16 Best Steering Wheel Cleaners for 2023 [With Tips and Tricks]

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What if I told you that 80% of the germs that make you sick are on your hands? Do you also know which part of the car directly contacts your hands? You’re right; it’s the steering wheel! Due to bacteria, dirt, sweat, body oil, and other things on your hands, the steering wheel is the dirtiest and least clean part of the car’s interior.

If you don’t keep the wheels clean, they will get cracks, lose their shine, and stick, which will make driving difficult. Soap, detergents, leather conditioners, or even wooden pool toys can be used to clean the steering wheel.

The best way to clean the inside of your car is with a steering wheel cleaner. However, there is no cookie-cutter solution for this job. Here is a full guide on how to clean the inside of your car’s wheels, including the types, best brands, suggestions, and the whole process.

What is a Steering Wheel Cleaner?

A liquid, a creamy substance, or a gel can be used to clean the steering wheel of a car. You can also use a soft cloth or sponge to clean your car’s steering. But the liquid or lotion-type steering serves the purpose to its best. Car steering goes dirty, dusty, and grime-smeared rapidly. Given that it is contacted at the ride, it should remain clean and so require scrubbing at regular and short intervals. To keep it in perfect shape, it needs to be cleaned once a week.

Put some cleaner on the steering wheel, scrub it in a circle, and then wipe it with clean, soft clothing. So, it gets rid of dirt, grease, and other things on the steering wheel’s surface. Make sure you clean the top, bottom, sides, and sides of the steering wheel. Rinse the area with water to get rid of any leftover cleaner when you’re done.

How Can You Make Your Steering Wheel Look New?

To take care of your car’s steering wheel, all you need is the right cleaner and a good microfiber cloth. Regardless of whether your steering wheel is made of real or faux leather, a microfiber towel and a good cleaner are all you need to remove the dirt. Make your steering wheel look new again!

However, if you have an Alcantara steering wheel, you will need a suede brush. This is the best tool for steering wheels made of Alcantara, which is a man-made material that looks like suede. The bristles on a suede brush are made of rubber, which won’t hurt the soft texture of the material.

The way to clean is quick and easy. All you need to do is gently rub the steering wheel in a back-and-forth motion with the suede brush while the engine is off. Be sure to brush the backside of the steering wheel as well, to remove any built-up dirt. Do this every week to keep your wheel looking good.

Read More: How to Clean Leather Car Seat

How Often Should You Clean Your Leather Steering Wheel?

In general, every few months you should clean your leather steering wheel. But if you see a buildup of dirt, grime, and oil on your steering wheel, you should clean it right away.

Because of the moisture in the air and sweat on your hands, leather steering wheels tend to get dirty faster in wet, damp, and even warm places. If you live in these types of environments, we encourage you to clean your leather steering wheel more frequently.

Importance of Cleaning Steering Wheel Regularly

When people clean their cars, they often forget to clean the steering wheel. You touch it every time you get in your car, so it’s important to keep it clean. Here are a few reasons why you should regularly clean your steering wheel:

First of all, a dirty steering wheel can be a place where bacteria can grow. Studies tell there can be more than a hundred different types of bacteria on a steering wheel. So, if you don’t clean your steering wheel often, it’s likely that every time you drive, you’re moving bacteria from your hands to your face and mouth.

Two, a dirty steering wheel can also be dangerous. It can make your hands feel sticky or even like they are on fire every time you drive. This is especially true if you’re driving with gloves on. The steering wheel will be less stable than usual, making it harder to control the car and turn it in the right direction. So, it’s important to clean your steering wheel often to avoid any safety problems.

Last but not least, a dirty steering wheel can also look bad. Even though it might not look too bad when it’s dirty, you’ll want to clean it right away, especially if it’s a nice car that’s always clean.

How to Choose The Best Steering Wheel Cleaner?

For those looking to regularly maintain the cleanliness of the steering wheel, it’s best to choose a high-quality cleaner. But which cleaning products are worth buying, and which ones should you skip?

There are many different kinds of these products on the market, so it’s important to do some research before you buy one. Some people wash their steering wheels with a mixture of dish soap or car shampoo and water, but this can cause the wheel to wear out faster.

