What is the best alloy wheel cleaner?

[Shadytree]

Looking for a recomendation for a good spray or liquid cleaner to remove caked on brake dust from my wheels?

[bazking69]

Proper wheel acid.

Seriously, it eclipses ANYTHING advertised as the best wheel cleaner.

[belleair302]

All the professional detailers on www.detailingworld.co.uk (myself included) recommend Valet pro Bilberry Wheel Cleaner. Dilute with water, spray on, and then aggitate and jetwash off.

http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Bilbery_Safe...

[TomM]

I used to use Wonder Wheels - until the laquer start to lift on my 8 month old Rangie - the dealer assured me it was the first they had seen so could only put it down to Wonder Wheels (or the dealer was telling porkies) But I never saw another Rangie with the wheels in the state mine where.

I use the Autoglym one now, needs some encouragement to get the hard stuff off but if used reguarly its pretty good.

[KaraK]

Another vote for Bilberry.. very effective without damaging the wheels.

[r1chardb]

I use Poles or Lithuanians.

[paoloh]

bazking69 said:

Proper wheel acid.

Seriously, it eclipses ANYTHING advertised as the best wheel cleaner.

Fine unless your wheels have been refurbed and then it strips them.

Use non acidic wheel cleaner. AutoGlym is good.

[parapaul]

Very Cherry Acid Free Wheel Cleaner is the best one I've found so far. Probably very similar to the Bilberry stuff mentioned above, but no doubt cheaper

[Dave^]

I use Bilberry, but if you've got tar on there too, you may need some tar remover or some clay...

Spend time getting them perfect, then polish them, and seal them...

It maybe dorky, but it'll make them easier to clean in the future... "A job worth doing..." and all that...

[red_slr]

I would take the wheel off and give it a good going over with Bilberry, I would go in at 50/50..

You will then need to clay the wheel, as if the dust / tar is really bad it wont come off without this step. Make sure you use lube.

Then, once its looking nice a bright and clean give it 2 coats of FK1000p or PoorBoys Rim Wax.

Following this you should only need to use normal car wash and a jet wash / brushes etc to keep clean.

You may want to repeat the above steps every 6 months or so.

If you do get tempted to use Bilberry again then make sure its at about 10 parts water as over this it might well take the wax off.

KF1000p should last about 6 months.

HTH.

[bazking69]

paoloh said:

bazking69 said:

Proper wheel acid.

Seriously, it eclipses ANYTHING advertised as the best wheel cleaner.

Fine unless your wheels have been refurbed and then it strips them.

Use non acidic wheel cleaner. AutoGlym is good.

Probably if it was used regularly as part of the car wash, but as an initial 'i've just bought the car and years of baked on dust in the nooks and crannies need sorting' fix, it's brilliant. JUst don't leave it on for too long, rinse well, and seal the wheel when done.

[cbrown88]

Bilberry is what I use, very good product.

Craig

[edo]

belleair302 said:

All the professional detailers on www.detailingworld.co.uk (myself included) recommend Valet pro Bilberry Wheel Cleaner. Dilute with water, spray on, and then aggitate and jetwash off.

http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Bilbery_Safe...

I use this (I dont bother diluting it - is that wrong?), good stuff.

[Dave^]

for regular washes, you can dilute it down to as little as 1:5... Probably even less...

[jshell]

TomM said:

I used to use Wonder Wheels - until the laquer start to lift .......

Yup, my experience too. Got a bottle in the garage that I'll never use again! Burns the skin badly too!

[Neil_Sc]

jshell said:

TomM said:

I used to use Wonder Wheels - until the laquer start to lift .......

Yup, my experience too. Got a bottle in the garage that I'll never use again! Burns the skin badly too!

Its a strong acid as far as I remember.

Prolonged use is likely to start lifting the lacquer as experienced.

[White Lightning]

Ive always used Wonder Wheels, always seemed to work brilliantly......however i wouldnt reccomend splashing some in your eye it hurts like a b*****d!!

[Fleckers]

r1chardb said:

I use Poles or Lithuanians.

PMSL

But I do use them on the company car

on my car I use Wonder Wheels stuff

[Robert060379]

Original Sorce Mint and Teatree shower gel.

[LC23]

Robert060379 said:

Original Sorce Mint and Teatree shower gel.

Don't leave it on too long though or the wheels will start to "tingle".