Best Wheel Cleaner
- Thread starter iStig
- Start date
Rsurfer
Well-known member
- Jan 26, 2007
- 14,159
- 26
If you seal your wheels, nothing can be cheaper than soap and water the next time you need to clean your wheels.
allenk4
In time out
- Mar 12, 2013
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+1 on sealing your wheels
There is no "Best Wheel Cleaner"
You need to match the wheel cleaner and methods to the type of wheel and what type of dirt/contamination you are addressing.
Follow the principle of least aggressive method 1st.
I go in this order:
- Soap and Water
- PH neutral wheel cleaner
- Sonax FE, DUB, et al
- Meguiar's Wheel Brightener
- Malco Brake Off (suggested by others. I have never needed it)
If you are up against some wheels with significant brake dust...try the new Meguiar's DUB Color Changing Wheel Cleaner. It seems to work as well as the higher priced versions (1Z and Sonax FE). It is much less expensive. It is available at Wal-Mart. I believe it is safe on all wheels.
Sometimes wheels can even require compounding, depending what you are up against.
Sometimes wheels can benefit from claying.
Always check the label for warnings on wheel cleaners.
- Thread starter
- #5
i wash my rims with a soap designed for rims but its becoming a pain because im a perfectionist. I spend 5-10 minutes a rim and it adds up. i had ammo plum wheel cleaner until the cheap sprayer that came with it decided to loosen and spill everywhere just like my leather cleaner.
.brian.
New member
- Sep 23, 2012
- 91
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That is a shame, because you are missing out on a lot of great products.
All of the cleaners you listed are much more expensive (per ounce) than the Mother's, and will yield the same results: a clean wheel. Mother's is $6.99/24oz. Chemical Guys is $16.99/16oz. Auto Finesse is $12.99/16oz. You asked for the best cleaner for the money.
allenk4
In time out
- Mar 12, 2013
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allenk4
In time out
- Mar 12, 2013
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Meguiar's Wheel Brightener is a Monster
Make sure you use proper PPE
It can be found in 32oz "Sample" sizes
Can be diluted 10:1 or even higher
Great value
FUNX650
New member
- Dec 1, 2010
- 21,057
- 1
Couldn't say...
I hate anything chemical guys or auto finesse!
As a rule I normally wouldn't recommend the above product to folks outside of professional detailing-arenas. However...
In your case, OP, I'm willing to make an exception.
And I'll even throw in another one of those:
"ammo plum wheel cleaner's cheap sprayers"...to boot!!
Bob
Imperial is effective but very aggressive. Be very careful on anything other than OEM/powder coat finishes.
It isn't supposed, it is fact. A bit like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute is supposedly bad for you
artofdetailing
New member
- Sep 13, 2010
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Wolfgang Über Wheel Cleaner, Sonax Wheel Cleaner Plus. Those are the top 2 IMO. If you need something really strong, Iron X or Wheel Acid
swanicyouth
New member
- Mar 3, 2011
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If you want the best and don't care what it costs get 1Z ColorTec.
swanicyouth
New member
- Mar 3, 2011
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BR is pH neutral?
e83HuskyTaxi
New member
- May 25, 2014
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I too must recommend Meguiar's Wheel Brightener. Dilute to the necessity of your wheels, combo with some Wheel Woolies (I use the Griot's version) and you're absolutely in business.