If you’re looking to keep things nice and tidy without hassle, there are many great products in the market, including:

1. Car Guys Detailing Super Cleaner

The best overall steering wheel cleaner for a variety of steering wheel materials is Car Guys Detailing Super Cleaner. This mega cleaner can be used to clean fake and real leather, upholstery, plastic, vinyl, rubber, and even wood steering wheels that have been finished. It’s powerful enough to be effective and gentle enough to not damage your surfaces.

The Car Guys Detailing Super Cleaner can be used on carpet, metal, canvas, and more, in addition to steering wheel materials. This means that it can be used to clean the whole car, not just the steering wheel.

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2. Nexgen Interior Cleaner

To keep your car looking like new, you need a good interior cleaner. The Nexgen Interior Cleaner is a great choice that will clean your car’s interior and protect it from the damage that dirt and grime can cause. This cleaner is easy to use and will make your car look shiny and new. It has a formula that blocks UV rays.

This is a top-notch cleaner that will make your steering wheel look new again. In fact, Nexgen Interior Cleaner is one of the best cleaners you can buy for cleaning your steering wheel, dashboard, and any other hard, non-porous surface. In fact, it can be used on any surface and won’t hurt the surface of your steering wheel.

3. Chemical Guys Leather Cleaner & Conditioner

Read on if you want to know how to clean the material on your steering wheel. The best steering wheel cleaner for leather is Chemical Guys SPI 109 16 Leather Cleaner & Conditioner. This kit has both a cleaner to get rid of dirt and grime and a conditioner to bring back the soft feel and rich smell of real leather.

4. Chemical Guys SPI-22016

The Chemical Guys SPI-22016 is another interior cleaner that can be used for many different things. They like the low price and the fact that it doesn’t make surfaces look shiny. There are, however, a number of reports that surfaces change colour after use.

5. Cadillac Leather Cleaner

This Cadillac Leather Cleaner can be used on anything leather, from shoes to a car’s steering wheel. The formula is made to work well with all colours and types of leather, even the smoothest ones. This is what a good leather cleaner should do, after all.

I recommend applying a leather conditioner after using this product. This will help you keep the leather hydrated and look like new. The conditioner will prevent the leather from drying, as well as cracks from showing — leather’s biggest foe.

6. Sonax 206141 – Best Upholstery and Alcantara Cleaner

The Sonax 206141 is the way to go if the inside of your car is made of Alcantara. It’s a foamy cleaner for upholstery that does a great job on Alcantara and other similar materials, which are often used to make steering wheels. It not only cleans Alcantara, but it also makes it look and feel even better. This is one of the best ways to clean your steering wheel because it is easy to use and does a good job.

But we have some worries about it, even though it works well for Alcantara steering wheels. First of all, it still only works in a small number of situations. It’s not the best thing to do if you don’t have an Alcantara steering wheel.

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7. Adam’s Leather Care Kit

Adam’s Leather Care Kit comes next. This cleaner is only for leather items, like steering wheels. If you buy it, you will see that it comes in two bottles, one with the cleaner and the other with the conditioner. It’s not as general as other products, but it works great if you have a leather wheel.

This cleaner for the steering wheel is made in the U.S. and usually comes in two 16-ounce bottles. It has gotten great reviews from thousands of happy customers on Amazon.

8. Carfidant Ultimate Car Interior Cleaner

The next option is Carfidant Ultimate Car Interior Cleaner. This product is one of the best-selling cleaners and claims to be able to clean any leather or vinyl. It doesn’t come with a conditioner, but you can buy that separately.

For easy use, each kit comes with a sprayer cap and a microfiber towel. This product doesn’t need much to do its job, and the 18-ounce bottle will last a long time.

9. 3D LVP Interior Cleaner

If you want a cleaner for your steering wheel that works well on all kinds of surfaces, this one from 3D might be just what you need. It’s called LVP Interior Cleaner, and it can be used on almost any surface inside your car.

We wouldn’t use it on cloth upholstery because it works on leather, vinyl, and plastic. But other than that it’s an excellent choice for all kinds of upholstery and interior surfaces. It’s also available for a fair price considering the quality of the cleaner that you’re getting.

10. Armor All Multi-Purpose Cleaner

Armor All Multi-Purpose Cleaner is the best product you can buy to clean the steering wheel in your car for the least amount of money that still does a great job. As the name suggests, it is a cleaner that can be used on many different surfaces.

