Why am I so bad at cleaning wheels?

[Ernie Mccracken]

Everyone on the internet makes it look so easy. My process for painted/clear-coated wheels:

1. Foam cannon + pressure rinse
2. Heavy spray Iron-x, agitate with speedmaster brush, rinse
3. Heavy spray Meg's APC, agitate with brush, rinse
4. WHEELS STILL FULL OF DIRT - clean literally every square millimeter with APC and wet mf towel
5. Give up when back starts aching, apply opti-seal
6. Complain

Any tips to speed this up?

 

[hdez]

I won't waste Iron-X on dirty wheels. To me, is a product that should be used to remove only embedded contaminants after you wash the wheels and you are about to coat them. Yes, it can clean wheels, but so do an APC for a much cheaper price.

These do a better job than brush:
Lake Country Wool Wheel Washing Mitt

Use a bucket of water + soap. Also, use gloves with this mitt because the material from inside can stains your hands due the dye used on in.

After that, follow with a microfiber towel and do the small areas that couldn't reach with the mitt.

To me this is the more effective way to clean the front of the wheels. For th.e back, use the Wheel Woolies

 

[mwoywod]

lol, that's hilarious OP
For me, I've found Meg's APC (even at 4:1) is about the least effective cleaner Autogeek sells.

I bought a few gallons of Mckee's Cleanse-All Exterior Cleaner along time ago during a sale and I really love being able to use it on wheels, tires, barrels, wheel wells, trim...etc. It works better than any degreaser or APC I've ever used

Now I use OPC 3:1 because at this dilution it's a way better value than Cleanse-All Exterior Cleaner. OPC 3:1 for wheels and tires will make your life so much easier than D101 at any dilution

 

[Eldorado2k]

How long do you go between cleaning your wheels?

 

[BudgetPlan1]

Spend a day pulling wheels off, clean them real good, coat them with something like Gyeon Rim, hose 'em off going forward.

Save much time...

 

[Eldorado2k]

How long does Gyeon Rim last?

 

[Eldorado2k]

Gyeon Rim description: Apply to wheel and allow 2-5 min. for product to dry.
Gyeon Rim video: Gyeon rep applies it and says to give it 30secs. and wipe off... Ok. Then he says maintenance of the wheels will work by using a PH neutral wheel cleaner and high pressure rinse..

So basically I can maintain my wheels clean the same exact way I currently do, except I'll have to buy a different wheel cleaner because I don't think Megs D143 is ph neutral. I think I'll just stick to my current methods. As far as my wheels beading? I've never even bothered to look at whether wheels bead or not

 

[idriveblackcars]

My wheels are coated with DLux, then topped with Jetseal. They don't get dirty what so ever. All I use is a little soap and a QD spray and they look brand new every time.

I second the post suggesting to do a "wheels off" detail at least once a year. Clean them really good. This is the only time I ironx them. I then even grab a 4" MF cutting disk and go to town on the inside as well. I spend a really good amount of time cleaning them up at least once.

They are good to go the entire year.

i won't ever ironX my wheels when the are on the car. The stuff isn't safe for brake components and possibly could leave staining .

 

[LydiaGP]

In my opinion:

Buy a dedicated wheel cleaner. Makes a huge difference. They're formulated to address the specific contaminants found on wheels, and they clean tires better. I would suggest Meguiar's D143.

I use wheel woolies for the barrels and between the spokes, a wheel woolies boars hair brush for lug nut area, and a wheel MF for the face. I have a Speedmaster Jr. but I mainly use it for tight areas and motorcycles. I prefer the more dense wheel woolies as they clean quicker. Don't forget gloves too, to keep brake dust and wheel cleaner off your hands.
(IMO)

Once they're clean wax or coat them. Then you can probably get by with a wheel MF and normal car wash solution.

 

[Joe@NextLevelDetail]

Hey Big Ern!

If by any chance you are working on Older Gloss-Black wheels these can be harder to work with.

Try McKee's 37 Foaming Wheel Cleaner Gel Its non-acidic pH-balanced.

 

[Justin at Final Inspection]

Totally agree with using a dedicated wheel cleaner. Regular APC and even an iron remover won't attack some forms of grime on wheels. A good wheel cleaner like Mckees foaming wheel cleaner gel works great!

 

[PouncingPanzer]

Sonax Wheel Cleaner Plus liberated my wheel cleaning process last year. Spray liberally, let dwell for 3 minutes, agitate with your soapy brush or tool of choice. The wheels on my mom's Jeep when she got it were brown they had been neglected so bad. They are silver now. I spent maybe 5 minutes on each wheel.

