When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have cleaned my all leather steering wheel 3 times with 3 different agents, and it's still slippery. Is there any remedy for this besides recovering it in Alcantara? Bugs the crap out of me when I try to grip it anywhere other than the notches at the 9 and 3 position, like when I'm turning. Any suggestions? Maybe sand it with 2000 grit sandpaper?
How exactly are you cleaning it? You should be using a soft horsehair bristle brush (meant for leather cleaning) with easy pressure of a foam type leather cleaner, and wiping it off in sections, then follow up with a leather conditioner and buff that off in sections. I found this guy’s method and product mentions to be the most helpful, I do it twice a year on all my cars:
Many of the leather cleaner/conditioner products do leave a slippery surface especially if the surface is not wiped completely with a clean microfiber towel after applying the product. You might try using a product that is just a cleaner and then followup with saddle soap.
I have cleaned my all leather steering wheel 3 times with 3 different agents, and it's still slippery. Is there any remedy for this besides recovering it in Alcantara? Bugs the crap out of me when I try to grip it anywhere other than the notches at the 9 and 3 position, like when I'm turning. Any suggestions? Maybe sand it with 2000 grit sandpaper?
Without knowing what products you have already tried, I'll second rmorin's recommendation to try separate cleaner and separate conditioner (not sure about the saddle soap though).
Chemical Guys, Adams and even Meguair's makes kits. I know it's blasphemy, but I prefer to use terry towels on the steering wheel after using Pinnacle cleaner/conditioner. Let it absorb and then twisting the towel around the wheel. I do, however, mostly hold the wheel in 3 and 9 dimples.
I try to remember to wash my hands before getting in the driver seat and rarely put cream on my hands. Using a damp towel seems to keep my wheel clean and it does not become slick. Many leather cleaners have additives that may result in slickness, which may be why you now have a problem. I think I would try a mild soap solution to see if that helps remove the slickness.
I try to remember to wash my hands before getting in the driver seat and rarely put cream on my hands. Using a damp towel seems to keep my wheel clean and it does not become slick. Many leather cleaners have additives that may result in slickness, which may be why you now have a problem. I think I would try a mild soap solution to see if that helps remove the slickness.
I say again, try saddle soap. My daughter uses it to clean her expensive English saddle and it gently removes horse sweat, oil and dirt leaving the surface clean and supple. It is very gentle and does contain some moisurizer to keep the leather from drying out.
Last edited by rmorin49; Apr 11, 2023 at 12:04 PM.
This is a very curious post. Not once have I considered my steering wheel to be slippery, and I drive a ton. That fact got me thinking that maybe someone prior to you put a product on your steering wheel that is causing your issues?
Originally Posted by Goodwood
I have cleaned my all leather steering wheel 3 times with 3 different agents, and it's still slippery. Is there any remedy for this besides recovering it in Alcantara? Bugs the crap out of me when I try to grip it anywhere other than the notches at the 9 and 3 position, like when I'm turning. Any suggestions? Maybe sand it with 2000 grit sandpaper?
OK, here's what I tried so far. First was a damp microcloth. Nothing. Then a turtle interior cleaner and a Maguire's interior cleaner, both recommended by a YouTuber. Finished all that off with a paste wax-like leather conditioner. No change at any of these steps. Funny, my 1 yr old Acura is plenty grippy. And, no I don't use any lotion on my hands. Mind you, I am the 3rd owner of this car, and it has 50k mi on it. The wheel leather is super smooth. Reminds me of when I was in military school, when we had to put many many coats of Kiwi polish on our shoes to get them to shine like patent leather, although the leather on my wheel is smooth, with the pores filled in, it doesn't have that gloss. idk
Last edited by Goodwood; Apr 11, 2023 at 06:14 PM.