Armor All Multi-Purpose Cleaner is one of the best-selling car cleaning products on the market today because it can be used for so many different things and is inexpensive. Even better, the price makes this one of the best products to think about if you plan to do a lot of car detailing. Still, even though it’s cheap and works, it’s not quite as good as the more expensive options.

11. Interior Detailer Spray

It’s made to clean and protect the surfaces inside your car, so it might be a great product to use on your seats, dashboard, and other areas. So, interior detailer spray can help you keep your car’s value and keep it looking new for longer.

Over time, dirt, dust, grime, and other things can build up on your steering wheel. But you can easily clean your racing steering wheel, which is more open to the elements and human touch, with a high-end cleaner like interior detailer spray. This detailer spray is unbeatable if you want to clean and disinfect the steering wheel and other interior surfaces often.

12. ForceField Fabric Cleaner

Microfiber steering wheels are soft to the touch, but they can be hard to clean. ForceField Fabric Cleaner is the best thing to use to clean a microfiber steering wheel. This product is known for getting rid of tough stains and doing a deep clean. As its name suggests, it also keeps dirt and oil from sticking, so it won’t stain again.

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13. The Original Bee’s Wax Furniture Polish

Wood steering wheels are old-fashioned and classic, and if you keep them in good shape, your car will look even better. Use a microfiber cloth and wood polish to clean a wood steering wheel.

The Original Bee’s Wax Furniture Polish is a great polish for steering wheels made of wood. It brings back the wood’s natural beauty and protects it from oil and acid damage. Perhaps most importantly, it doesn’t feel greasy. This polish doesn’t build up, leave fingerprints, or stick to your hands. The Original Bee’s Wax Furniture Polish can also be used to clean and shine things like stainless steel and mirrors.

14. Meguair’s Quik Interior Detailer Cleaner Spray

The best cleaner spray for plastic steering wheels is Meguair’s Quik Interior Detailer Cleaner Spray. The product works well on leather, vinyl, rubber, and metal. To clean the wheel, spray the cleaner on it and wipe it off with a microfiber towel. It works very well and doesn’t make you look or feel greasy. Also, the product has ingredients that block the sun to keep the colour from fading.

15. Mr. Pink Super Suds Superior Surface Cleaner Car Wash Shampoo

Use the Mr. Pink Super Suds Superior Surface Cleaner Car Wash Shampoo to clean a steering wheel made of synthetic resins. The shampoo for washing cars can get rid of all the dirt and grime on your steering wheel made of synthetic resin.

The product comes in 4-ounce, 16-ounce, 64-ounce, and 1-gallon sizes. Prices range from $3.49 to $24.99, depending on the size. Mix water into the solution to make it less strong. Then, rinse the steering wheel with the solution you just made and clean it with a wash mitt. Lastly, rinse them with water to get rid of the suds, and dry them with a microfiber towel.

16. Goo Gone Original

A sticky steering wheel can be annoying and take your attention away from driving. Use Goo Gone Original to clean a steering wheel that is stuck. Put the product on the wheel of the car. Let it sit for 8–10 minutes, wipe it down, and wash with hot soapy water.

Common Steering Wheel’s Composite Material?

Before you clean, always check the owner’s manual to find out what to use. If you can’t find the manual, search for it online.

There are many different kinds of steering wheel cleaners on the market today, and each one is made for a certain kind of steering wheel. For the sake of your steering wheel, you should know what kind of cleaner to use.

Plastic
Leather
Synthetic Resins
Faux Leather
Suede
Natural Wood

Before you start cleaning your steering wheel, you should ask a professional if you don’t know what kind of material it is made of.

How to Clean Your Steering Wheel?

If you don’t know how to clean a dirty steering wheel, the best thing to do is to look in the owner’s manual for your car for instructions and suggestions. The owner’s manual should tell you if there are any parts that cleaning products could damage. If your car has an aftermarket steering wheel, check with the maker to see how to clean it. When you clean your steering wheel, make sure you look at it from all sides. People also often use a pad to clean the inside.

Microfiber cloths can be used to clean, get rid of dirt, or even stir things up.

You can Read: How to Clean Your Car

Natural Wood Steering wheel

Wood steering wheels aren’t very common, and most of the cars that have them are old or classic. They are made from different kinds of wood, like maple, mahogany, and walnut. Please be careful when cleaning wood steering wheels. Too much of any cleaning solution can crack the wood, so don’t use too much.

