Fixed the Felt (suede shifter and steering wheel) - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

CrystalRedTintcoat · 10-23-2016, 08:51 PM

When I started on this forum a few years ago the subject of cleaning our suede shifter knob and suede steering wheel kept coming up over and over. I maintained to each new OP, at that time, that all you needed was regular use of a nubuck block and brush to keep your knob and wheel clean and the suede fibers standing at attention saluting you with reverence.

And then 1.5 years later my suede stood no longer and the shifter became smooth and slippery. I gave up. My furry nob was now like touching a plastic ball.

But today I decided to watch some YouTube videos on caring for your alcantera suede. This video in particular was good with the host showing his method on a Pur Blanc Bugatti Veyron.

In a nutshell he says to:

1) Apply a carpet cleaner to one of the following depending on your amount of soil
2a) microfiber cloth (least soil)
2b) detail brush (more soil)
2c) scour pad (most soil)
3) use a vacuum to get the fibers to stand up once again

After watching this I went over to O'Reilly's and picked up Armor All Tuff Stuff with the included snap-on Scrub Cap. I also got a cheap detail brush for $1.99 from there.

At home I grabbed a microfiber cloth and repeatedly squirted a half-dollar sized dollop of the Tuff Stuff foam on the cloth and gently scrubbed the shifter knob and wheel. I was simply amazed how much dirt came off. Half of my microfibre cloth was visibly soiled. Filthy. I'm more of a dirt ball than I care to imagine!

After this I also used the included Scrub Cap that came with the Tuff Stuff cleaner. This seems to nicely agitate the fibers and they began to somewhat stand at attention.

Finally I tried the vacuum method using my shop vac. This resulted in both visible and touch-based evidence that the shift knob was no longer smooth and slippery but seemingly furry again.

I just went outside now to move the car and was pleasantly surprised by what I'd forgotten since 2013. Wow! It seems that old furry shift knob has come back to life.

Best of luck to anyone who tries this.

-CRT

CamaroDreams76 · 10-24-2016, 01:16 AM

Great video and very informative post.

I wish this was posted when I was new. That suede kit I bought which was what everyone recommended at that time actually stripped the suede from my shifter and thankfully I stopped before I did damage to my steering wheel. My suede knob had bald spots. One of the main reasons I have a MGW shifter now.

A very similar method, the one I use now for my steering wheel:

Jayjellyfish212 · 12-12-2016, 09:24 PM

giving this cleaning tip write up a try.

CreeperRS · 12-12-2016, 11:13 PM

Nice!

h018871 · 12-13-2016, 02:11 PM

Outstanding!
Thx CRT

Jayjellyfish212 · 12-18-2016, 02:05 PM

I cleaned the steering wheel and shifter on my car today utilizing some of this info and I am stunned on how brand new they look again. My shifter was so matted it looked glossy like smooth leather and the top left portion of the steering wheels was getting there. I thank you guys a lot for this write up too as I could not have done it without this.

I used just water on a micro rag (damp) and gently used a bounce/ scuff action to clean and get the fibers to go from flat to a lifted look. My white cloth was brown when done. I then took a small medium short bristle art brush and worked the fibers some more. I then used a dry micro rag and repeated the bounce / scuff action. I could then see minor spots that were still dirty because the fibers looked just a bit different. After going back and forth between the moist rag then brush and then dry rag it looked brand new. I then used the wet/dry vac and lifted the fibers some more like the videos followed by one last brush and it looks like it just came from the factory.

XtremeBowtie · 01-05-2017, 09:47 PM

Best. Post. Ever.

BossRS4 · 01-06-2017, 09:46 AM

My shifter and steering wheel was not that bad, but after giving it a solid cleaning it felt a million times better.

I tried this Griots interior cleaner and it works very well for suede and almost anything in the interior!

https://www.griotsgarage.com/product...ior+cleaner.do

terry_b · 01-07-2017, 06:33 PM

I just use some resolve upholstery cleaner, watered down pretty good and a micro fiber cloth and a soft bristle toothbrush (gently). I try to keep up on it and it still looks very good

