Before you even think about cleaning your steering wheel, the first thing you should look at is your hands. Even on an ordinary day, your fingers can have everything on them from oil to dirt and lotions. Although these little particles may not cause trouble right away, they can add up and wear out your steering wheel’s appearance.
We all know that eating and drinking inside your car during road trips is inevitable, but ditching the super oily takeout food can prevent unnecessary damage to your steering wheel (and your arteries). Crumbs and food particles can also be lodged in the crevices or your steering wheel cover. If possible, wash your hands with soap and water after eating anything particularly greasy. Alternatively, you can keep hand-cleaning materials inside your vehicle.
Although alarms have been rung regarding the dangers of leaving alcohol-based hand sanitizer in cars, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) claims that — despite being a fire hazard — it’s unlikely to cause any trouble unless you have a lot of bottles in your car or they come in contact with a direct flame. However, it’s probably a good idea to keep yours inside the glove compartment or away from direct sunlight just in case.
