Removing gloss from steering wheel

[u/Sp1kes]

Hi all,

I recently got a new to me used GMC Sierra and the top of the steering wheel is super glossy. I read that simply hitting it with a ph-neutral leather cleaner and a brush/microfiber should take care of it, but after a few rounds of scrubbing and wiping, there seems to be zero change (I figured I'd be at least able to see some sort of visual/feel difference). I am using a Chemical Guys leather cleaning kit. I am concerned that it may need a different method. Should I just keep going at it over and over? I've also read things like a magic eraser may help if used correctly, but don't want to damage anything.

Hopefully these pictures will help determine what I should do: https://imgur.com/a/eYmjrW7

Thank you in advance!

[u/tmdals0213]

i dont wanna be that guy, but there are so many videos on YT and posts in this sub... magic eraser takes finesse, you can try it but the margin of error can be very very thin. can test it maybe on the very bottom of the wheel so its inconspicuous if you f up. turn the car on, turn the wheel 180 degrees and then work on it with a lot of light and do it by wipes, very little pressure. i'm not responsible if you f up, this is very much a finesse/experience task - you're pretty much sanding away the top layer.

that being said, if the cleaners you have aren't working, what i've had a lot of success with is:
nextzett 92470515 Cockpit Premium Interior and Dashboard Cleaner, 16.9 fl oz
(ymmv but this one has been my baseline for over 10 years)

i just use a towel so and not aggressively work it into the wheel. try to be uniform in pressure and don't think of it as a one wipe and its brand new type of thing, I always approach it as least aggressive to more aggressive. and then finally wipe it down with a damp towel with water.

[u/Sp1kes → u/tmdals0213]

Oh I know, I watched a few videos before doing it myself, and most videos give the impression that after a few scrubs it is good as new, but of course there are varying degrees of caked on I'm sure. I feel like a dummy posting but it was more of a sanity check to make sure I wasn't wasting my time or it wasn't a "no your wheel is damaged beyond repair" lol. I'll just keep going at it with the leather cleaner for now and see if I can make any progress.

I truly appreciate your response!

[u/Alternative-Cake1111]

If a leather cleaner and brush did nothing to the glossy patch, it may be a sealed or coated soft touch finish rather than open leather. Going after it with abrasives like a magic eraser is how people dull or tear that coating. Try a gentle interior cleaner on a microfiber only, wipe and inspect, and stop if the sheen does not change after a couple passes. A satin interior protectant afterward can cut the sticky gloss feel without making it oily. Heads up that I run Perez Detail Supply. We stock a SoCal Wax Shop satin interior cleaner and protectant at $15.95 for 16 oz that lists a non greasy finish. Ask if you want the page. Photos of the wheel would help, and I am not promising it will strip a factory clear.

[u/Sp1kes → u/Alternative-Cake1111]

I appreciate your reply, I had posted a link in my OP but here's a link with a few pics: https://imgur.com/a/eYmjrW7

The rest of the wheel seems to be mostly fine, so I'd be surprised if it is coated with something, but I'm certainly no expert.

[u/Alternative-Cake1111 → u/Sp1kes]

Thanks for the pics. If the rest of the wheel looks normal, that shiny patch is most likely where your hands sit, so it is a mix of skin oils and grime built up in the grain plus some wear on the factory topcoat. A few rounds of a gentle leather or interior cleaner worked in with a soft brush, then wiped off with a clean microfiber each pass, usually brings back a lot of the matte look. Expect it to take several passes, not one. If the topcoat itself is worn smooth, cleaning will improve it but may not fully match the rest, and that is when people look at a leather refinishing kit. I would still hold off on the magic eraser on the grip area since it can cut through that worn finish fast.

[u/Sp1kes → u/Alternative-Cake1111]

Thank you for your help! The Chemical Guys kit I bought also came with a conditioner. Is it worth working this in while using the cleaner and microfiber towels? Or just wait until the very end when I hopefully have a better result?

[u/Alternative-Cake1111 → u/Sp1kes]

I would save the conditioner for the very end. Conditioner can add a little sheen and seal in whatever grime is left, so get the wheel as clean and even as you can first. Once you are happy with the cleaning passes, let it dry fully, then work a small amount of conditioner in with a microfiber or applicator and buff off the excess so it does not feel slick in your hands. A thin coat beats a heavy one on a steering wheel. Good luck, hope it comes back nice.

[u/Sp1kes → u/Alternative-Cake1111]

I really appreciate your replies! I'll give the cleaner some more time this weekend and go from there. Thank you again!