How to Make Steering Wheel Matte Again in 5 Simple Steps

Do you have a steering wheel that’s starting to look a little bit too shiny? Are you worried that it won’t match the rest of your interior anymore? Fear not! In this article, we will show you how to make your steering wheel matte again in just 5 simple steps. So follow along and we’ll get started!

Before we start let’s get to know what causes our steering wheels to look shiny and what effects that shine has on the overall appearance of our car.

Why steering wheels look shiny with time

There are a few reasons why your steering wheel might start to look shiny. The most common of them are the suns UV rays, oils from our hands, and dirt which causes the steering wheel to lose its matte finish and give it a more shiny look over time.

When this happens, not only does the shining stand out more than the rest of the interior, but it can also be difficult to keep clean.

Do you need to restore your steering wheels to matte?

Having a shiny steering wheel makes the interior of the car look like it’s been used for ages because of the shine. It’s not about how much you use your car, but how often you clean it and maintain it that is important.

If your steering wheel is only starting to show a little bit of shine, you might be able to get away with just cleaning it regularly. However, if the shine has become more noticeable and is now affecting the overall appearance of your car, then you will need to restore the matte finish. 

Restoring your steering wheel to a matte finish will make the interior look newer. When you’re ready for a new car, a fresh-looking interior can help increase its value when selling or trading in at higher prices. 

But have no fear, with just a few simple steps you can bring back the matte finish and have your car looking good as new!

Steps to make your steering wheel matte again in five easy steps

Here are the steps that you should follow to restore our steering wheels to a matte finish: Gather all materials and tools needed for the task before you begin.

Tools & Materials

Soft bristle brush

Scrub pad for dishes

Matte cleaner/leather cleanser 

Leather care balm (Optional)

Pail of water

Microfiber towel

Process

Step 1: Wash your hands

Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly, then dry them off completely before starting. This is important because we don’t want any oil from our hands to get on the steering wheel leather during this process.

STEP 2: Prepare the steering wheel for polishing 

Before we start cleaning our steering wheel, we need to make sure it’s clean. This means removing all the dirt, oils, and other contaminants that have built up over time. To do this, we’ll be using a bucket of soapy water and a damp cloth.

Simply soak the cloth in the soapy water and use it to wipe down the entire surface of the steering wheel. pay particular attention areas where there are signs of wear or discoloration such as around buttons and switches (these can be especially shiny).

Once you’ve cleaned the entire surface, rinse off the cloth and wring it out so that it’s not dripping wet. Then use the damp cloth to wipe down the steering wheel one more time, this will remove any leftover soap and dirt from the surface of your steering wheel.

STEP 3: Apply the steering Matte cleaner or leather cleanser to the soft bristle brush

Now that our steering wheel is clean, we can start the process. For this step, we’ll be using a leather cleanser (I recommend using a reputable brand like Armor All to ensure good results) and a soft bristle brush.

Squeeze some of the leather cleanser or Matte cleaner onto the brush and use circular motions to apply it to the surface of the steering wheel. Be sure to apply it on all areas of the steering wheel, even if they don’t look dirty or oily. 

The cleanser will lift out all the oils on your steering wheel and will help restore the matte finish to your steering wheel and protect it from future buildup of dirt and oils.

Continue applying the cleanser until the entire surface has been covered in a thin layer of foam. Then let it sit for about five minutes before moving on to the next step! 

STEP 4: Wipe away the excess foam

Once you’ve let the foam sit for about five minutes, it’s time to wipe away any excess. To do this we’ll be using a damp cloth or microfiber towel, whichever one you prefer. 

Simply use the damp cloth or microfiber towel to wipe down the surface of the steering wheel. Be sure to remove all of the excess foam from the wheel, especially from any areas that are shiny. 

STEP 5: Let the steering wheel dry

Now that you’ve finished polishing your steering wheel, it’s time to let it dry. Let the steering wheel sit for about thirty minutes. Once your steering wheel is completely dry, you’re ready to enjoy it! Be sure to take care of it and keep it clean so that it stays looking good for years to come.

Optional Step: Apply Leather care balm

You can apply leather care balm onto a microfibre cloth and gently rub on the steering wheel to condition the leather and to prevent it from drying out.

Our steering wheel is now looking good as new and will be protected from future buildups of dirt and oils. Not only that but the leather has been conditioned and will stay looking good for years to come. Enjoy your newly restored steering wheel!

Conclusion

So there you have it, five simple steps to restoring your steering wheel’s matte finish. Follow these steps and your steering wheel will be looking good as new in no time! Thanks for reading!

Gideon Ansah Baffour

Hello, passionate reader My name is GIDEON BAFFOUR ANSAH. There are a lot of things in this world that I love. My family, my friends, dogs, video games, and of course – everything with engines. It has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. There is just something about them that makes me happy. I've been blazing up the trails and immersing myself in this wonderful hobby turned career and on this website, I'm excited each day to share everything I've learned and continue to learn a day in day out.

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