Biscuits
Mmmm.. biscuits.. or as the majority of people call them, wheels.
Wheels are one of the most expensive components on a car, whether they’re factory fitted or aftermarket. Most manufacturers often save their best designs as cost-upgrade options when specifying your new car. So, all things considered, it’s worth having them ceramic coated by a detailer, and investing in some top quality cleaning products and equipment to care for them correctly,.
Want YOUR wheels as clean as these BMW 666’s?
All the gear, no idea. What do you need to clean wheels?
Basics:
Regular car shampoo
Wheel brush (long reach)
Detailing brush
Advanced:
Degreaser (and/or a dedicated wheel cleaner)
Fallout remover
Tar and Glue remover
Nylon bristled brush
Wheel woollies
4-finger lambs wool wheel mitt
Slider wheel bolts (to stop you chipping the caliper / disc when removing the wheels)
Cleaning wheels can be as easy as just using your regular car shampoo and few brushes; a detailing brush for the faces, and a long reach wheel brush (that looks a bit like a toilet brush) for the wheel backs. This steady setup is the staple of most car enthusiasts wheel cleaning setups, and it’ll net you decent results when used weekly.
EZ Detail long reach wheel brush.
Over time however, brake dust and tar spots begin to build up and can’t be removed with a basic setup. This is where investing in more products and equipment is important, especially if you want your wheels to sparkle all year round. Fallout remover is probably the single best product for getting that ultimate shine, as it’s this product which removes embedded brake dust, which is usually the biggest offender when it comes to making your wheels look tatty. The other items I mention above in my ‘advanced’ wheel cleaning setup all make the job easier - the nylon bristled brush for example, when combined with some degreaser, is great for scrubbing tyre sidewalls to remove any leftover dressings previously applied.
Matte Gold Porsche GT4 wheels being cleaned off the car.
As with the majority of the detailing treatments I carry out, removing the wheels is the easiest way to clean them efficiently. Whilst this isn’t practical every time you wash your car, I recommend you do it once every few months, usually in the spring time and again at the end of summer. This is because in winter the wheels take alot of abuse from road salts and grime, which can abrade the surface during cleaning, and by the end of summer they’re generally clogged up with tar spots and brake dust (especially if you enjoy a spirited drive!). Another benefit of having the wheels off the car is that it also allows access to the arches so that they can be cleaned and dressed, and also makes cleaning and sealing the brake calipers easier. But more importantly it allows the wheels to be sealed front and back - investing in a specialist high-temperature ceramic coating is the key to making routine cleaning easier. Our preferred coating is the Japanese ‘QJutsu Wheel Coat’, by Soft99. It gives unrivalled gloss and protection.
Now you know a little more about wheel cleaning, check out www.cleanandshiny.co.uk to stock up on some new products to get your biscuits looking smart. If you need any help or advice, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me, I’ll be more than happy to help!