Wheel well cleaning when doing a WW or Rinseless?

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Romans5.8

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Hey all,

So I'm running into an issue of dirty wheel wells. I spray them at the coin op but that's about the best I can do. Since a 2 bucket wash really isn't an option for me in this cold weather (no garage), what's a good way to clean the wheel wells?

One way could be a brush in a rinseless wash solution but the issue is drying- wouldn't it be necessary to dry the wheel wells (or not?). If not- that's my game plan. If so, then what's the best way to go about that? Problem is, over the years- on my wifes car (It's an '02) the wheel wells have been pretty heavily chewed up. It would tear a towel to shreds!

Thoughts?
 
I use my left over solution when doing my rinseless wash to clean out the wheelwells. I have a pair of mf gloves I picked up from Autozone to clean the tires, wheels and wheelwells, works out great!

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Rinseless wash solutions like ONR work GREAT at cleaning wheel wells. Just be sure to use a old MF towel cause it'll ruin your nice MF towels with all the crud thats in there.
 
Will they work just as well using a brush?

The wells on the Taurus are pretty chewed up (Gravel roads, rocks, grit; it's all scarred up). I think a MF towel would be useless.
 
In the summer time I will use a jack to lift the cars suspension gently to get in the small areas but in winter I spray with high pressure water at the coin place, then spray some ONR and use a worn out microfiber or a terry cloth for the wheel wells.
 
Romans5.8 said:
Will they work just as well using a brush?

The wells on the Taurus are pretty chewed up (Gravel roads, rocks, grit; it's all scarred up). I think a MF towel would be useless.
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If its winter time and they are "pretty chewed up", my question is....why are you worrying about cleaning the wheel wells? I say leave them til spring time.
 
07gtcs said:
If its winter time and they are "pretty chewed up", my question is....why are you worrying about cleaning the wheel wells? I say leave them til spring time.
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Well when I say pretty chewed up, I'm referring to the condition of the plastic; not dirt. Essentially, the plastic is full of pits, gouges, and deep scratches along with 'burrs' and other things that would grab and rip at towels; especially a microfiber. It's a 10 year old car with 167,000 miles on it. But just because it's old doesn't mean it needs to be neglected (It looks pretty great if I do say so myself) That's why I wanted to know if I could just use a wheel well brush with a rinseless solution.

Why am I worried about it? Well- because I want my car to be clean. Dirty wheels and wheel wells look awful! I don't live in an area where we get tons of snow, so it's not like they are going to be caked in snow and stuff all winter.

With all due respect- why not just leave the whole car until spring; or better yet, never clean it at all! Nah. If there's a good way to get them clean without a hose and a 2 bucket wash- I'd love to know about it!

I got some good responses in here. I guess I should just 'try it' and see what happens. I guess I'm worried about residue from not being able to dry it properly but we will see.
 
Great advice above. I still subscribe to using the garden pump/sprayer for washes like this, especially in winter months. I start by spraying the wells, tires, and wheels, and then continue working from top to bottom, panel by panel...ultimately finishing with these items. I too have a few dedicated old MF towels for this purpose. Works like a charm. FWIW, I also have a bottle of Poorboys Bio APC in a a 6:1 dilution. It's great for these areas - especially tires and wells.
 
I either spray a rinseless solution into the well or use a bucket with rinseless in it. If I spray I wipe with some older junky towel I could care less about like the ones from BJs. If I use the bucket I use the mother wheel well brush. Usually does the trick.


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Take your APC with you to the coin op along with your WW brush and empty bucket. Rinse the car with HP rinse and put some water in the bucket also. After the cycle ends, go around and spray the wheel wells with APC. Then go around and scrub with the brush. Run another HP rinse cycle. For me the initial cycle is $2.25, so doing this costs me $5.50...but I only do it maybe once a month or so (the other times I get out of there for @ $3 or so...I don't do the spot-free rinse though as I typically am going straight home to do a RW). Can also do the wheel barrels during this method too. I take a spray bottle of diluted DG901 (since I have sealant on the wheels, I don't want to use APC), spray each wheel, then go around with the Daytona. I'll give the tires a quick scrub too (also pre-soaked with the diluted DG901).
 
I use a brush and old shop towels to clean the wheel wells after I wash the car , using the same solution.
I use my sprayer to pre-soak the area to soften the dirt and grime.
Now that I have WG Trim Sealant I plan on sealing them well next time I clean them, that way I'll have protection throughout the winter and look nice in the process.:dblthumb2:
 
I didn't like Megs WE but it does work on cracked up grime. Mainly I like it for the dirt behind the wheel. If u spray it before u coin op spray and scrub a bit ur rims will be good and clean. Otherwise use sonax or Iron-X. Brown royal is an awesome choice for a cheap wheel cleaner. Look into it and u will be happy u did.
 
If your only worries are left-over WW or RW residues on the wheel wells; and, getting them dry:

Remember: These "types" of cleaning solutions are water-based emulsions...
You can just use some plain ol' water (distilled=better water) to rinse the rinseless/waterless, as it were.
If available: Coin-op's wand (set on spot-free rinse only).

Wipe-down/Drying wheel wells?
You'll never hear of me ever using (or recommending) microfiber towels on wheel wells (or tires)...
Regardless of the MF-Towels condition. That's the job I reserve for old bath/hand towels.

:)

Bob
 
You know what works well for this type of detail?
Those blue paper shop towels, not like regular paper towels, they hold up pretty good, after your done with it just toss it:dblthumb2:
I always keep a couple of rolls of it.



FUNX725 said:
If your only worries are left-over WW or RW residues on the wheel wells; and, getting them dry:

Remember: These "types" of cleaning solutions are water-based emulsions...
You can just use some plain ol' water (distilled=better water) to rinse the rinseless/waterless, as it were.
If available: Coin-op's wand (set on spot-free rinse only).

Wipe-down/Drying wheel wells?
You'll never hear of me ever using (or recommending) microfiber towels on wheel wells (or tires)...
Regardless of the MF-Towels condition. That's the job I reserve for old bath/hand towels.

:)

Bob
Click to expand...
 
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