From what I know every leather is different and usually every manufacturer has their own recommendation on products. I learned that the most common mistakes in leather care is rubbing dirt into the leather or applying care products on it before it's been cleaned. I usually use warm water with moisturizing soap or baby shampoo sprayed on cheap microfiber cloths (don't spray the leather!). Tough stains can be treated with a mix of vinegar and oil or alcohol but it will most likely discolor the leather. I like saddle soap to keep old and worn leather from breaking. Once it's clean you can use conditioner. Vacuum clean before doing anything. Use a set of brushes to get dirt out of the grooves (toothbrush, shaving brush).
I never got a steering wheel back to new just with cleaning. Sweat, finger grease, climate and dirt is hard to beat. But if you're a little handy they are not difficult to rewrap. Take the wheel off, cut the zigzag stitch and remove it carefully. It helps to mark the position with a white pencil or a Sharpie. You can try to clean it from here or simply get a new patch and trace it from the old one. It's hard to explain in detail but there are several DIYs out there. Get yourself a set of curved leather needles, the best polyester thread you can find, patience and time and it's doable in one weekend. I got myself a cheap steering wheel from the junk yard to practice. It's amazing how easy it is to fabricate good leather if you take your time.
I never got a steering wheel back to new just with cleaning. Sweat, finger grease, climate and dirt is hard to beat. But if you're a little handy they are not difficult to rewrap. Take the wheel off, cut the zigzag stitch and remove it carefully. It helps to mark the position with a white pencil or a Sharpie. You can try to clean it from here or simply get a new patch and trace it from the old one. It's hard to explain in detail but there are several DIYs out there. Get yourself a set of curved leather needles, the best polyester thread you can find, patience and time and it's doable in one weekend. I got myself a cheap steering wheel from the junk yard to practice. It's amazing how easy it is to fabricate good leather if you take your time.
