How to Clean a Steering Wheel Cover: Leather, Suede and Carbon Fibre Care
CarMoods TeamYour steering wheel is the one part of your car you touch every single drive — sunscreen, hand cream, coffee spills and all. Studies regularly find it carries more grime than most surfaces in your home, yet it's the last thing most of us think to clean. A few minutes of care each fortnight keeps a quality cover looking and feeling new for years instead of months.
Why steering wheel covers get so grubby
Everything on your hands ends up on the wheel: natural oils, moisturiser, food residue, and in an Australian summer, a season's worth of sunscreen. Those oils soak into leather and suede, darkening the grip points at ten and two.
The fix isn't scrubbing harder once a year — it's a gentle wipe often. Frequent light cleaning stops oils setting into the material, which is what causes the shiny, hardened patches you see on neglected wheels.
The gentle cleaning kit
You only need three things: a quality microfibre cloth, a soft detailing brush and lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap. Skip the all-purpose sprays — most are too harsh for leather and will strip suede completely.
Recommended
Soft enough for leather and suede, and a five-pack means there's always a clean one ready.
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Gentle bristles lift dust out of stitching and seams without scratching the material.
Shop nowCleaning leather and PU leather covers
Leather and PU are the most forgiving materials. Wring a microfibre cloth out in lukewarm soapy water until it's barely damp, wipe the full circumference of the wheel, then go over it again with a dry cloth. Never soak leather — excess water dries it out and cracks it.
Work the brush gently along the stitching, where grime collects first. If your cover has perforations, brush across them rather than pressing in, so dirt lifts out instead of packing down.
Editor's Choice
Mercedes Benz Carbon Fiber Leather Steering Wheel Cover
Leather grip sections wipe clean in seconds, and the carbon fibre accents shrug off fingerprints.
Shop nowCaring for suede covers
Suede feels wonderful in the hands — it's why racing drivers use it — but it needs a different approach. Water flattens the nap, so dry methods come first: brush the surface lightly in one direction with a soft brush to lift the pile and release dust.
For marks, use a barely damp cloth on the spot only, then brush the nap back up once dry. Done fortnightly, this keeps the matte, velvety texture that makes suede worth having.
Staff Pick
BMW Suede Leather Steering Wheel Cover
Breathable suede grip that stays matte and tactile with a quick fortnightly brush.
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Mazda Suede Leather Car Steering Wheel Cover
A tailored suede fit for Mazda wheels that rewards gentle, regular care with years of grip.
Shop nowCarbon fibre sections and hard trim
Glossy carbon fibre and piano-black trim are the easy part — fingerprints and dust are the only enemies. A dry microfibre cloth handles day-to-day smudges; for anything stickier, the same barely damp cloth you used on the leather is plenty.
For the seam where hard trim meets stitching, a shaped detailing brush gets into the gap that cloths glide straight over.
Camellia Flower Car Interior Detailing Brush - AC Vent Crevice Dust
Reaches the tight seams between trim, spokes and stitching that cloths miss.
Shop nowQuick reference: what each material needs
| Material | Clean with | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Leather / PU leather | Barely damp microfibre, mild soap, dry cloth after | Soaking, alcohol wipes, harsh sprays |
| Suede | Soft dry brush in one direction; damp spot-cleaning only | Water over the whole surface, rubbing in circles |
| Carbon fibre / gloss trim | Dry microfibre cloth | Abrasive pads, paper towel |
Carmoods recommends
Clean the wheel last, with a fresh cloth. Doing it first means every other surface you clean puts grime straight back onto your hands — and straight back onto the wheel.
A two-minute habit that pays off
None of this takes longer than the time your seat warmer needs to kick in. A quick wipe after a sunscreen-heavy weekend and a proper once-over each fortnight will keep even a light-coloured cover looking fresh.
And if your current cover is past saving, browse the full range of steering wheel covers to start again with a material you'll enjoy maintaining.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I clean my steering wheel cover?
A light wipe weekly and a proper clean every fortnight. Frequent gentle cleaning beats occasional scrubbing — it stops oils setting into the material.
Can I use disinfectant wipes on a leather steering wheel cover?
Best not to. Most contain alcohol, which strips the finish and dries leather out over time. Mild soap on a barely damp microfibre cloth is safer and just as effective.
How do I fix a suede cover that's gone shiny?
Shine means the nap has flattened, usually from hand oils. Brush the area firmly but gently with a soft brush in one direction. If it doesn't lift, spot-clean with a barely damp cloth, dry, then brush again.
Should I remove the cover to clean it?
Usually no — on-wheel cleaning is enough and refitting a snug cover is a workout. Only remove it for a deep clean if it's machine-washable and the maker says so.
