Most new cars will come equipped with a stylish set of alloy wheels but over time they can start to look dirty and discoloured.
As well as collecting grime and debris from the roads they can also pick up brake dust which can become baked onto the wheel as it produces heat. In this article, we show you the best way to clean alloy wheels.
You can clean your alloy wheels with the normal car cleaning products that you would use for the bodywork but that is unlikely to remove any of the baked-on dirt and grime. To bring the wheel back to life, you will need to use a specialist alloy wheel cleaner.
While WD40 or vinegar-based household products might seem like the best option if you want to do a proper job you will need to invest in a good alloy wheel cleaner.
These products use a solution that breaks down the baked-on dirt without damaging the wheel itself. Most will use one application then all you need to do is rinse the wheel down.
Other brands of alloy wheel cleaner can be sprayed on and left to do the work before rinsing it off. You will also notice that the colour will change which is a great way of showing how much dirt you have removed - this is very satisfying.
One of the best ways to get rid of the dirt is with a pressure washer, these are more powerful than your standard garden hose.
Using a pressure washer will blast out all the dirt that has built up on the inside and outside of the wheel. It will also get into those hard-to-reach places that you won’t be able to get to by hand.
Once all the dirt and grime has been removed from the wheel it should have a beautiful shine to it which means it’s time to add some wax.
The benefit of using alloy wheel wax is that it will add a protective layer over the wheel and should reduce the amount of brake dust build-up.
Now you’re ready to get out there and show off your newly cleaned wheels, hopefully for a long time. Remember that regular washing will help prevent the brake dust from baking on.
At JD Wheels, our alloy wheel technicians can tackle any refurbishment or repair job no matter how difficult the repair. We take the time to assess the damage and you can expect nothing less than a professional service.
If you would like more information about our mobile alloy wheel refurbishment service, then you can get in touch with one of our team here. Alternatively, you can call us on 07903 914822 or email jd-wheels@hotmail.com