Cleaning Steps

If your steering wheel is made of wood, wipe it down with a dry cloth and put some wood polish on it. Do not clean it with soap, water, or any other general cleaner.
Use a second cloth to make sure that all of the residue is gone, and then rub the steering wheel gently.

Alcantara Steering Wheel

For cleaning Alcantara, you should use a product made specifically for Alcantara, like Sonax Alcantara & Upholstery Cleaner, along with a soft-to-medium detailing brush or a suede brush. If you don’t have any of these things, you can always use a clean toothbrush.

Cleaning Steps

Most of these Alcantara cleaners come in the form of a mousse, so you can use them directly on the Alcantara or on a brush, whichever you prefer. Move the brush around on the wheel for 20 to 30 seconds.
Take a microfiber cloth and rub it gently over the surface of the wheel to remove any dirt or dust.
Use a very soft brush to make the Alcantara surface “stand up” again after cleaning it.

Plastic Steering Wheel

It’s easy to clean a plastic wheel. I usually tell people to use an All-Purpose Cleaner mixed with water in a spray bottle as a cleaning solution. For example Carpro Multi-X. The dilution ratio can be changed based on how dirty the steering wheel is.

This is probably the cheapest way to clean a steering wheel (other than using soapy water, which I usually don’t recommend because it might not get all the dirt off a very dirty wheel). You will also need some microfiber cloths to move the solution around and wipe up any extra.

Cleaning Steps

The APC should be sprayed right onto the microfiber cloth. Do not spray the solution directly on the steering wheel. If you do, the cleaner could get all over the dashboard, which would make it take longer to clean.
Put your hand on top of the microfiber cloth and place it on the wheel. You can clean the front, top, and back of the wheel by turning the microfiber around it. Work all the way around the edge of the wheel. When using pressure on plastic, you don’t have to be too careful because it’s usually not fragile enough to hurt. Make sure to clean the middle of the wheel as well, but watch out for buttons and other things on the surface that you may need to be careful of.
Using a second microfiber cloth, wipe the steering wheel one last time to remove any remaining residue. I usually don’t recommend adding extra products to plastic (to protect it, for example) because they could make the steering wheel more slippery. For plastic wheels, it’s best to keep things simple.

Genuine Leather Steering Wheel

Leather is often found in luxury or high-specification cars made in the present day. Most of the time, they are made of a strong material like leather and have a comfortable grip. Because you don’t want to break them, they take a little more care than regular plastic. When you clean with a towel, if you use too much pressure or a cleaner that is stronger than it should be, it can damage the material by drying it out.

Cleaning Steps

The leather cleaner should be sprayed on a brush made for cleaning leather.
Scrub, but don’t use too much force.
Wipe off any leather cleaner that is left over.
Use a conditioner or UV protection on the leather.

Faux Leather Steering Wheel

I would recommend using a product like Carpro Inside and an interior cleaning brush to clean a steering wheel that looks like leather. The brush doesn’t have to be super soft, but it shouldn’t be too hard either.

Cleaning Steps

Put the product right on the cleaning brush and move it around on the surface of the wheel until it starts to foam up.
Use a microfiber towel to wipe off any extra product. If the surface is still a little sticky after you’re done, spray a little water on it and use a clean towel to wipe away any leftover product.

Synthetic Resins Steering Wheel

Most people get synthetic resin and plastic mixed up. Synthetic resin looks like plastic when it’s used to cover a steering wheel. The mechanics can’t damage the wheel because it is painted with polish.

Cleaning Steps

First, use a dry cloth to clean the wheel. Mix water and soap together in the spray bottle.
Clean the middle, top, bottom, and front of the wheel. Spray some of the cleaning solutions on the cloth, and then gently rub the wheel. Do this for a few more Use a damp cloth to clean the wheel, then dry it off.
Use a damp cloth to clean the wheel, then dry it off.

Metal Steering Wheel

Use some water and a damp microfiber towel to clean the metal. After that, use a dry microfiber to dry it. To make it shine again, you can also use a metal polish. If it’s really dirty and won’t come clean with water, you can use an APC or all-purpose cleaner.

Cleaning Steps

Wet a microfiber towel with a little water and wipe the surface.
Once it’s clean, use a dry towel to get rid of any remaining water.

Why Do Steering Wheels Get Dirty?

