While leather car interiors are top-notch luxury features, one of the most disappointing things you can end up with is a sticky leather steering wheel. Not only is this annoying for anyone driving the car, but it registers kinda high on the gross meter.
Read on to find out what causes a sticky leather steering wheel and easy fixes to resolve the issues.
Why is Your Leather Steering Wheel Sticky?
Here are some reasons why your leather steering wheel becomes tacky or sticky:
Dirt and Driving with Dirty or Sweaty Hands
Over time, dust, moisture and dirt get inside your car and settle. The steering wheel is a prime spot for contaminants to settle and become sticky.
Plus, anything on your hands from greasy food to sweat or natural oils from your skin is transferred to your steering wheel while driving. The longer you drive with dirty hands, the more oil and dirt absorb into the leather and turns sticky.
Anything transferred from your hands to the steering wheel tends to remain on the wheel, leaving a lasting sticky residue.
Quick Fixes
Use a quality leather cleaner and protectant to thoroughly clean, remove and protect the steering wheel from dirt and dirty hands.
Choosing a leather cleaner will depend on whether your steering wheel is made from genuine or faux leather because it does make a difference.
The leather cleaner and protectant will clean up the sticky and prevent it from returning. As a bonus, it also protects your steering wheel from sun damage, fading and cracking.
Check manufacturer recommendations or the internet for make and model of your car for non-sticky product recommendations.
As for dirty hands, get into the habit of washing your hands with soap and water or hand wipes before heading out on the road. If you drive with squeaky clean hands, there won’t be anything to settle onto the steering wheel.
If you have excessively sweaty hands, take time to clean and dry them if you’re going to be driving for extended periods of time.
Over Conditioning a Leather Steering Wheel
Applying leather conditioner before or instead of cleaning will result in an even stickier mess. That’s because you are basically skipping the entire cleaning process and working the dirt and grime deeper into the leather.
Also keep in mind that using too much conditioner or the wrong product on your leather steering wheel can also make it sticky.
With genuine leather, you only need to condition the steering wheel every 3 months or so, use the product sparingly and follow manufacturers guidelines.
If your steering wheel is extremely sticky, it’s better to clean thoroughly first and then condition rather than using an all-in-one product. An all-in-one product may not give you the cleaning level you really need to remove all the dirt, grime and oil before conditioning.
The stickiness that comes with synthetic or faux leather comes from the breakdown of the coating applied over the steering wheel, which is sometimes why the wheel sometimes looks shiny.
Quick Fix
If you over-condition your steering wheel and it comes out stickier than it was before, you need to start over by thoroughly cleaning the steering wheel and applying less of the non-sticky conditioner.
A synthetic leather steering wheel should be cleaned more often in order to remove all the dirt, dust, oils and residue that accumulates on the wheel.
Weather Damage (Sun, Heat, Humidity)
Nothing ages a leather steering wheel faster than UV sun damage. Intense direct sunlight causes oils in the leather to release and form an oily, sticky residue which coats the wheel. Sun damage is also responsible for leather cracking and fading.
Excessive heat and humidity are also damaging to a leather steering wheel. It causes the steering wheel to sweat (just like you would) and release moisture. Once the moisture evaporates, a sticky filmy residue is left behind on the steering wheel.
Quick Fix
The quick fix is to protect the damage from UV rays, heat and humidity by using a leather protectant to nourish and condition the leather.
Parking in the shade or using a sun shade in your windshield also helps protect your leather steering wheel and interior.
Normal Wear & Tear, Aging Leather
The longer you own your car, the odds of experiencing a sticky leather steering wheel increase. Aging leather can become sticky once protective coatings wear off over time or underlying adhesives can begin to loosen and absorb into the wheel from underneath.
Quick Fix
For aging leather, it all starts with a good deep cleaning to remove dirt and build-up from the wheel.
Using a leather restoring agent may help but depending upon the age and condition of the leather, it may be time to apply a steering wheel cover over the original leather steering wheel after a good cleaning.
Steering wheel covers restore the appearance of and help protect the leather steering wheel.
Conclusion
While leather steering wheels are luxurious and comfortable, they also require care and maintenance to last for the life of your car.
While you are taking good care of your car interior, we can handle the exterior. In Sonoma County, call the experts at Downtown Autobody to keep your car body and paint looking as good as your interior.