 

[Desertnate]

In my opinion:

Buy a dedicated wheel cleaner. Makes a huge difference. They're formulated to address the specific contaminants found on wheels, and they clean tires better. I would suggest Meguiar's D143.

I think this is very important. I've used my car wash solution and I've tried APC. Even on mildly dirty wheels, a dedicated wheel cleaner seems to get them cleaner than other products. My product of choice right now is the Griots wheel cleaner (green, regular strength).

A couple good wheel brushes are VERY helpful as well when it comes to getting the job done well. A soft brush for the wheel faces and a Speed Master brush for the barrels are my tools of choice. Getting the Speed Master greatly improved how well I'm able to clean wheels.

 

[evo77]

Are we talking about FILTHY wheels? Or just dirty wheels?

Am I the only one who can get their wheels fully cleaned with a MF glove and rinseless wash solution? I don't waste money on wheel cleaners. But then again I only wash my own vehicles.

 

[PA DETAILER]

Sounds like you need a dedicated wheel cleaner. Then seal them up. After you will only need soap & water to clean them. It's been years since I have bought wheel cleaner.

 

[PouncingPanzer]

Are we talking about FILTHY wheels? Or just dirty wheels?

Am I the only one who can get their wheels fully cleaned with a MF glove and rinseless wash solution? I don't waste money on wheel cleaners. But then again I only wash my own vehicles.

My wheels will come pretty clean with just a MF wash mitt and my wheel soap also, but they are gloss black wheels and even after a wash, if I spray Sonax on them and the calipers I get lots of purple. I think I can thank my performance pack brakes for that though, as they make LOTS of dust especially on the inner bowls. I spray my calipers heavily with the wheel cleaner as I don't always like spending time with a boar hair brush to clean them thoroughly.

There are days that I don't touch a wheel cleaner though and the wheels, being gloss black, still look fine. But I know if I spray the cleaner on them I will get a color reaction.

 

[oneheadlite]

This thread came at just the right time. My wheels are totaled right now, and am finally coming into some time to be able to get after them. I'd been debating if I should pick up a dedicated wheel cleaner for this round vs just going after them with OPC and Iron X. I've got a gift card to burn, so I think I'll pick up a dedicated cleaner and save the APC and Iron X for other uses.

In the past, I never had to hit my wheels with anything other than a boars hair brush and whatever soap I was cleaning the car with, but sometimes life gets in the way.

 

[PouncingPanzer]

This thread came at just the right time. My wheels are totaled right now, and am finally coming into some time to be able to get after them. I'd been debating if I should pick up a dedicated wheel cleaner for this round vs just going after them with OPC and Iron X. I've got a gift card to burn, so I think I'll pick up a dedicated cleaner and save the APC and Iron X for other uses.

In the past, I never had to hit my wheels with anything other than a boars hair brush and whatever soap I was cleaning the car with, but sometimes life gets in the way.

Get some Sonax Wheel Cleaner Plus my friend, trust me Iron-X is a fallout remover and isn't suitable for "totaled" wheels, it lacks the power from my experience. I would relegate that pricey product to paint prep only. Some people on here have also found that Iron-X discolors theirs rims and calipers. This I have not experienced before, they may have let it dry on which should be avoided at all costs.

 

[custmsprty]

In my opinion:

Buy a dedicated wheel cleaner. Makes a huge difference. They're formulated to address the specific contaminants found on wheels, and they clean tires better. I would suggest Meguiar's D143.

I use wheel woolies for the barrels and between the spokes, a wheel woolies boars hair brush for lug nut area, and a wheel MF for the face. I have a Speedmaster Jr. but I mainly use it for tight areas and motorcycles. I prefer the more dense wheel woolies as they clean quicker. Don't forget gloves too, to keep brake dust and wheel cleaner off your hands.
(IMO)

Once they're clean wax or coat them. Then you can probably get by with a wheel MF and normal car wash solution.

:iagree:

 

[oneheadlite]

I use wheel woolies for the barrels and between the spokes, a wheel woolies boars hair brush for lug nut area, and a wheel MF for the face. I have a Speedmaster Jr. but I mainly use it for tight areas and motorcycles. I prefer the more dense wheel woolies as they clean quicker. Don't forget gloves too, to keep brake dust and wheel cleaner off your hands.
(IMO)

Wheel woolies are another one I need to add to cart next order. I mainly use a short handle boars hair brush for the faces of wheels (Confession - I usually don't fret much about the barrels as a non-pro). Picked up the speedmaster brush set a while back, and found them more efficient at spraying me with dirty soapy water than deep cleaning like the BH brush. Probably mainly user error. :laughing: