Leather steering wheel, How to clean?

[Joel]

Hi



Before I start, I did some research about that matter, but end up with nothing usefull.



So here the problem, I have my car since a couples of months (a 2004 mazda3) and never clean and treat the leather in any way. I only have leather on the steering and the shift knob, so the leather treatment product were not a big necessity. Now I just had this concern latelly about what is going to happen to my leather in a few years if I dont do anything.



The idea I came with was to use only water and maybe some woolite and hope the coating will hold. I can also use 303 and wipe it off very well, so it will protect the leather from the sun, but what about my hands? The last thing I could do is to use a leather conditionner or something like that, but I dont anything about those and how they can react on a steering.



My main concern is to keep the actual look of the leather (smooth and clean) for years. I dont want it to get slipy or to dry in few month before of what I put on.

My requests are maybe to big, but I hope to get clear advise.

[wannafbody]

don`t use leather wipes-I made that mistake once- the wheel was so slippery it was hard to hold on to

[C. Charles Hahn]

I`ve always just used Lexol pH cleaner to clean them up, and then a REALLY LIGHT coating of a cream-consistency conditioner (not lexol, 303, any of the liquid-like ones) - my favorite to use is Zaino Z10. Let that soak in a half hour to an hour and go back over it with some plain water.



Of course now that it`s available, I might try some of the Meguiar`s Interior QD on it. I really like the stuff.

[MS22]

water/woolite solution to clean with a soft bristle tooth brush and 4* leather conditioner to dress.

[JasonC8301]

Zaino Z-9 to clean and Zaino Z-10. I use that combo on my 05 Mazda Tribute (was gonna go 3 but emissions laws stopped me from getting it, and the Tribute was only $800 or so more and was loaded; while the 3 was not.)

[chml17l]

I use 303 Aerospace protectant on my leather steering wheel all the time. There is minimal slickness right after applying it, and 2 days later it feels completely "stock" again. I would just recommend to not overapply it and I think you would be fine.

[Joel]

Z-9 and Z-10 seem interesting, but man they are expensive in Canada. It will cost me $43 +tax only for those 2. I never saw the 4* products in Canada, so I guess I have to forget about this one. Anyone have something as good as Zaino, but more available??

[imported_truzoom]

I once heard there`s a certain Johnson&Johnson baby wash that cleans them back to feeling like brand new. Didn`t get the exact name of the product, but I know it wasn`t available widely..



I suppose it also depends if you have a smooth leather or a textured leather wheel.