makris0000

So I was doing some Googling on ways to clean my steering wheel because it is getting shiny/dirty, and I came across a lot of stuff saying that the magic eraser will clean a leather steering wheel. However, I am also seeing mixed information from a lot of people saying to not use it.

Anyone on here who is a professional detailer or anyone who knows anything about detailing know if the magic eraser will cause damage to my steering wheel if I use it? I would like to get it clean because it is shiny and I would like it to be clean and have that matte look. Also, I have the AMG line interior with the AMG style flat bottom steering wheel.

Thanks in advance.

djgiovanni

I am not a profesional detailer. However, I would think the magic eraser, being abrasive, would scratch the leather.

I have been using for years now rubbing alcohol. It cleans dirt and oils from the steering wheel and leaves the leather smooth. I typically use a white rag so I can see how dirty the steering wheel was.

user 7208224

I won't say about your steering wheel, but I use the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on my leather golf and it does a great job.

SW20S

No! Do not. Its extremely abrasive and the cleaners have harsh chemicals in them. Alcohol will dry out the leather too and erode the polyurethane top coating.

I would use a good leather cleaner, I like Colourlock's mild and strong cleaners:

Mild:


Strong:


I love these Scrub Ninja MF pads also:


For conditioner I like Koch Chemie's Leather Star:


Use those products and your wheel will stay looking new. This is my S560 with almost 40,000 miles on it:

chassis

Damp microfiber with tap water gets the job done. The wheel will be like new. It’s really simple.

No cleaning products required.

makris0000

So I had already started using the magic eraser and wow it did wonders! The shine is gone lol. I was gentle with it but I know I need a leather cleaner because the wheel still feels slightly sticky.

Also I tried it on the wrist rest and and grab handles and they look like new! Again, I was very gentle on them and I plan on trying those leather cleaners mentioned above.

SW20S

Depends on how dirty the wheel is.

You know what else is gone? Most of or all of the polyurethane coating unfortunately. The sticky feel you feel is the tacky mostly removed coating.

chassis

What do you mean? The time required to clean the wheel with a damp microfiber is directly proportional to, or rather depends on, the degree of soiling?

makris0000

So after driving my GLE this morning it's less sticky than it was yesterday right after drying the wheel. Whatever coating is on the leather steering wheel probably ended up melting a while ago because the heat gets bad in Florida.

tootallll

Don't do it. I used magic eraser on a door panel and it left either a residue or light abrasive scratches that made the area I used it on a slightly lighter color than the rest of the door panel.
...on the other hand, if you do something small like a steering wheel, and do the whole wheel, it should all be the same color. I will say if your trying to take the sheen off your steering wheel, magic eraser will do it.

I would contact a professional detailer, or even a dealership and inquire about it.

petee1997

I wash it with soap and water then rinse thoroughly with a damp cloth. does the job.

djgiovanni

Are you sure about this......?
As far as I know, MB equipped with leather come with actual "genuine leather" and not "PU leather". Genuine leather, unlike PU leather, does not have a poly coating on it because it is not needed.
PU leather, in contrast, does have it as it is made of cowhide leftovers and a polyurethane (bycast). I would be PISSED to learn that I paid $3000 + for real leather only to learn that it is in fact PU.

I have cleaned all my vehicles' steering wheels (ones with real leather) with rubbing alcohol for years, and there was never any degradation. Certainly no coating of any sort removed other than dirt and body oils.

Lucky 777

A little orange waterless hand cleaner squished in to an old washcloth. No harsh chemicals and it won't dry out the leather like alcohol.

SW20S

Meaning if the wheel is really dirty just water won't clean it, you will need a leather cleaner.

The coating is designed to stand up to the heat. When the coating fails, you will know because the color will just come off the leather. Trust me, don't use the Magic Eraser again.

I am 110% sure. All cars pretty much have coated leather, you don't want uncoated leather. The only car I can think of off the top of my head that is uncoated leather is Ford's King Ranch pickups, and even they have gone to coated leather because the uncoated leather wears so poorly. Genuine leather absolutely typically has a poly coating.

This is what uncoated leather in a car looks like over time. You don't want it:



You can keep using alcohol if you want, but I wouldn't and I am 100% confident it degrades the coating on the leather. Ask any detailer if you should use alcohol and watch the shock in their eyes.

They make great products dedicated for these purposes and designed for these materials, its not necessary to try and make up your own products.

shotgun_banjo

Never use magic erasers on leather as it will rub off the dye. Use a leather cleaner or detailing cleaner that is safe to use on leather. I use turtle wax ICE and it does not produce a shiny surface. It actually removes the shine. Costco microfiber towels + the turtle wax ICE interior cleaner = like new car look and smell.

If you have oily hands then time for driving gloves . I just get it a habit to wipe the steering wheel once in a while with the microfiber towel before I leave the car.

SW20S

The shine on leather is just oils and dirt on the surface of the leather. If left on there too long they will burnish the leather to a sheen, thats where leather wear comes from. If you keep leather clean and treated it will look new for a long, long time.

djgiovanni

I've researched this further since you brought up the concern and see that leather in vehicles is in fact coated with a water-based clear protective coating or small amounts of "urethane".

djgiovanni

Article on cleaning leather with Magic Eraser
https://detaildiy.com/magic-eraser-o...her-car-seats/

marchgroupinc

On page 465 of my Mercedes owner manual it states do not use microfiber cloths on genuine or imitation leather. It does not explain anything further.

makris0000

So quick update. My steering wheel is not sticky anymore! I am not sure what happened but after like a day and now that we've had more rain and not as much heat the stickiness seems to have gone away.

I think overall this is a win to getting things clean, but at the same time it is good to be cautious so it does not scratch anything.

SW20S

Don't use a Magic Eraser people, trust me. Its one thing to use it on very dirty leather once, but it is not something you want to use on a regular basis, it is way too aggressive. I have seen the damage they do with my own eyes. Its like using sandpaper. Much better to use a good cleaner and cleaning media that is designed for cleaning automotive leather. You will get the same results, but safely.

mikapen

I agree.
Using a dedicated interior cleaner will definitely save time in the long run. Especially if you have to find a way to correct the damage inflicted by the wrong tool.

hutch300

Use microfiber and Griots interior cleaner.

W205C43PFL

Since microfibre was mentioned, I want to mention to not use it on MB TEX as if I recalled correctly, the owner's manual mentions it.

Edit: never mind, already mentioned in post #19 by another forum member

SW20S

I would continue to use microfiber towels...just use good ones. Issue with cheap microfiber towels is they too are abrasive.