering wheel. If you apply too much pressure when you rub and scrub the wheel, you can damage and discolor the leather.[16]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
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Co-authored by: Angel Ricardo Auto Technician This article was co-authored by Angel Ricardo. Angel Ricardo is the owner of Ricardo's Mobile Auto Detail headquartered in Venice, California. With over 10 years of experience in mobile detailing, Angel continues to attend auto detailing trainings to improve his customer service and auto detailing skills. This article has been viewed 65,313 times. 5 votes - 100% Co-authors: 5Updated: April 22, 2025 Views: 65,313 Categories: Car Maintenance and RepairArticle SummaryX
Cleaning your leather steering wheel regularly will keep it shiny, and all you need are a few simple products. Start by brushing any dirt off with a dry cloth. Then, spray a microfiber towel with leather cleaner until it’s damp. Use this to gently wipe down the steering wheel. Once it’s clean, use a cloth with warm water to remove the excess leather cleaner from the wheel, then dry it off with a clean cloth. Afterward, work a small amount of leather conditioner into the steering wheel with your hands. Let it dry for 30 minutes, then use a clean towel to wipe up any excess conditioner. To learn how to do a deeper clean, read on!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Co-authored by: Angel Ricardo Auto Technician This article was co-authored by Angel Ricardo. Angel Ricardo is the owner of Ricardo's Mobile Auto Detail headquartered in Venice, California. With over 10 years of experience in mobile detailing, Angel continues to attend auto detailing trainings to improve his customer service and auto detailing skills. This article has been viewed 65,313 times. 5 votes - 100% Co-authors: 5 Updated: April 22, 2025 Views: 65,313 Categories: Car Maintenance and Repair Article SummaryX
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1 Brush the dirt off daily with a dry cloth. Keep a clean cloth in your glove compartment. The simplest way to prevent grimy build-up on your steering wheel is through regular maintenance. Every time you use your car, take a moment to wipe the steering wheel with the dry cloth. This removes dirt and prevents it from accumulating on the wheel. 
2 Spray leather cleaner onto a microfiber towel. If your cleaner didn't come in a spray bottle already, transfer it into one. Spray the towel until it is saturated but not soaking.[1] 
3 Wipe the cloth gently over the leather steering wheel. Start by wiping the entire wheel in a 360-degree turn. Then place the cloth over the wheel, grip the wheel through the cloth, and gently twist back and forth.[4] Continue going over the steering wheel with the cloth to remove any residue.[5] 
4 Remove the leather cleaner with a wet cloth. Rinse a cloth in a little warm water until it is damp but not drenched, and then wipe the steering wheel to wash away any excess leather cleaner. Dry the wheel with a soft towel.[6] 
5 Apply a drop of leather conditioner to the wheel with your hands. To maintain the suppleness of your steering wheel's leather, squeeze a dime-sized amount of conditioner into your palm and gently rub it into the wheel with your bare hands in a massaging motion. Let the conditioner dry for 30 minutes and then use a clean towel to remove the excess.[8] You can do this once a week or so rather than every day. 
1 Scrub the wheel with leather cleaner and a soft brush for a deeper clean. If you haven't been doing regular upkeep on your steering wheel, opt for a brush instead of a microfiber towel. Spray the leather cleaner directly onto the brush, taking care not to spray the dashboard, and gently scour the steering wheel to create a lather.[11] 
2 Use leather cleaner with a scrubbing pad to remove serious grime. For heavy dirt build-ups on steering wheels that have previously been cleaned very infrequently, spray leather cleaner onto an interior scrubbing pad and wipe the wheel with short strokes. Before the cleaner dries, wipe it off with a microfiber towel.[13] 
3 Use a steam machine when you want to disinfect your steering wheel. If you have access to one, a steam machine is a great way to remove bacteria from the leather. Choose a steam machine with single-hole nozzle. Fill it with distilled water and put it on the medium setting, then spray the steering wheel. Work your way around the entire wheel, wiping the moisture off immediately as you go with a microfiber towel. 
4 Rub the wheel with leather degreaser to remove oil and grease stains. Degreaser, which comes as an aerosol spray, draws out the oil and grease and transforms them into a dry powder. Spray the degreaser onto a microfiber towel until it is saturated but not dripping and rub it all over the wheel. Wait while it dries into a powder. Once the powder is fully dry, you can wipe it off with a clean towel or brush. 
Angel Ricardo Auto Technician Angel Ricardo is the owner of Ricardo's Mobile Auto Detail headquartered in Venice, California. With over 10 years of experience in mobile detailing, Angel continues to attend auto detailing trainings to improve his customer service and auto detailing skills.