Alloy wheel cleaning advice required

As title, Haven't looked after the alloys on the daily very well and suffering from lots of brake dust sticking. Don't mind what product I use just need a good way of getting them clean before I sell. Don't mind putting the work in, are the green scotch bright cloths too abrasive ?

Any advice ?

Scotch bright are very good. I wouldnt of thought they are too abrasive now. Just be gentle not too much pressure.

Get the wife to clean them ant  :wink:

I used an autoglym product 'clean wheels' on the bbs's - seemed to come up fine… spray it on, leave a few mins, brush it and then rinse well… it seemed to dissolve the brake dust and grime etc…

Wonder wheels all the way.

Do one at a time and use an Autoglym long bristled brush.

Ant, are you on about the ones on the mk4 golf?  i would avoid the scotch pads, i had an issue once before where they scrathed surface of pain quite bad and made them dull (but i think wheels had been re painted). As long as wheel still have original paint then they should be o.k to clean, keep an eye out for a local valeter and see if you can get some wheel acid off him, then make sure dilution is right and take your time working dirt loose with brissle brush bit by bit you should work the build up away

Rich

wonder wheels is brilliant stuff, although extremely effective at cleaning my driveway 8O

If you're having issues with brake dust sticking, there's a couple of methods:
- Wonder Wheels is fine on wheels that aren't chrome, or splits, or have broken lacquer on them
- If the above isn't appropriate (for one of the above reasons) then you should go for something like 'Clean wheels' as mentioned before, or a de-greaser like GUNK
- Once clean, invest in something called RimWax, it's a tad expensive, but it more or less STOPS any muck sticking to your wheels, no one knows how

hope this helps :mrgreen:

I use autosmart smart wheels for my valeting/detailing business , its an acid free wheel cleaner  and is therefore much safer to use  , its a trade product but u might get it off e bay ,off the shelf id use autoglym  'clean wheels' , i wouldnt use scotch pads though as this could damage them .
if u use wonder wheels do not leave it on too long and dont let it dry on the wheel , dont use it in direct sun light too .
once u have the wheels cleaned ur best bet is to use a wheel sealant after too .

Thanks for all the advice, I have wonder wheels and going to invest in a new alloy wheel brush, think I will take the wheels off one at a time and clean them on the bench. I will try and do some before and after shots.

Tried all the different wheel cleaners and wonder wheels is still the best.

For future like the rim wax, just read the auto express product test on wheel waxes and Mer's wheel wax comes out top.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/249277/wheel_polishes_tested.html

Just ordered it on eBay as my local halfords had every Mer product except it.

On a second note you should try harly wax, also on eBay, it is brilliant, no White residue and easy buffing, all my mates now use it  :wink:

Chris

talking of mer , http://www.merproducts.com/request-a-sample-of-mer-hybrid-wax.aspx

Pay £15 at your local Lithuanian hand car wash you get whole car done inside and out. my local one go mad if they see alloys wheels in a state.  :mrgreen:

alfo said

talking of mer , http://www.merproducts.com/request-a-sample-of-mer-hybrid-wax.aspx

got my freebies on friday  

I took my Nissan to the dealer the other day after if had been in for work and they'd taken the wheels off. They'd balanced them as part of the work.

When I got home I noticed marks on the alloys - went back to complain and it was obvious that the mechanic had prised off the sticknon weights some how.

Anyway, in an attempt to avoid paying for two new returns the service manager came out with a secret formula, rubbed the wheel and the marks disappeared!!!
I asked what it was and he said T Cut!!!

I did the rest of the wheels last Thursday and they've come up really well. The hard to remove marks are gone (leaving the scratched rim only!   ).

Add T Cut to the list!!!!

bilberry wheel cleaner - spray on - leave a while - agitate with a brush - spray again then sponge and rinse off - best stuff i've ever used and smells lovely

Sainsbury's kitchen cleaner spray cleans up a treat  :wink: