Need simple leather cleaner/conditioner for steering wheel

1

1500canoe

New member
After doing some searches here and reading far too many reviews elsewhere, I`m stuck on what to get to clean/condition a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Ideally, I`d like an all-in-one product that is cheap and available in small sizes, because all I`m literally doing is steering wheels (not seats), but I`m more concerned about using a "good"/effective product than I am cost or the fact that it might not clean and condition with the same bottle.

What would you recommend?

(The only thing I have laying around presently is 303 cleaner and 303 protectant, but I`m assuming I shouldn`t use these on leather.)

Thanks!
 
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Blackfire leather complete. The Guz was kind enough to send me a bottle of it. Over the years cleaning the steering wheel was one of the things I really dreaded. The products I tried either didn`t clean well, would over time remove the coating, leave a funky feeling. Then with the opportunity to try the blackfire leather complete, WOW! This cleans the steering wheel with ease by just spraying on the towel and wipe the steering wheel. It felt like new leather once again, it was amazing. In my review I have, I said if all it worked on was steering wheels I would buy it still. I won`t be without it again. It`s not the smallest or cheapest product, but by a million miles better than anything I`ve used to clean a steering wheel with before.

https://www.autopia.org/forums/deta...kfire-leather-complete.html?highlight=Leather

In fact it`s on sale on Autopia right now for only 19.99. I just bought a new bottle after I saw the price.
 
1500canoe- Welcome to Autopia!

I sure understand the appeal of an all-in-one product, but I`m kinda particular about what`s on my steering wheels and thus don`t go that route. But it sounds like Coleroad thinks the BF feels OK so maybe that`ll work for you too.
 
I really like McKee`s 37 All-In-One Leather lotion. I`ve been using it on my vehicles for several years and really like it. Not only does it clean well, but it leaves the leather soft and like-new feeling when I`m done. It`s not slick or oily.
 
McKee`s 37 70/30 Leather Shampoo. Quick, easy, smells amazing. I use it on leather, seats, vinyl, dashboards, door panels etc etc.
 
I`ve been using Poorboy`s World Natural Look on my wife`s Kia. On the crazy days, I use it on just about all interior bits including the rubber molding/gaskets/whatever that go around the doors and liftback.

No crazy slippery, shiny, oily mess. Doesn`t smell bad either (the product from HD put me off with it`s harsh smell).

Poorboy`s makes sample sizes of most of their stuff, so you can try it out before committing to larger sizes!
 
I gather nobody else here uses the "Draggy Feel Protectant" from the Leather Doctor (I think that`s the name..bought it ages ago, and no, it doesn`t feel weird/objectionable). On the rare occasions that I do more than an Interior QD that`s still my choice.
 
Accumulator, not me. I`m still fairly "young" with detailing, and still dislike doing interior work!

I think I`ve heard of Leather Doctor, but haven`t looked into them.
 
Eh, doing business with Roger Koh/Leather Doctor is a bit of a hassle, and his advice is sorta geared towards people who don`t mind spending a *LOT* of time on such stuff. Fortunately I don`t have to do Big Interior Jobs very often, even with the dog hauling.
 
Accumulator said:
1500canoe- Welcome to Autopia!
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Thanks! I`ve been lurking for a little bit. I think I found a good place for detailing info (and supplies through the store). Decided to finally post something!


JustJesus said:
Poorboy`s makes sample sizes of most of their stuff, so you can try it out before committing to larger sizes!
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That`s awesome. I`ve skipped trying products a lot simply because the minimum size is often cost-prohibitive just to try out something you may not like. Then you`re stuck with 32oz (or whatever) of something that is useless to you.

Some great recommendations so far in this thread - precisely what I was looking for. I`m pretty sold on using an AIO for now, and I have a few here to research a bit more. Thanks!
 
1500canoe said:
Hmm, this seems very similar to 303 protectant, which I use everywhere...
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Heh heh, fair warning...I tend to go off on "why are you using 303?!?, I never liked it and blah blah blah" rants now and then :o

SO...given the above...maybe don`t assume the McKee`s Interior stuff is all that similar to the 303 ;)
 
Accumulator said:
Eh, doing business with Roger Koh/Leather Doctor is a bit of a hassle, and his advice is sorta geared towards people who don`t mind spending a *LOT* of time on such stuff. Fortunately I don`t have to do Big Interior Jobs very often, even with the dog hauling.
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Hmm. Yeah, doesn`t sound like something *for me* :) I dislike working on interiors.
 
JustJesus- I hear you on that! Even though I really do think the LeatherDoctor stuff is the best thing to use, I sincerely doubt that it`ll really matter *what* I use as long as I don`t do anything really goofy. I`m not gonna spend a ton of time/effort on this stuff unless I have a really good reason.
 
I think this is also dependent on the current state of the leather... and what type.

I have two older vehicles with a very noticeable "coated" leather. Which is very slick/shiny.

On one of them the coating has started to degrade. So I have to be careful with what I use to clean it.

I use a very mild mixture of Leathermaster Cleaner for cleaning and a soft sponge.

After I use black shoe polish to cover the degraded portion of the leather, (it`s basically carnuba that is black) and it works out well.

For my newer car the leather is more like actual leather. So it being more porous and in much better condition I use just a regular mixture of Chemical Guys leather cleaner, and a brush. Then finish it with Leathermaster protectant.
 
For an all in one, I really like Meguiar`s D18001 Leather Cleaner and Conditioner, but you have to buy it by the gallon. It cleans really well, even removes denim and ink stains that are moderately fresh, smells good and doesn`t leave the surface covered in slime. I wonder if any of the consumer line is the same stuff in a different bottle?
 
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