Here’s what you need to know to find the best wheel cleaner for you.
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Your wheels look yecchh! Wheels are almost certainly the dirtiest part of your car. Not only are they up close and personal with all the dirt, muck, salt, and grime caking the streets, wheels have an extra disadvantage inherent to the function of every car on the road.
It has to do with brakes. Every time you hit the stop pedal, your brake calipers squeeze brake pads against either side of the rotor to create friction and bring the vehicle to a halt. Problem is, every time those pads squeeze against the rotor, both pad and rotor lose a very thin layer of material in the process. That material turns to dark metallic brake dust, which, combined with heat generated by braking friction, bakes onto your wheel like the glaze on a freshly fired ceramic mug. Brake dust lying on the surface of a wheel looks awful, but plenty of folks don’t care about that kind of thing. However, leave it there too long and those tiny metallic particles can etch into the finish of your wheels, causing permanent damage.
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Because a car’s wheels are subjected to this bonus layer of pesky particulates, it’s necessary that they be washed differently than the rest of the exterior. Not only does baked-on brake dust require a more aggressive chemical than most car shampoos, washing your vehicle’s exterior with a brush or microfiber cloth filled with brake dust can ruin the paint job you’ve worked so hard to keep clean.
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We recommend a decontaminator, such as Sonax Wheel Cleaner. Spray this wheel-specific cleaner on a cool, dry wheel and wait 10 minutes or so. Though it sprays on clear, as its chemicals interact with the iron molecules in brake dust, the product’s color changes from clear to red. Once you see the change in color, give the wheel a rinse and bask in its dustless glory. If you have a set of precious aluminum wheels, take care of them with Meguiar’s Aluminum Wheel Cleaner—which is specifically designed to be gentle and safe for sensitive metals. For a more versatile cleaner, CarPro Iron X is a little pricey but offers the same potency and ease of use as the Sonax, with one key advantage: It’s safe on all surfaces, including paint. There are plenty of other acceptable products as well.
Using the absolute best wheel cleaner—there probably isn’t one—is not as important as doing the job properly and smartly. Some wheels may require a little scrubbing. But do not use anything abrasive, such as a kitchen dish scrubber, Dobie pad, or steel wool. Most wheels are painted silver or black or have a top coat of clear paint on them. Anything more aggressive than a soft brush risks scratching them and ruining the finish. Be careful and follow the product’s instructions, and you’ll have wheels that sparkle in the sunshine.
This Good Stuff Will Get Your Wheels Clean
Sonax Wheel Cleaner
$16.49
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Meguiar’s Aluminum Wheel Cleaner
$6.47
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CarPro Iron X Wheel Cleaner
$26.99
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Takavu Wheel Detailing Brush
$16.00
$13.99 (13% off)
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From: Car and Driver
Keyword: Make Your Wheels Gleam with These Wheel Cleaners