Lether Steering Wheel
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 135
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From: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Are you sure it is dirt that is on your wheel? Sometimes with leather stearing wheels (at least some of the older ones I have seen) that have seen alot of use, a fine top layer of leather can wear off and it looks darker underneath. If it is acturally some kind of dirt try the leather cleaner again with a bit more elbow grease, and maybe a bit more abrrasive cloth. make sure that after, you use a new dry cloth to wipe off as much leather cleaner as possible or next time you go to pull a u-turn your hand might slide and you could be headed for the ditch!
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
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For heavy stains you can also try saddle soap (available at most shoe or boot stores) . Then follow up with your leather conditioner/ cleaner such as Meguier's.
An old-timer told me how to use the leather conditioner. He said to rub it in with my fingers like suntan lotion, and work it in real well. Let it soak in for an hour and then wipe off the excess with a terry towel.
An old-timer told me how to use the leather conditioner. He said to rub it in with my fingers like suntan lotion, and work it in real well. Let it soak in for an hour and then wipe off the excess with a terry towel.
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Senior Member
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 31,440
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From: The Bluegrass State
From properautocare.com
Was that old-timer me? LOL! I've been applying conditioner for years with my hands. My point was that I didn't want to waste the conditioner by leaving it in an applicator or cloth used for applying the product... 
It works VERY well.
RP
The Myth Of Saddle Soap
In the late 1800's the final tanning of leather required the talents of a "currier". This craftsman took the tanned but brittle hide and worked oils into it until the desired flexibility was obtained. This process was called fatliquoring. The fatliquor of choice was an emulsion of oil in soap. This "saddle soap" was not used as a cleaner. It was a softening conditioner.
In fact, saddle soap is a very poor cleaner. It must first dissolve its own oils, limiting its capacity to dissolve dirt and oils in the leather. Saddle soap is also inherently alkaline but alkalinity is damaging to leather. Another problem arises during application. Most saddle soaps instruct the user to work the lather into the leather. Since loosened dirt is suspended in the lather, it is pushed back into the leather's pores.
Saddle soaps have long been replaced in tanneries by modern emulsions which penetrate, soften and condition with greater ease and stability. the popular myth of saddle soap as a cleaner however persists as modern folklore.
In the late 1800's the final tanning of leather required the talents of a "currier". This craftsman took the tanned but brittle hide and worked oils into it until the desired flexibility was obtained. This process was called fatliquoring. The fatliquor of choice was an emulsion of oil in soap. This "saddle soap" was not used as a cleaner. It was a softening conditioner.
In fact, saddle soap is a very poor cleaner. It must first dissolve its own oils, limiting its capacity to dissolve dirt and oils in the leather. Saddle soap is also inherently alkaline but alkalinity is damaging to leather. Another problem arises during application. Most saddle soaps instruct the user to work the lather into the leather. Since loosened dirt is suspended in the lather, it is pushed back into the leather's pores.
Saddle soaps have long been replaced in tanneries by modern emulsions which penetrate, soften and condition with greater ease and stability. the popular myth of saddle soap as a cleaner however persists as modern folklore.
It works VERY well.RP
