Over time, aluminum wheels oxidize, leaving them susceptible to dirt build up and need a good cleaning.The integrity of your wheels can be compromised by corrosive brake dust.It is relatively easy to clean your aluminum wheels.Water, an aluminum wheel cleaning product, and a soft bristle brush are required.After gathering the materials and prepping your car for cleaning, you can get to work removing surface debris and oxidation and finish with a polish to give your wheels that just-bought shine.
Step 1: There is a flat surface for parking your car.
Chock the wheels of your car with a piece of wood to prevent it from rolling while you clean it.It's a good idea to park out of the sun to prevent the cleaners from drying too fast.
Step 2: The aluminum can be tested for a coating.
If you don't know if your aluminum wheels are coated or not, apply a small amount of polish to an out-of- sight spot on the wheel with a microfiber cloth or a polishing pad.Black will be wiped off by oxidized aluminum.Your wheels are likely coated if there is no black residual.The only way to clean coated wheels is with a clear coat cleaner.
Step 3: The wheels should be washed with water.
It's a good idea to clean and polish wheels at the same time.You can use a stream of water to remove dirt and brake dust from your tires.All parts of the wheel should be washed thoroughly.Before washing your car, clean oxidation from your wheels.It is likely that dirtiness will spread to your car while you clean your wheels.Dirt and brake dust can build up around spokes, brake calipers, and even behind the wheel.Carefully wash these areas.The stream of normal hoses can be improved by a Fireman's Nozzle.
Step 4: Put a wheel cleaner on the wheel.
There are spots on aluminum wheels.You can spray the wheel with aluminum cleaner.To keep the wheel clean, be sure to cover all areas.Skin and eye irritations can be caused by many kinds of aluminum cleaner and polish.Gloves and eyewear are required for cleaning and polishing.There are two common, non-acidic aluminum wheel cleaners.A special procedure may be required for certain cleaners.Follow the directions on the label for the best results.
Step 5: The wheel should be brush clean.
No matter how dirty your wheels are, use a soft bristle brush.To lather the soap on the wheel, use the brush.To clean the inner parts of the wheel, reach through the spokes.The surface of your wheels can be damaged by stiff bristle brushes.It may be difficult to remove these marks.The brake dust is collected by the inner parts of the nuts.To clean around the nuts and inside their holes, use a small, soft bristle detailing brush.While brushing the wheel, keep it wet.Water will help prevent scratches.Cleaner that dries on the wheel will result in a spotted finish.
Step 6: The wheel wells need to be scrubbed out.
The wheel or fender well is located in the frame surrounding the tire.If necessary, re-wet this area.All-purpose car exterior cleaner can be applied to a stiff bristle brush.Remove the wheel well completely.The part of the car designed to be sturdy and resilient is the wheel wells.The wheel needs to be scrubbed well.Keep your brushes separate.You should not use your soft wheel brush on the wells.While brushing the wheel, keep it wet.Water will help prevent scratches and a spotted finish.
Step 7: Make sure the wheel is clean.
To clean soap from the wheel, use a power washer or hose.If you want to rinse your wheel, start with the wheel well.Pay attention to the spokes and nuts.The soap came from the nut holes.
Step 8: The wheels should be dry with a microfiber cloth.
There are likely to be spots if you allow your wheels to air dry.Use a soft microfiber cloth to protect the finish of your wheels.Keep wheel-drying cloths separate from each other to prevent brake dust from harming delicate parts of your car.You should wash your wheel drying cloths separately from other laundry or car cleaning items after you have finished cleaning your car wheels.
Step 9: Cleaning clay can remove embedded particles.
Embedded particles will likely remain no matter how many times you scrub your wheel.After you have cleaned the wheel, use clay to clean it.Though brands may vary, generally, to apply the clay: spray your wheel with a clay lubricant.This may have come with your clay, or it may need to be bought separately.Put a quarter of the clay into a patty.Rub the clay over the wheel's surface.It is important to apply the clay to places that are difficult to reach.As the clay becomes dirty, fold it so that you can remove embedded particles with clean parts of it.When the wheel has been cleaned, use clay lubricant and a soft microfiber cloth to wipe away clay.
Step 10: Polish coated wheels are not shiny.
There should be no oxidation or pitting on coated aluminum wheels.Only use a clear coat safe polish, like Meguiars Ultimate Polish, on clean, dry, clear coated aluminum.To polish coated wheels, always follow the directions on the polish and apply it one wheel at a time with a microfiber cloth.You can buff the wheel with a ball shaped power polishing pad or microfiber cloth.Use a soft microfiber cloth to wipe the wheel when the polish is mostly gone.
Step 11: Before polishing aluminum, remove oxidation.
You need to use an aluminum polish before cleaning your wheels.Allow the cleaner to sit for 10 minutes after spraying it.There are areas where it is necessary to brush.Before moving on, rinse and dry the wheel.
Step 12: By hand, buff out the pitting and oxidation.
The wheel was wet with water.The best way to buff the wheel is with your coarsest sandpaper.Keep the wheel wet during this process.As pitting decreases, use a higher rating paper.Finish with your finest paper when the pitting is over.Depending on the amount of pitting or oxidation on your rims, you may need to replace your sandpaper several times.It may be necessary to use a coarser sandpaper for severe pitting.A power polishing machine will buff the wheels more quickly.If you have a power polisher, skip this step and use wheel polish.
Step 13: The polish should be applied to the clean, dry wheel.
To apply the polish to the wheel, use a soft, clean microfiber cloth or a power polishing wool pad.The amount of polishing is directed in the instructions.
Step 14: If it's available, use a power polisher.
Spread the polish across the wheel's surface when the polisher is on a slow setting.After the polish is spread, little by little increases the speed of the polisher until it reaches 3000rpm.The pad should be moving across the wheel while polishing.To clean the wheel surface, wipe it with a microfiber towel.The process can be done by hand.A polishing pad is used to buff polish onto wheels.It may take a lot of time and effort.There are polishes that have a general polish and a finishing polish.Use a clean pad to apply secondary agents.
Step 15: Remove the remaining polisher with a microfiber cloth.
The wheel should be new at this point.Continue the polishing process if you aren't happy with the condition of your wheel.After polishing, wipe the wheel with a soft microfiber cloth.Only repolishing the wheel with the finishing polish is required for multi-stage polishes.New pads and cloths are required for re-polishing.It is possible to cause scratches or dirty polish to transfer to your wheel.
Step 16: Clean and polish the wheels.
Continue this process on your remaining wheels after your wheel is cleaned and polished.If you want to prevent further oxidation, apply a wheel wax to the wheel.Most auto and hardware stores, as well as the automotive section of many general retailers, sell wheel wax.Dust can be broken from building up if an application of wax is done.