Anthony O.
New member
I would like to post up a piece of one on Wheel Cleaning to get some feedback. So I would appreciate your comments.
Make sure your wheels are cool to the touch and out of direct sun light. Spraying your wheel cleaner on hot wheels can cause streaking, discoloration and also pretty much makes your wheel cleaner ineffective as it will cry before it has a chance to work. Most wheel cleaners work by way of "dwell time" and if it evaporates too quickly due to heat then it does not have a chance to emulsify dirt and brake dust.
I am using here *** "Wheel ****" which is a very strong, yet very safe wheel cleaner that is designed for all wheel types BUT please be careful when using this wheel cleaner on aluminum wheels.
How do I know if my wheels are aluminum?
Take some metal polish and rub it (lightly clean an area first) on your wheels. If a black residue is transferred to the towel then you have aluminum wheels. If not then most likely you either have polished aluminum which is cleared or they are chrome, which can also be clear coated.
***'s "***** Wash" can be used on aluminum wheels but should not be sprayed on but rather sponged onto the wheel. Here because I know these wheels are chrome and clear coated I am spraying the "***** ****" on.
Here is a picture of the wheel before anything is done to it.
Spray the wheel cleaner into the deeper portions of the wheel first, as this will be the portion we clean first. Allow it to dwell and work for a few minutes. You don't need to drench the wheel, just get the wheel wet with the cleaner and in an even pattern.
I am using the ******** Brush to reach easily into the open wheel face. This brush works great but it can get you a bit dirty as you withdraw the brush so don't wear your Sunday best!
The exterior of the wheel is lightly cleaned with a soft flagged wheel brush (No picture for this at this time) If you wash your car on a weekly basis then you will not need a strong wheel cleaner every time, in fact you may not even need a de-greaser as your car wash soap and wheel brush should be sufficient. ***'s"***** Wash" should be reserved for wheels with heavy brake dust or for Pro's who need to get wheels clean thoroughly and quickly. It works great if using a pressure washer, a true "spray and rinse" wheel cleaner.
** **** is my choice for cleaning wheel wells and tires. Spray the entire wheel well area and again allow it to dwell a few minutes. At this same time you can spray the tires. Using a soft, wide faced brush, thoroughly scrub the inner wheel well. Rinse well.
For the tires I did not clean with a brush but rather steam vapor. The steam vapor cuts through grease and road grime easily. It also gets into all the nooks and crannies and because of the high PSI it drives out the grime.
After all the inner wheels are cleaned, outer wheels, tires and wheel wells wash the car, dry it (Car washing a drying tutorial coming soon) and also the wheels and tires.
I am using ************ Gel which is being applied with an aircompressor and airgun. This is a quick and effecient way to apply dressing to tires, wheel wells and even after detailing the engine bay.
Next comes the polishing of the wheel ( I am skipping pictures to save space and time) I am using *******'s Car Polish to clean and polish the clear coated sections of the wheel and for the metal portions I am using "English Custom Polish" which comes in several grades. My choice for these wheels is their "*******Blend", a very mild polish for metal which is in fair shape.
You can see by this picture the nice job it does with little effort, and very little residue. One is polished, one is not, can you tell which is which?
Here is a picture of the wheel cleaned, polished and waxed with ******** Car Wax. (This is 20 minutes after spraying ********s Tire Gel on the tire and before being wiped with a sponge)
- This is only a small sample of a more in-depth article so please let me know your thoughts so far. I may post up another one on engine detailing later tonight or tomorrow. Also if a moderator knows of a better place for this please move it to that location. Thank you,
Anthony
Anthony, Next time Please no Plugs for your company
:nono
Make sure your wheels are cool to the touch and out of direct sun light. Spraying your wheel cleaner on hot wheels can cause streaking, discoloration and also pretty much makes your wheel cleaner ineffective as it will cry before it has a chance to work. Most wheel cleaners work by way of "dwell time" and if it evaporates too quickly due to heat then it does not have a chance to emulsify dirt and brake dust.
I am using here *** "Wheel ****" which is a very strong, yet very safe wheel cleaner that is designed for all wheel types BUT please be careful when using this wheel cleaner on aluminum wheels.
How do I know if my wheels are aluminum?
Take some metal polish and rub it (lightly clean an area first) on your wheels. If a black residue is transferred to the towel then you have aluminum wheels. If not then most likely you either have polished aluminum which is cleared or they are chrome, which can also be clear coated.
***'s "***** Wash" can be used on aluminum wheels but should not be sprayed on but rather sponged onto the wheel. Here because I know these wheels are chrome and clear coated I am spraying the "***** ****" on.
Here is a picture of the wheel before anything is done to it.
Spray the wheel cleaner into the deeper portions of the wheel first, as this will be the portion we clean first. Allow it to dwell and work for a few minutes. You don't need to drench the wheel, just get the wheel wet with the cleaner and in an even pattern.
I am using the ******** Brush to reach easily into the open wheel face. This brush works great but it can get you a bit dirty as you withdraw the brush so don't wear your Sunday best!
The exterior of the wheel is lightly cleaned with a soft flagged wheel brush (No picture for this at this time) If you wash your car on a weekly basis then you will not need a strong wheel cleaner every time, in fact you may not even need a de-greaser as your car wash soap and wheel brush should be sufficient. ***'s"***** Wash" should be reserved for wheels with heavy brake dust or for Pro's who need to get wheels clean thoroughly and quickly. It works great if using a pressure washer, a true "spray and rinse" wheel cleaner.
** **** is my choice for cleaning wheel wells and tires. Spray the entire wheel well area and again allow it to dwell a few minutes. At this same time you can spray the tires. Using a soft, wide faced brush, thoroughly scrub the inner wheel well. Rinse well.
For the tires I did not clean with a brush but rather steam vapor. The steam vapor cuts through grease and road grime easily. It also gets into all the nooks and crannies and because of the high PSI it drives out the grime.
After all the inner wheels are cleaned, outer wheels, tires and wheel wells wash the car, dry it (Car washing a drying tutorial coming soon) and also the wheels and tires.
I am using ************ Gel which is being applied with an aircompressor and airgun. This is a quick and effecient way to apply dressing to tires, wheel wells and even after detailing the engine bay.
Next comes the polishing of the wheel ( I am skipping pictures to save space and time) I am using *******'s Car Polish to clean and polish the clear coated sections of the wheel and for the metal portions I am using "English Custom Polish" which comes in several grades. My choice for these wheels is their "*******Blend", a very mild polish for metal which is in fair shape.
You can see by this picture the nice job it does with little effort, and very little residue. One is polished, one is not, can you tell which is which?
Here is a picture of the wheel cleaned, polished and waxed with ******** Car Wax. (This is 20 minutes after spraying ********s Tire Gel on the tire and before being wiped with a sponge)
- This is only a small sample of a more in-depth article so please let me know your thoughts so far. I may post up another one on engine detailing later tonight or tomorrow. Also if a moderator knows of a better place for this please move it to that location. Thank you,
Anthony
Anthony, Next time Please no Plugs for your company
:nono
