Alcantara gives the grip areas a velvety feel that the hand recognises straight away. That feel is kept with a few simple steps, done often and with little product. Here is the routine recommended by Alcantara, the manufacturer of the material, applied to a steering wheel.
What wears an Alcantara steering wheel?
The steering wheel is the part of the car you touch most. On every drive, your hands leave a little dust and skin oil on the fibres, especially on the sides of the rim, where the grip is firmest. The same spots take the wear drive after drive: the fibres eventually lie down in the direction of the movement.
These signs of wear are easy to deal with while they are recent. That is why light, regular care beats a big clean now and then. The article on Alcantara on an everyday steering wheel shows where to place the material to enjoy its feel day to day.
The right routine, step by step
- Dust often. Run a soft brush or a dry cloth over the Alcantara areas, ideally after drives that put the steering wheel to work.
- Once a week, a barely damp cloth. The manufacturer recommends a white cotton cloth, lightly dampened with water. Wring it out well: the material should stay barely damp, never soaked.
- Work gently. Wipe small areas at a time, without pressing, following the rim.
- Leave to air dry, then brush lightly with a soft-bristled brush. The fibres stand back up and the surface regains an even look.
- For an isolated stain, follow the stain removal guide published by Alcantara, or use a cleaning kit designed for this material.
The products and habits to avoid
Good to know
The manufacturer of Alcantara asks you to avoid direct steam, bleach, harsh solvents such as acetone or trichloroethylene, and any excessive heat. Printed cloths and kitchen paper can leave ink on the material: prefer a white cotton cloth.
Leather products are formulated for leather. On a steering wheel that combines both materials, keep them for the leather areas and apply them with a cloth, away from the Alcantara.
A steering wheel made of several materials
Many steering wheels combine Alcantara on the sides with leather or carbon on the top and bottom. Each area then keeps its own method: the brush and barely damp cloth for Alcantara, a leather-specific product on the leather, a soft dry cloth on the lacquered carbon. The article on how to split materials across the steering wheel areas helps you build a steering wheel whose care suits you.
And when the Alcantara looks tired?
Flattened fibres in the grip areas give a smoother, shinier look. A pass with a barely damp cloth, followed by gentle brushing once dry, often restores a more even look. Repeat the routine rather than pushing too hard in one go.
If the rim of your current steering wheel is marked by the years, a custom steering wheel lets you start again from a new rim, in the material and colour of your choice. Alcantara comes in 10 colours, to compare on the materials page.
To weigh Alcantara against the other materials, the guide to choosing your steering wheel material gives a verdict by use.
