Today, I did the most thorough interior detail I've ever done (I'm not OCD), and all looks good, except the steering wheel. I was doing the seats with the stuff the dealer furnished (leather conditioner?) and figured that the wheel looked like it was leather (this is an 06 S ragtop w/ tuscan beige leather interior, but not the color matched wheel, shift boot, e-brake boot), so I used the same stuff. There was some residual gunk on the leather (about where I hold it) that wouldn't come off. What should I try next?? There are also some very faint stains on the silver painted trim (steering wheel again) that I can't get off. I tried Goo Gone there, but with only very limited success.

What did work well was wrapping Swiffers around a bamboo skewer to get into the cracks and get the dust out.

 

Sounds like you need to clean first, then condition. Do you have any leather cleaner?

 

No, that's the problem. I was hoping for a recommendation of one that has been found to work better than average
(and is generally available), so I could choose it on a basis other than excellence in packaging/marketing (coolest looking bottle).

 

I know that the Four Star leather cleaner DP sells works really well. Cleaned the leather wheel and seats in the Expedition this weekend with great results. Even the sticky stuff you get on the wheel came right off. Caution - a little goes a long way.

 

i would try some basic stuff first... like hot soapy water. what kind of
soap to use? id just use some handsoap cause it has conditioners in it.

just wring a towel in there (while slightly burning your hands) and
work it with moderate pressure.

so simple, huh?

btw davavd - you're now classified as OCD.

 

I love simple.
but,

 

That was a compliment, eh!

And even before you escalate to soapy water, you might want to try just plain water. I had a heck of a time getting anything to clean the grunge off of the beige arm rest in my pre-MINI-mobile and good ol' Universal Solvent ended up doing the trick better than anything else.

 

Based on kenchan's advice, I tried an old washcloth with warm water & Dawn dishwashing detergent, well wrung out. Judging by the color of the washcloth when I was done, it did the trick. Thanks. I toweled it dry and on the way to work this morning it felt brand new.

 

Glad to hear it's all clean. For future.. I got some Zaino leather cleaner and leather in a bottle for my mom. With a little elbow grease it took 12 years worth of topless w/ dog driving off of her leather interior. Brought it back to her and she said "Wow, it's glowing!"

 

Thanks, I believe I will try those.

 

old washcloth and warm water and dawn dishwashing detergent is
not really based off my advice.


i would use new or newer cloth (not to transfer old crap to the steering
wheel), hand soap (dishwashing soap takes out too much oil from
the leather), and use HOT water.

the crap that's on your steering wheel was basically baked on by
the sun and interior temps. the best way to remove it is to take it
back to its hot temps and wipe off.

but glad to hear you were able to get that crap off.

 

Sorry, I guess your advice just headed me in a general direction - straying from it was my idea . Perhaps "very loosely based" might have been more accurate. And, "old" meant retired from active duty in the bathroom, not dirty. Anyway, thanks again for your input.

STILL think I'm OCD?

 

hummmmm... post a few more credible posts and i'll reconsider.

 

Glad to hear you found success in cleaning your steering wheel! Steering wheel leather can become pretty nasty from our hands.

As kenchan mentioned, Dawn is very harsh on leather. No big harm done with just one time, but I would most definitely apply a good leather conditioner ASAP if you haven't already. This will help counteract the effect of the Dawn and replenish the oils.

-Heather