What's your favorite wheel cleaner??

Kristopher1129

Kristopher1129

New member
Joined
Jan 3, 2011
Messages
2,861
Reaction score
0
A little while ago I bought two jugs of Sonax. I absolutely love this stuff...but the price isn't really something I want to keep paying to be honest.

Yes the stuff is awesome...but, I'm seeking another wheel cleaner. Preferably something concentrated, non acid, and safe for all wheel types.

I always have acid on hand...but I'd rather not use it as much as possible. Especially now that I've got more employees. I just don't want to see the day where one of my guys comes up to me and says "ahhhh, I thought it was chrome!". lol

So, what's your thoughts? Anything as good as Sonax out there that's cheaper??
 
P21S is still favorite ... for cost effective "safe" wheel cleaning Griots by the gallon is a deal.
 
I like the Mothers Foaming All Wheel & Tire Cleaner. I get it by the gallon. It is safe on all wheels except bare aluminum and anodized. Works great. Probably the best tire cleaner I have ever used. Better the ARO! Does a great job on the wheels as well.
 
P21S.
Been using the gel, but next time will try the regular.
 
P21S was my 1st favorite, but for STi brake dust it took a lot more than I wanted to pay for. My fav OTC WC's are Megs Hot Rims All WC and Advance Auto's WC. But, my all time favorite now is Sonax FE WC. I recently bought 2 5L jugs after going through my first .5L spray bottle of it. When I need something not as aggressive I use WG T&WC. I would say for the price and job it does, Megs would have to be my economy choice. With the subject of wheel cleaners has anyone ever had any chrome wheels peel off a layer like they were electra plated or something? I had a wheel start doing that after using Sonax on it but none of the others had any problems. Don't no if it was damaged before hand or just a bad chroming of the wheel.?..
 
Scarelane said:
Griot's Heavy-Duty Wheel Cleaner. Works great!
Click to expand...

I think this may be the route I take. But is this stuff concentrated? My problem is finding something I won't run out of in just a couple weeks. I go through wheel cleaner like candy during trick or treat, ha.

I need something that will give me 5 gallons or so. Buying non concentrated wheel cleaner just makes no sense to me with how much I use.
 
Why not use optimum power clean? You can cut it 3:1 and it is still a very effective cleaner. Also it can be used on tires and wells so that cuts out an extra product.
 
Flannigan said:
Why not use optimum power clean? You can cut it 3:1 and it is still a very effective cleaner. Also it can be used on tires and wells so that cuts out an extra product.
Click to expand...
I like using a wheel cleaner that I can let dweill for 3 to 5 minutes and not have to worry about anything. Griot's HD whel cleaner is great. It's powerful, yet it's like cleaning your wheels with water as far as safety(safe on ALL wheel finishes). OPC is awesome on most wheels, but I'm not sure about uncoated? Plus, you can really let it dwell. I do use OPC on tires and wells, though. Just my 2 cents!
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
I like using a wheel cleaner that I can let dweill for 3 to 5 minutes and not have to worry about anything. Griot's HD whel cleaner is great. It's powerful, yet it's like cleaning your wheels with water as far as safety(safe on ALL wheel finishes). OPC is awesome on most wheels, but I'm not sure about uncoated? Plus, you can really let it dwell. I do use OPC on tires and wells, though. Just my 2 cents!
Click to expand...
For a detailer who is working only on 1-2 cars a day I totally agree with you. It sounds like the OP has a bit of a volume shop though, so I don't think they are wasting time letting cleaners dwell on wheels.
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
I like using a wheel cleaner that I can let dweill for 3 to 5 minutes and not have to worry about anything. Griot's HD whel cleaner is great. It's powerful, yet it's like cleaning your wheels with water as far as safety(safe on ALL wheel finishes). OPC is awesome on most wheels, but I'm not sure about uncoated? Plus, you can really let it dwell. I do use OPC on tires and wells, though. Just my 2 cents!
Click to expand...

Mark,
How does the Griots compare to AG CWC?
 
I use a diluted ratio of a super duty degreaser called purple power. I ordered a bottle of sonax as everyone rants and raves about it, so I am going to try it.
 
pfix said:
Mark,
How does the Griots compare to AG CWC?
Click to expand...
Hey Paul,

They are both quality wheel cleaners. However, the fact that AG CWC makes it very clear of only one minute dwell time makes me a bit nervous. AG CWC is an awesome wheel cleaner, you just need to be a bit more careful with it.
 
Mine get cleaned with car wash soap, & old grout sponge, or Megs wheel brush.
 
I myself use P21S (regular) for most wheels and save the SONAX for the heavily soiled ones.
 
sy1616 said:
Anyone use Simple Green?
Click to expand...

I see this is your first post!

:welcome: To Autogeek Online!

I think at one time or another most of us tried Simple Green. For a product that's supposed to be Eco friendly, it's seriously corrodes aluminum and similar metals. This combined with its lackluster performance got it voted off the island and into the trash where it can once again become one with nature...

There are much better products available that work a whole lot better and are safe to use...
 
I recently heard someone say that their daughter used SG on her chrome wheels and they turned black. I don't know all the details on it, but I am assuming that the wheels were in really bad shape and she didn't dilute the SG at all let alone start off by rinsing the wheel to start with a we surface. Just throwing that out there.However, I just started using the purple Simple Green Pro Heavy Duty, for an APC but will try it as a WC ASAP. It is safe on bare aluminum as I just used it to clean my transmission diluted 1:3. It claims to be paint safe at a ratio of 1:5; which several other APC degreasers do not make that claim, yet state otherwise. The only things the manufacturer states not to use it on are: leather, suede, unfinished wood, plastic instrument panels, opals or pearls. I can see using this as a WC for wheels that may not need too much scrubbing. But I haven't tried it on any wheels yet so I will find out and post it.:) Sorry if I was off topic here at all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top