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

10-23-2016, 08:51 PM	#1
CrystalRedTintcoat Drives: 2013 2SS 1LE NPP GBE Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Bay Area, online, & in my 1LE Posts: 2,667 View My Garage	Fixed the Felt (suede shifter and steering wheel) When I started on this forum a few years ago the subject of cleaning our suede shifter knob and suede steering wheel kept coming up over and over. I maintained to each new OP, at that time, that all you needed was regular use of a nubuck block and brush to keep your knob and wheel clean and the suede fibers standing at attention saluting you with reverence. And then 1.5 years later my suede stood no longer and the shifter became smooth and slippery. I gave up. My furry nob was now like touching a plastic ball. But today I decided to watch some YouTube videos on caring for your alcantera suede. This video in particular was good with the host showing his method on a Pur Blanc Bugatti Veyron. In a nutshell he says to: 1) Apply a carpet cleaner to one of the following depending on your amount of soil 2a) microfiber cloth (least soil) 2b) detail brush (more soil) 2c) scour pad (most soil) 3) use a vacuum to get the fibers to stand up once again After watching this I went over to O'Reilly's and picked up Armor All Tuff Stuff with the included snap-on Scrub Cap. I also got a cheap detail brush for $1.99 from there. At home I grabbed a microfiber cloth and repeatedly squirted a half-dollar sized dollop of the Tuff Stuff foam on the cloth and gently scrubbed the shifter knob and wheel. I was simply amazed how much dirt came off. Half of my microfibre cloth was visibly soiled. Filthy. I'm more of a dirt ball than I care to imagine! After this I also used the included Scrub Cap that came with the Tuff Stuff cleaner. This seems to nicely agitate the fibers and they began to somewhat stand at attention. Finally I tried the vacuum method using my shop vac. This resulted in both visible and touch-based evidence that the shift knob was no longer smooth and slippery but seemingly furry again. I just went outside now to move the car and was pleasantly surprised by what I'd forgotten since 2013. Wow! It seems that old furry shift knob has come back to life. Best of luck to anyone who tries this. -CRT Last edited by CrystalRedTintcoat; 10-24-2016 at 12:47 AM.

12-12-2016, 09:24 PM	#3
Jayjellyfish212 Drives: 2014 1LE Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 2,050 View My Garage	giving this cleaning tip write up a try. __________________ Car mods: never enough!

12-12-2016, 11:13 PM	#4
CreeperRS Drives: 20’ Chevrolet Camaro 2SS 1LE Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,577	Nice! __________________

12-13-2016, 02:11 PM	#5
h018871 Geoff Drives: 2020 ZL1 Green Join Date: May 2013 Location: Houston Posts: 1,719	Outstanding! Thx CRT __________________ Having a Blast https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showt...php?p=10741733

12-18-2016, 02:05 PM	#6
Jayjellyfish212 Drives: 2014 1LE Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 2,050 View My Garage	I cleaned the steering wheel and shifter on my car today utilizing some of this info and I am stunned on how brand new they look again. My shifter was so matted it looked glossy like smooth leather and the top left portion of the steering wheels was getting there. I thank you guys a lot for this write up too as I could not have done it without this. I used just water on a micro rag (damp) and gently used a bounce/ scuff action to clean and get the fibers to go from flat to a lifted look. My white cloth was brown when done. I then took a small medium short bristle art brush and worked the fibers some more. I then used a dry micro rag and repeated the bounce / scuff action. I could then see minor spots that were still dirty because the fibers looked just a bit different. After going back and forth between the moist rag then brush and then dry rag it looked brand new. I then used the wet/dry vac and lifted the fibers some more like the videos followed by one last brush and it looks like it just came from the factory. __________________ Car mods: never enough!

01-05-2017, 09:47 PM	#7
XtremeBowtie Drives: 2013 2SS/RS 1LE Camaro / 1963 C-10 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NC Posts: 149	Best. Post. Ever. __________________ Thank you God for my Salvation! May others seek your Son, Jesus Christ! My 63 Double Dropmember Build "Project Sub-Zero": http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...42#post5050342 My 2013 Camaro 1LE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxa...wL5d6RnmfdJa1A 86 C10 Daily Driver "Build Thread": http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=668777

01-06-2017, 09:46 AM	#8
BossRS4 Drives: 2013 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 228	My shifter and steering wheel was not that bad, but after giving it a solid cleaning it felt a million times better. I tried this Griots interior cleaner and it works very well for suede and almost anything in the interior! https://www.griotsgarage.com/product...ior+cleaner.do __________________ 2013 Yellow Camaro ZL1 Purchased: (9/24/16) 5% Tint All Around 45% Tint on Windshield Roto-Fab Cold Air Intake Oracle Afterburner Tail Lights Oracle LED Sidemarkers RDP Tune TSP Long Tube Headers Forza Componenti 3-Way Exhaust Controller ZL1 Addons Wicker Bill

01-07-2017, 06:33 PM	#9
terry_b Drives: 2014 2SS/RS 1LE Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hudson, MA Posts: 1,387 View My Garage	I just use some resolve upholstery cleaner, watered down pretty good and a micro fiber cloth and a soft bristle toothbrush (gently). I try to keep up on it and it still looks very good Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk __________________ 2014 2SS/RS 1LE