Sticky steering wheel

[Jeepwm69]

I figure here come the jokes, but.....

Truck sat up for a couple of years with the back window busted out. Had a tarp over it so no rain got in the truck, but was damp enough to mildew a little bit in a couple of places. Steering wheel is sticky now. I've tried cleaning it with regular soap/water, 409 etc, then I saw a wheel for sale that said "not sticky" so I'm wondering if this is something that happens to the old GM wheels? Anybody got any idea what I should use to get it cleaned up?

[Southcity]

What year truck/steering wheel? My understanding is that the material is breaking down and this causes the wheel to be sticky, you can try something like a 3M prep wipe on one small area of the wheel and this should remove the sticky feel.

[78 Big10 454]

I've had great success with 3m Adhesive Remover. However, I would try saddle soap for starters. If that doesn't work, go to 3M.

[ron350]

90 percent rubbing alcohol has worked well for removing the sticky stuff on my 75 model.

[BLK2K2SILVY]

I used skin so soft on mine and it worked pretty good!
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[cfan10]

My 78 had the sticky whell really bad, I cleaned it good and bought a cheap string cover for it. No more sticky.
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[Southcity]

Originally Posted by cfan10

My 78 had the sticky whell really bad, I cleaned it good and bought a cheap string cover for it. No more sticky.
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what did you use to clean your wheel?

[cfan10]

Originally Posted by Southcity

what did you use to clean your wheel?

super clean degreaser, then tide and hot water
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[azjaeger]

used a ton of Armorall in several coats...then the good old wheel wrap just like the old days....

[88Jimmy4x4]

my 76 wheel is sticky too, glad we have this thread

[big10ratrod77]

i just used hot soapy water and dish detergent on my 77

[motornut]

spray nine

[mikey882]

Sometimes an orange degreaser will work wonders.......newer high end detail shops stock it.

I would recommend the orange degreaser on everywhere you can get to.....then follow up with what we used to call "milk"

It's very similar to armor all......but its far less greasy and reconditions plastics and old vinyl rather well.
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[irishman999]

I wiped down my entire interior with paint thinner, it cut years of that nasty black gunk with no effort at all.

[88Jimmy4x4]

I tried the rubbing alcohol yesterday...didnt work on mine

[425HP409]

I have found that Napa "Carpet & Upholstery cleaner" works well with a couple of applications.

[Dsquared]

you might could use some adhesive romover. i've use acetone paint thinner. it works good. don't use mineral spirits,it'll just peez you off.

[S10Fan]

I fixed mine by replacing it with a 62 Chevy wheel. LOL

[tucsonjwt]

Orange hand cleaner, then soapy water, clear water to clean off the grit.

[bigarmzz]

had this happen to me before on a truck i had a long time ago...plain ol' prep-sol worked perfect...as it does for many applications

[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by bigarmzz

had this happen to me before on a truck i had a long time ago...plain ol' prep-sol worked perfect...as it does for many applications

Thanks, that worked for me. Took several wiped downs but finally got all the stickiness gone

[donut]

Hot soapy water and a scrub pad worked for me. (soap that will de-grease like Dawn).

If I can wipe it down with a cleaner and paper towel, and the paper towel is black or brown, get the bucket and elbow grease. When I think it's clean enough, then I'll go back to the spray bottles of "stuff" and paper towels. I won't hesitate to try other stuff (lacquer thinner, mineral spirits, carb cleaner, alcohol...) but soap and water is cheap and effective.

[special-K]

With all these suggestions,have they worked to keep it from getting sticky again?I've cleaned with a lot of things but the sticky always comes back.

[tucsonjwt]

Clean with orange hand cleaner, wash off with wet rag, repeat, dry off with dry rag, install 2 perforated steering wheel wraps (the thicker foam backed kind) to build up steering wheel diameter to newer style thickness and keep steering wheel cooler in the hot weather. The steering wheel cover will get dirty if your hands are dirty, and sticky if your hands are sticky/greasy/oily, but you can clean the steering wheel wrap the same way with orange hand cleaner and you are back to a clean wheel.

[silvereagle07]

special k, I've used a bunch of different methods and prep sol seems to work the best like bigarmzz said. But it always came back. Just guessing but the wheel seem to be releasing some of the petroleum that it's made with mixing with the oil from skin causing it to stay around.