Most of the parts of a steering wheel are leather or other smooth materials that are easy to get dirty. Dirt and grime from your hands can build up on the steering wheel over time, making it hard to hold. This can make it hard to drive safely and hard to control the car.

There are several things that can make steering wheels dirty. First, your hands have natural oils that can get on the steering wheel and make it slippery. Second, you probably touch other things during the day and then grab the steering wheel. Some of these things are door handles, armrests, shifters, and more. Dirt and grime can get on your steering wheel from all of these things.

A steering wheel cover is a smart way to keep the steering wheel from getting dirty in between cleanings. Leather is a better material for a cover.

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Tips to Clean a Steering Wheel

At least once a month, clean the steering wheel.
It would be better to put cleaning the steering wheel on your list of things to do for the inside of your car.
Because the chemicals in steering wheel cleaners are dangerous, you should wear protective gear like gloves and goggles when you clean.
Choose the product based on the material of your steering wheel.
Don’t scrub the steering wheel, and don’t treat it too roughly.
Don’t use too much; only spray the right amount.

Conclusion

We’ve talked a lot about how to clean the steering wheel. We learned what kinds of things are used to make the steering wheels. We can remember that these were made of plastic, fake leather, vinyl, and Alcantara. All of these materials need to be cared for in different ways, and you can’t use the same cleaner on all of them.

Then, we talked about why it’s important to clean your steering wheel. As we already said, there were three main reasons. The first one was that bacteria can grow on a dirty steering wheel. The second reason is that a dirty steering wheel could be dangerous. Last but not least, a dirty steering wheel can also look bad. Your car should always look nice and clean because it says a lot about you and how you live.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Steering Wheel Cleaner

What is the best steering wheel cleaner?

There is no one best way to clean every kind of steering wheel. Find out what kind of material your steering wheel is made of so you can find the best cleaner for it. Some of the best steering wheel cleaners on the market are Chemical Guys, CAR GUYS, and Armor All.

What’s the best way to clean a steering wheel?

A microfiber cloth is a great tool, but you should also use a dedicated cleaner because the skin, oils, and bacteria on your hands will always end up on the steering wheel.

How do you clean a dirty steering wheel?

Use the steam cleaner to clean the surface of your steering wheel. As you go, use a microfiber towel to wipe away any dirt that has built up. Work all around the area to loosen the dirt and kill any bacteria that might be there. When you’re done, use a clean microfiber towel to dry the surface.

How do you remove buildup from the leather steering wheel?

First, use a dry cloth to brush off any dirt. Then, spray a microfiber towel until it is wet with leather cleaner. Use this to clean the steering wheel with care. Once the wheel is clean, use a cloth dampened with warm water to wipe off any extra leather cleaner. Then, dry it with a clean cloth.

Is vinegar safe for leather steering wheels?

If you really want to do it yourself, then yes, vinegar can be used to clean leather and it won’t hurt it. One problem, though, is that the steering wheel may smell like vinegar if the sun shines on it through the windshield.

How Do You Fix an Old Steering Wheel?

To fix up an old steering wheel, you need to take it off, clean it (depending on what it’s made of), fill in any cracks or holes with epoxy or putty, sand the surface until it’s smooth, prime, paint, and seal it. After sanding, you can also choose to cover it with whatever material you want.

Can You Use Alcohol to Clean Your Leather Steering Wheel?

It’s not a good idea to clean leather steering wheels with alcohol. Alcohol is a solvent, and it can hurt the thing it is used on.

Can You Use Clorox Wipes on a Leather Steering Wheel?

Clorox wipes are disinfecting wipes that can be used to get rid of allergens, clean and disinfect surfaces, and leave a great scent. If the steering wheel and seats in your car are made of leather, you shouldn’t use a Clorox wipe to clean them. A Clorox wipe can be a bit stronger than a leather cleaner when it comes to cleaning. The safer choice is leather cleaner. If you use a Clorox wipe, you should use a leather cleaner and leather conditioner afterwards.

How to clean a sticky steering wheel?

Should You Clean A Damaged Leather Steering Wheel?

If your leather steering wheel is broken, you should fix it before giving it a good cleaning. If you clean a damaged steering wheel, it could peel even more, which would make it worse.

Can you use sanitizing wipes on a steering wheel?

Some cleaning wipes have bleach in them, which could make the colour of your steering wheel change. They should not be used at all on steering wheels made of leather or Alcantara.