OK, here's what I tried so far. First was a damp microcloth. Nothing. Then a turtle interior cleaner and a Maguire's interior cleaner, both recommended by a YouTuber. Finished all that off with a paste wax-like leather conditioner. No change at any of these steps. Funny, my 1 yr old Acura is plenty grippy. And, no I don't use any lotion on my hands. Mind you, I am the 3rd owner of this car, and it has 50k mi on it. The wheel leather is super smooth. Reminds me of when I was in military school, when we had to put many many coats of Kiwi polish on our shoes to get them to shine like patent leather, although the leather on my wheel is smooth, with the pores filled in, it doesn't have that gloss. idk
Damp microfiber works. It really does.
Try a bit more water in the microfiber. Keep at it until the wheel is perfectly clean. It works.
OK, here's what I tried so far. First was a damp microcloth. Nothing. Then a turtle interior cleaner and a Maguire's interior cleaner, both recommended by a YouTuber. Finished all that off with a paste wax-like leather conditioner. No change at any of these steps. Funny, my 1 yr old Acura is plenty grippy. And, no I don't use any lotion on my hands. Mind you, I am the 3rd owner of this car, and it has 50k mi on it. The wheel leather is super smooth. Reminds me of when I was in military school, when we had to put many many coats of Kiwi polish on our shoes to get them to shine like patent leather, although the leather on my wheel is smooth, with the pores filled in, it doesn't have that gloss. idk
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. Some people have sweaty/greasy hands.
Our steering wheel looked near new after three years
Ya, I'm the same way. Just can't do driving gloves, unless I'm doing an HPDE. Otherwise too gauche, too pretentious. These SLs attract enough attention as it is.
Hey, I’m in my car now and I just realized that most of my steering wheel is wood. I assumed everyones steering wheel was the same, but maybe that’s why mine doesn’t feel slippery? Never thought about different steering wheel options for the SL like all leather.
Is yours mostly leather?
Edit. I just looked at the original post again. “All leather steering wheel”.
Got it!
Originally Posted by Goodwood
Ya, I'm the same way. Just can't do driving gloves, unless I'm doing an HPDE. Otherwise too gauche, too pretentious. These SLs attract enough attention as it is.
Last edited by ThatsMyDawg; Apr 12, 2023 at 10:22 AM.
Mine is all leather, and smoother than a baby's bottom, and slick as snot on a doorknob!
Your wheel has hand oils on it. These oils can be removed with tap water and a microfiber. And elbow grease. There is no reason not to have a 100% perfectly clean all-leather steering wheel.
As mentioned before, I tried that, and I tried numerous cleaners, including Mr Clean Magic Eraser. For good measure, I'll try water and micro cloth again, and use massive pressure to try to get it tackier.
With cloth in hand grab the steering wheel tightly like it’s a bike grip and you are about the jump the biggest ramp you have ever seen. Twist your hand back and fourth like you are giving a motorcycle some throttle while still holding tightly.
Originally Posted by Goodwood
As mentioned before, I tried that, and I tried numerous cleaners, including Mr Clean Magic Eraser. For good measure, I'll try water and micro cloth again, and use massive pressure to try to get it tackier.
Ya, I'm the same way. Just can't do driving gloves, unless I'm doing an HPDE. Otherwise too gauche, too pretentious. These SLs attract enough attention as it is.
Got some as a gift from my wife. They matched the interior of the last car. Here they are in the current SL, exactly where they were in the previous car.
I can see that the leather is a bit oily but not too bad. Be careful not to damage the leather by being too aggressive.
That said I can’t quite see that it will be slippery. It’s nappa leather after all, so it will be smooth. Ours was smoother, if anything, due to the wood portions covering large parts of the wheel… Never considered it slippery.
As mentioned before, I tried that, and I tried numerous cleaners, including Mr Clean Magic Eraser. For good measure, I'll try water and micro cloth again, and use massive pressure to try to get it tackier.
Massive pressure is not required. Simply use a damp (OK, wet but not dripping) microfiber and run the cloth over the steering wheel a half dozen back-forth strokes over the entire surface. The motorcycle grip technique mentioned above is a good way. There are other techniques to get this done.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
