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Coronavirus cleanliness could be damaging your steering wheel


kobayashiGT
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Coronavirus cleanliness could be damaging your steering wheel

 

Alcohol-based hand sanitisers can be very hard on leather.

2020 isn’t an easy year for anyone. COVID-19 has changed virtually every aspect of life for people around the world. As we try to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, keeping our hands clean has become a key activity we engage in daily. But the hand sanitisers we use could also have a detrimental effect on the trim in the vehicles we love, specifically with regards to steering wheels.

That point is explained in this video from Craft Customs, a Texas company that specialises in custom steering wheels and other interior components. Many factory-original steering wheels are wrapped in leather, and while they generally feature automotive grade leather with a special top coat for protection, alcohol and petroleum-based products can break down that protective coat very quickly. Pretty much every kind of hand sanitiser is based on alcohol, and with hand sanitizer being used feverishly these days, well, you get the idea.

The video includes a short demonstration of how alcohol and petroleum-based products can affect leather. A piece of automotive-grade leather is hit with hand sanitiser, rubbing alcohol, and since the vast majority of motorists still have cars with internal combustion engines, petrol is also thrown into the mix.

For this presentation, straight rubbing alcohol does the quickest damage and though it’s hard to see on camera, a softening of the leather and loss of the protective coat occurs within seconds. It starts with the leather getting sticky, and once the coating compromised, the leather is easily damaged. We can see the leather flaking off as the video host runs his fingernail over the compromised section.

Since other products are mixed in with hand sanitiser, the damage is a bit slower but it still happens in a very short amount of time. If you’re grabbing your steering wheel with hands still damp from the sanitiser, you could well be causing harm. Suffice it to say, you probably shouldn’t be slathering the wheel with it.

The video recommends thoroughly cleaning the interior just a couple of times a year, but since it was posted pre-coronavirus, that might not be the best advice today. The video does recommend a simple mix of soap and water to keep the leather clean without causing damage, and it also recommends leather conditioners that don’t have a silicone or petroleum base.

https://shopee.sg/MEGUIAR'S-RICH-LEATHER-SPRAY-G10916-AND-EDGELESS-MICROFIBER-i.92935577.1582174839

https://shopee.sg/Lexol-Spray-Leather-Conditioner-500ml-(genuine-Leather-Chair-Special-Care)-i.191408058.3605073162

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Thanks for sharing this great info... No way to use Alcohol wipes on all vinyl and leather, it will becomes very sticky, dry up and get damaged.

When Singapore raise to Dorscon orange, I immediately went to my 2 master distributor to find out which products contain disinfectant.

https://www.facebook.com/Optivax/

https://www.mycarforum.com/forums/topic/2406646-duragloss-optimum-car-care-products-opticoat-pro-coating-promo-deals-to-your-car-clean-and-shine/?page=187

Check out how i clean and disinfect steering wheel

https://www.mycarforum.com/forums/topic/2406646-duragloss-optimum-car-care-products-opticoat-pro-coating-promo-deals-to-your-car-clean-and-shine/?page=189

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9 minutes ago, Inlinefour said:

no worries your syt colleague @ quotz taught me the right way to do it :inlove:

share lei ... 

sic ... [grouphug]

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58 minutes ago, Turboflat4 said:

Would armor all leather care help for protection against solvent damage? 

 Not too sure. But the host did suggest not to use armor all original protectant.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I1QFZU/ref=dp_cerb_1

I don't think leather care will damage leather lah. If not the company will eat lawsuit until drop pants liao. 🤣

Usually for interior, I will use the dettol wipes.

123123.jpg?width=320&height=320

Should be okay lah.  But i never clean my steering wheel one. hahahah.

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(edited)
1 hour ago, Turboflat4 said:

Would armor all leather care help for protection against solvent damage? 

Yes any leather conditioner will help. Most importantly no petroleum in it..

Best grab those containing nanolin or mink oil in it . I use hand to apply them on leather.😆

 

Edited by Maddriver
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53 minutes ago, kobayashiGT said:

 Not too sure. But the host did suggest not to use armor all original protectant.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I1QFZU/ref=dp_cerb_1

I don't think leather care will damage leather lah. If not the company will eat lawsuit until drop pants liao. 🤣

Usually for interior, I will use the dettol wipes.

123123.jpg?width=320&height=320

Should be okay lah.  But i never clean my steering wheel one. hahahah.

Mac serviced recently, sprayed everything including a/c vents with dettol spray then let hot air blow thru for a few mins. Then used isopropyl alc wipes for everything including steering. 

Don't care, my car must be germ free. 😂

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49 minutes ago, Turboflat4 said:

Mac serviced recently, sprayed everything including a/c vents with dettol spray then let hot air blow thru for a few mins. Then used isopropyl alc wipes for everything including steering. 

Don't care, my car must be germ free. 😂

Different perspective. hahhaa. You rather change leather than change your life. 🤙

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You mean just cos of covid then everybody become more goot lat in cleaning car interior? Wearing your mask properly and avoid touching your face is probably a better idea.

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Wearing your wedding band or rings on your fingers damage your steering even more  - look at the extensive wear and tear due to the ring rubbing against the steering.

It is for this reason that I refuse to put on my wedding band. 😁

image.png.f4fe782ca1db0e743c22f4b02c8cdf16.png

Edited by Vinceng
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2 hours ago, Vinceng said:

Wearing your wedding band or rings on your fingers damage your steering even more  - look at the extensive wear and tear due to the ring rubbing against the steering.

It is for this reason that I refuse to put on my wedding band. 😁

image.png.f4fe782ca1db0e743c22f4b02c8cdf16.png

Life lesson 101. 🙂

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Neutral Newbie

I usually use just mild anti bacterial wipes from NTUC or dettol to keep the interior in BNIB condition.

If alcohol wipe every interior surface, then smoker use lighter how? 😂

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