Dave writes:
The bottom of the steering wheel in my A6 is starting to fade and crack a bit. I was hoping you could give me the definitive answer on what to use to clean and protect a leather steering wheel, as I would like to keep the damage from getting any worse. I’ve searched a number of forums, and every suggestion has been immediately followed by “never use that on your steering wheel!” so I’m unsure what to do.
Sajeev Replies:
I’ve tried several leather conditioners and protectants, but won’t recommend one over the other because I doubt there’s a big difference. But I like oil-based conditioners the best: they work quickly on dry leather (in warm weather, so take advantage of the greenhouse effect if you do anything right now) and last for several months.
My favorite leather conditioning regiment is soap and water for cleaning: this step is mandatory unless you wear rubber gloves and a poncho in your car. Clean the hides, and grab a bottle of baby oil.
That’s right: baby oil. Who cares what the e-haters say? It is cheap and has a mild, appealing scent. It works on leather that’s in fair condition, not in dire need of deep conditioning or restoration. Which sounds like current condition of your tiller. If baby oil doesn’t work try one of the more aggressive oil treatments instead.
More to the point, a car is kinda meaningless in the big picture. Which hurts to say, but it’s true. So if baby oil works on the most precious things on the earth, why would you not try it on your German leather goods? You have nothing to lose.
(Send your queries to mehta@ttac.com)
This is quite a good question, because the steering wheel on my Toyota Yaris is starting to wear away. Trouble is, it isn’t leather, but simple, honest to God, plastic.
Thoughts?
1) A new wheel.
2) http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5183H07HSDL._SL500_AA280_.jpg
That’s gotta be very common and cheap to get from a local junkyard. Odds are there are several sitting in a warehouse in your city. Should be 0.5-1 hour of labor to install, the only tough thing is following Toyota’s procedure for disconnecting the airbag beforehand.
Don’t know how it works outside of the states, but we can just borrow the steering wheel puller tool from a local parts store, find the instructions on the ‘net, and do the labor for free. It’s really easy.
I would think the Yaris would be covered under warranty if it’s from the states seeing that they have only been out a few years and the steering wheel should not be wearing out already.
Baseball glove oil, maybe? Though the last time I bought any it cost me about three bucks for four ounces and it looked and smelled exactly like 10w40
Bonus for the baby oil, your steering wheel will smell like a stripper. Or, if you wind up smelling like a stripper, you can blame it on the steering wheel.
On a more serious note, I’d probably use “leather food” or if that was unavailable, saddle soap or neatsfoot oil.
Baby oil is just mineral oil with a fragrance added. I’d use mineral oil to avoid the ode de stripper.
Thanks for the suggestions. I was thinking about using Zaino Z-9 and Z-10 on it, as it seems like most people swear by that stuff, at least on their seats. Yes, no? I’ve used Meguiar’s leather conditioners before, and they leave the leather very greasy for several days which you definitely don’t want on your steering wheel. Zaino isn’t supposed to have that problem.
I’ve also seen several suggestions specifically recommending *against* using oil based conditioners, something about not being necessary due to the oil from your hands or some such.
I use Meltonian neutral shoe cream — available at most shoe repair shops. Don’t use wax polishes (e.g. Kiwi). Keeping your car out of the sun is an even better solution.
Twotone
Seems like baby oil would stink and be dangerously slippery. If the wheel is deteriorating badly, it could make the material rub off or get gooey even worse. Unfortunately once the steering wheel is cracked, there aren’t many quick fixes except to cover it. Which tends to look really bad. It needs to be re-stiched or completely replaced. Should cost somewhere around $700 for a brand new one. Much less for a junkyard one. Plus installation.
Baby oil and leather… reminds me of my College years.
Saddle soap. Look up Tack Shops in your area. Get your gf some jodhpurs while you are it, they are hot.
I know Lexol has an entire rant against using saddle soap, it’s too alkaline and damages leather yada yada ya. But I despise their leather cleaning solution, it barely cleans anything, and it leaves a tacky feel behind from it’s glycerine content.
I prefer using the Turtle Wax Ice interior cleaner, it doesn’t leave any residue, it smells nice, and supposedly leaves an UV protectant behind.
if you like baby butt scent and that it never dries, fine, use baby oil.
If you like that it never dries but not the scent, mineral oil.
Its cheapest when labeled as laxative, I pay $4 a quart somewhere, forget if Rite aId or Wally World.
When labeled as food grade wood oil its about $12 a half pint at local hardware store. I think $3 a pint at Ikea.
I use it only on wood, myself.
For leather I would use Lanolin.
Why is the bottom suffering, is the Sun not on top?
I’ve used Rejuvenator Oil from http://www.leatherique.net on many leather interiors. Excellent product. No connection with the company.
It’s one area on the bottom left of the wheel. The gray finish has worn off somewhat and its slightly cracked. It’s on the outer edge of the wheel and not the front, so you can’t really see it unless you look for it. I would rather not spend the money to have the wheel recovered or replaced. I just want to get some kind of protectant on there to hopefully keep it from getting any worse.
The top of the wheel that is most exposed to the sun seems fine, so I don’t think that’s the issue. I do most of my driving with my right hand, so I’m not sure why its the bottom left that is wearing.
Do you wear jeans and drive with your knee alot?