[Baltimore MoFo]

I did a search and found some older threads, but I know product lines change all the time and new cleaners become available. So, what are some of your favorite wheel cleaners? I need something that will work in conjunction with a wheel brush to get the baked-on black dots off the rim of the wheel. So I need something strong enough to work, but that won't damage the surface. I had once used Eagle One all-wheel cleaner with the brush and it took FOREVER. Is this still the best choice?

Thoughts?

 

[john_in_the_lbc]

sorry for not having any specific suggestions...on products...

i just use carwash soap (after I'm done with the rest of the car).
i wax the wheels so they clean-up a lot easier.

 

[superebear]

i heard mr clean magic eraser works good, never actually tried it, i just use soap and water when cleaning my car

 

[Baltimore MoFo]

Not being able to wash the car often enough in the winter, soap and water wont do the trick for the first big wash of the spring. Through the spring and summer soap is all I'll need, but I need something strong for this first wheel cleaning.

 

[john_in_the_lbc]

well, I think there's a clear coat on our wheels so don't use any caustic chemical cleaners that would work on alloy or chromed wheels.

maybe post your question in the "ask the detailer" thread if they don't find your question.

 

[rubyred3]

griot's garage wheel cleaner is great, and safe for our wheels finish. I highly recommend it

 

[hoffo]

+1 on Griots wheel cleaner. It seems to just be simple green though which is a good product.

 

[Mazz]

I pressure wash my wheels, tires, & wheel wells. This removes most, but not all, & is very quick. I then hit the wheels with the left over soap using a soft wheel brush to get the insides.

 

[HouRman]

I also have wal-mart sold cleaning products such as the eagle one wheel/tire cleaner. It does a better job than car wash soap, but i agree that it doesn't REALLY do the best job on stubborn stuff.

Your strong cleaners are going to have an acid base. Oxylic, phosphoric, and hydrochloric. Just look for the active ingredients though you need to work quickly since acid can haze surfaces and cause harm.

The next group of cleaners are safer than acids which are solvent based. Amazing Roll Off, and Eimann Fabrik Hi-Intensity Cleaner are stronger ones than most wheel cleaners.

Do not let cleaner dry on your rim, use a soft brush for stubborn brake dust, or a cool product which I want to try is:

Wheel Wax is also a good product which supposedly removes those tiny black dots that wheel cleaner and tar remover can't. I'm going to pick some up the next chance I get.

Simple Green seems about as effective as regular wheel cleaners.

 

[danger mouse]

[quote author=superebear link=topic=70816.msg1241807#msg1241807 date=1172776927]
i heard mr clean magic eraser works good, never actually tried it, i just use soap and water when cleaning my car
[/quote]

yeah i use magic eraser for wheels, works awesome

 

[alecshawn]

F-21..The "new" formula 2001 wheel cleaner. Its cheap and it works. Simple green works great too. No need to spend alot of $$ for wheel cleaners. these two work fine and thier both under 3.00.

 

[blue06mazda6]

I just use the wash sop that i use for the rest of the car. I also wax my wheels so that the dirt don't stick to them. I even wax the the plastic wheel covers. It makes it a lot easier to clean the covers.

 

[mshu7]

I generally use car wash soap to clean the wheels. If I need something stronger, I use Meg's All-Wheel cleaner. Once they are clean, I top them off with a couple coats of Poorboy's Wheel Sealant and Meg's High Endurance for the tires. After that, all it takes is car wash soap to clean them.

BTW, if you aren't having luck with a wheel cleaner, clay the wheels like you would your paint. That will remove the embedded contaminants.

Before:

After:

 

[BetaB]

http://www.autogeek.net/wg4600.html

http://www.autogeek.net/piblontigel.html

http://www.autogeek.net/piblontigel.html
i too like wheel wax

 

[azasadny]

P21S wheel cleaner followed by Mother's Mag Polish

 

[D Bone]

And the winner is: http://www.eagleone.com/pages/products/product.asp?itemid=1003&cat=5006

 

[HouRman]

I just cleaned my wheels yesterday because I was rotating my tires and I actually just used simple green which removes the previous wax I had on it.

This always works well for me because I can clean the back and inside of the wheel with ease.

Then I use a power shot cleaner spray (like nitro blast) on the calipers, then I touch up paint them because they always get chips in the paint.

 

[rubyred3]

[quote author=D Bone link=topic=70816.msg1242358#msg1242358 date=1172789594]
And the winner is: http://www.eagleone.com/pages/products/product.asp?itemid=1003&cat=5006

[/quote]

bad idea. . .

any wheel cleaner that claims to be spray on, hose off is corrosive, and will eat the finish over time, even more so if you ever let it dry on the finish.

 

[Baltimore MoFo]

Thanks for all the amazing responses! Keep the suggestions coming if there are other opinions out there . . . this has been a great thread so far.

 

[HouRman]

bad idea. . .

any wheel cleaner that claims to be spray on, hose off is corrosive, and will eat the finish over time, even more so if you ever let it dry on the finish.
[/quote]

It's acid free and based on solvents which isn't that corrosive. I've personally tried it and you are going to need agitation because there's no product on the market that's truly 100% spray on/rinse off.

It's a good cleaner for what it is though there are stronger "acid based" cleaners out there.