[Thermobaric]

I clean my steering wheel every now and again with a damp microfiber and I get a black transfer coming off it. Is that normal? Just the dye in the leather? I can see no evidence of the steering wheel being re dyed anywhere as it's in decent condition.

I've seen people 'clean' their steering wheel with one of those magic eraser blocks which is of course like a fine sandpaper so it turns the water black. Is the microfiber just doing a similar, less aggressive action?

I was going to use leather cleaner and conditioner I got for my seats on the wheel. But now I'm concerned even a soft leather brush may take the top coating of leather off if it's being affected by a damp microfiber.

[E90-AMD]

Originally Posted by Thermobaric

I clean my steering wheel every now and again with a damp microfiber and I get a black transfer coming off it. Is that normal? Just the dye in the leather? I can see no evidence of the steering wheel being re dyed anywhere as it's in decent condition.

I've seen people 'clean' their steering wheel with one of those magic eraser blocks which is of course like a fine sandpaper so it turns the water black. Is the microfiber just doing a similar, less aggressive action?

I was going to use leather cleaner and conditioner I got for my seats on the wheel. But now I'm concerned even a soft leather brush may take the top coating of leather off if it's being affected by a damp microfiber.

Have you got pictures of it? That'd be quite helpful.

[Russbmw]

It's probably just the dirt and greasy deposits coming off.

[Digitalize]

I'd imagine it's just dirt as said, hands can get pretty dirty pretty quickly.

[JackHerring]

I'd say it's very likely that it's dirt, steering wheel is one of the dirtiest parts of the car.

[dm2583]

It'll be dirt. I use Gliptone cleaner and conditioner on my wheel, always get a slight black colour on the microfibre

[RENT-A-GOAT]

I use zymol leather cleaner on my seats, steerign wheel, handbrake handle and gaitors. its great stuff leaves it clean and fresh with a new leather smell and the leathers feels soft and supple and no colour issues but it get any colour transfer on the oyster off no bother.

[Thermobaric]

I've got the Gliptone stuff. I got a drip of hand sanitizer on my seat and when I wiped it away, it showed how dirty my leather was heh.

Anyway, here's some pics of the cloth I used on my steering wheel. If it is dirt, it seems excessive as I'm pretty sure I have mild OCD and wash my hands more often than most people ha.

[bmwak]

If the previous owner of your car took it often to those £5 car wash places, I wouldn't be surprised if they used tyre shine.

The stuff they use is usually nasty and can ruin/discolour leather.

[Chappers 71]

Originally Posted by Thermobaric

I've got the Gliptone stuff. I got a drip of hand sanitizer on my seat and when I wiped it away, it showed how dirty my leather was heh.

Anyway, here's some pics of the cloth I used on my steering wheel. If it is dirt, it seems excessive as I'm pretty sure I have mild OCD and wash my hands more often than most people ha.

You dirty boy

[Dann]

Whenever I get a new car, the first thing that gets cleaned is the gearknob, steering wheel and door pulls.

All my steering wheels have been as dirty as the pics above.

[Thermobaric]

Hmm. So all that should stop coming off eventually? I just didn't want to take it too far and ruin the finish.