MaintenanceCar Hacks

How to clean your steering wheel?

The steering wheel of our car is the primary point of contact between our hands and the car, as well as the main component of the vehicle control systems. That said, it is important to keep it clean as we don’t want to get our hands contaminated with microbes every time we drive our car, and also keep it in good condition allowing us to control our vehicle even in the most demanding situations. The steering wheel must be clean and non-slippery at all times, so here is how to achieve the above without much effort.

 

1) Keep Wet Hand Wipes handy

Source: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/08/24/23/2B9F5E2B00000578-3209458-image-a-5_1440455763413.jpg
Source: http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/08/24/23/2B9F5E2B00000578-3209458-image-a-5_1440455763413.jpg

Buy a pack of hand wipes and always have them in your car. Use one to wipe your hands and another one to wipe your steering wheel before starting to drive. This will kill 99% of the bacteria on your hands and your wheel, and will dissolve the body oils that are applying on the wheel because of your hands, making it dangerously slippery.

 

2) Use Mild Cleaners

Source: http://www.taylorautoglass.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/AdobeStock_113730136.jpg
Source: http://www.taylorautoglass.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/AdobeStock_113730136.jpg

If your wheel is dirty, use a mild soap cleaner by applying it on a micro-fiber towel and wiping all 360 degrees of your steering wheel circle. By gripping the wheel through the towel and twisting your wrist back and forth, you will manage to remove most of the dirt no matter how much has accumulated and for how long it was stuck there. If you still see dirt, you can use a scrub pad for car interiors, but be careful not to apply too much pressure or else you will scratch the wheel and make it smoother after a while which will lower the friction and make it slippery for ever.

 

3) Clean the leather

Source: http://www.autodetaildoctor.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/cleaningadirtysteeringwheel1.jpg
Source: http://www.autodetaildoctor.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/cleaningadirtysteeringwheel1.jpg

If your steering wheel is made out of leather, you should use a leather cleaning product instead. Additionally, you may use a toothbrush to soak the cleaner onto the stitches of the leather patches so they get a good thorough clean as well. Finally, clean the leather with water as these cleaners can be absorbed by your hands’ skin in the long run, causing health problems.

 

4) Use a steam cleaner

Source: http://nebula.wsimg.com/9ca1bd75cc37f037bea6fe72ecede8c1?AccessKeyId=52914D992361EDFF32BD&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
Source: http://nebula.wsimg.com/9ca1bd75cc37f037bea6fe72ecede8c1?AccessKeyId=52914D992361EDFF32BD&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

Using your steam cleaner to clean and disinfect your steering wheel is a great option as well. Just make sure not to apply the steam for long on a single point or the material may wrap due to the high steam temperature. Moreover, make sure that your dashboard which in most cars is located just behind the steering wheel isn’t getting watery or it may get damaged. After you’re done with this, wide the steering wheel thoroughly as any remainder moisture will result in bacteria build up later on.

 

Related Articles

Back to top button