REVscene Automotive Forum - How to restore Alcantara steering wheel?

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How to restore Alcantara steering wheel?

I just got a steering wheel that is Alcantara, but the high-wear parts are all matted down with dirt and grease it's just solid and smooth instead of fuzzy.

Is there a way to restore it?

There is not much you can do. That is the issue with alcantara. It wears fast when exposed to water/oils from your hands.

stolen from "OctaneGuy" from the MINI forum, pretty impressive

Quote:

Originally Posted by OctaneGuy (Post 3134864)

This is a wheel I bought off a NAM member awhile back and the Alcantara was never perfect. I think a lot of potential JCW wheel owners stay away from this wheel out of fear that Alcantara means it's hard to maintain. So I wanted to see what could be done to improve it.

Here is how we begin.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._6660301_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1478719_n.jpg

Using an off the shelf product..Turtle Wax Oxy Upholstery Cleaner
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4480511_n.jpg

Although the wheel isn't dry yet, look at the improvement after sudsing it up and brushing lightly.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7837098_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._5037186_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4451347_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._5711358_n.jpg

In a side by side comparison with an almost new JCW wheel, you cannot tell the difference by feel and almost by looks as well. I'd say it was restored 100%
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._7747114_n.jpg

We sell RG Alcantara Cleaner which works quite well and you can use the AG Interior Shampoo also.

^ RG makes solid products, try the cleaner and get yourself a nice bristle brush suitable for suedes. The brush will remove the dirt and bring out the fibers.

Thanks, I used the Turtle Wax upholstery cleaner, plus a suede brush and it brought it back to a decent enough fuzz.