Maintaining your car’s wheels is just as important as washing the exterior or vacuuming the interior. Yet, wheels don’t often get the attention they deserve despite facing constant exposure to mud, tar, brake dust, and road grime.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to clean car wheels effectively and provide step-by-step instructions to ensure your wheels remain spotless and well-maintained.
Why Is Cleaning Car Wheels Essential
Car wheels endure harsh conditions daily, accumulating debris, brake dust, and other contaminants. Over time, this buildup not only dulls the wheels' appearance but can also compromise their structural integrity. Here's why regular wheel cleaning is crucial:
- Prevents Damage: Brake dust contains iron particles that can corrode wheel surfaces if left untreated.
- Enhances Appearance: Clean wheels restore your car's overall aesthetic.
- Improves Longevity: Regular cleaning helps maintain the durability of your wheels.
Neglecting wheel maintenance could lead to expensive repairs or replacements.
So, giving your wheels proper care ensures both safety and style.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Clean Car Wheels Properly
Choosing the right cleaner is essential when cleaning the car wheels. Remember that not all cleaners are created equal, and the use of the wrong cleaners can damage the rims and tires.
1. Rinse the Wheels
Start by rinsing your wheels with water to remove surface dirt. This step minimizes the risk of scratches during scrubbing.
2. Apply the Right Wheel Cleaner
Choose a cleaner based on the level of grime and spray it generously over the wheel ensuring full coverage. Always check the instructions while using any wheel spray cleaning agent.
If you feel generic wheel cleaners are not safe for your car wheel, you can use other specific wheel cleaning products designed for specific types of wheels(alloy, chrome, etc).
3. Deep Cleaning
For a thorough cleaning process, follow up with a good scrub to remove any stubborn stains from the wheel.
Use a wheel brush to clean hard-to-reach areas like the wheel barrels and lug nuts. Avoid abrasive tools that might damage the finish.
4. Final Rinse and Dry
After scrubbing all the nooks and crannies, rinse off the cleaner thoroughly ensuring no residue is left as the leftover cleaner can damage the wheel finish.
Finally, dry the wheels immediately with a microfiber cloth to avoid water spots and ensure a clean and shiny finish.
5. Add Wheel Wax
Finish by applying a layer of wheel wax to protect the surface and maintain shine for longer.
Use a soft applicator pad to buff the wax evenly across the wheels.
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Cleaning the Wheels
1. Skipping Microfiber Towel
Many people either let the wheels sun dry or use paper towels to dry the wheels after washing. Well, if you own a car you need to know that there's no substitute for a clean microfiber towel.
The only way to get rid of water spots and scratches is to use a clean microfiber cloth for the drying process.
2. Ignoring Product Labels
If you are a DIY person, you should make a habit of reading the label and verifying that the products you are using for the wheel cleaning process are compatible and safe to use.
3. Using a Soap Solution
Cleaning that grimy, dirty, and brake dust-infested wheels requires a very strong cleaning agent rather than just the soapy water that you used to clean the exterior of your car. So, make sure you buy a specified automotive wheel cleaner for your car.
4. Using Toothbrush
A toothbrush is supposed to clean your teeth, not your car wheels!
There are a lot of recommendations on the internet to use a toothbrush, but the bristles of the toothbrush are too short for vehicle wheels and can scratch the surface. Instead, invest in soft-bristled wheel brushes so that you can clean each corner of your wheels.
Tips for Severely Neglected Wheels
If your wheels have layers of embedded grime:
Use Heavy Duty Cleaners
In most of the cases of neglected wheels, using a stronger and heavy-duty cleaner is essential to break down the stubborn grime and brake dust.
These heavy-duty cleaners are formulated with powerful chemicals to tackle the toughest buildup and restore your wheels.
Iron and Fallout Removers
Iron removers are designed to break down metallic particles that get stuck to your wheels, especially from brake dust. Iron and Fallout removers are often recognized by their color-changing properties when they react with iron particles. If you have not cleaned your car wheels for a long time, they are a must-have as they help to deal with heavily contaminated wheels.
How Do Iron and Fallout Removers Work?
When you spray an iron remover onto your wheels, it chemically reacts with iron particles causing them to break out and become water-soluble. The color-changing property indicates that it’s working - typically the color changes to purple or red.
Let the spray sit for a few minutes and rinse away the contaminants.
When to Seek Professional Help
If the buildup is particularly severe, or if you are not sure about dealing with your car wheels yourself, we recommend you seek a professional.
Professional car detailers have the right tools, products, and experience to effectively clean heavily soiled wheels without causing any damage, which is often the best way to clean car wheels and ensure they are properly cared for.
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