Tires are the life force behind your car. These wheels take you to places that you want to visit. You should care and pamper these wheels once in a while. Not only does cleaning the wheel make your ride hassle free, but it also enhances the appearance and feel of your car. Clean wheels offer better traction and brakes seem to hold timely. If you maintain the wheels regularly, it will save you significant sums in the long run. You should not allow the deposition of dust or debris on your wheels. These are highly harmful for the health of your wheels and they contain corrosive elements that may destroy the appearance of wheel well and minimize the effectiveness of brake pads. This is why washing the wheels is recommended regularly. To clean your wheels effectively you have to first understand which type of wheel your car wears.
Wheel Type Specific Cleaning
·Polished Aluminum Wheels: These wheels are made of bare aluminum that is polished well to obtain good shine. While washing such wheels you should refrain from the use of any acidic wheel cleaners as the finish will react negatively against these acidic cleaners causing frosting on the wheel surface.
·Clear Coated Polished Aluminum Wheels: These are made with polished aluminum and contain a clear coat for protection sake. This wheel type is found on most modern cars. You should avoid the use of any acidic cleaners, as that will react with the clear coat and deteriorate the state of wheels over a span of time. This will result in a future need for refinishing.
·Clear Coated Painted Wheels: Another popular type of wheel for modern cars. A steel or aluminum wheel is painted and the clear coat is applied. Like all the above mentioned wheels, again avoid acidic wheel cleaners, as it will eat into the clear coat and damage the painted finish on wheels.
·Powder Coated Wheels: For such wheel types, the powder coating is applied electro-statically and the heat applied allows it to bind together. It is the most durable finishing for modern wheels. While cleaning these wheels only use mild cleaners. You may also use soap and water to clean the wheels.
·Chrome Wheels: If you see a wheel that has brilliant mirror like finish then it is bound to be a Chrome wheel. Though these wheels look great, but they have to be cleaned prodigiously. Chrome wheels can be easily damaged by road debris and brake dust. When cleaning these wheels, use a very mild non acidic wheel cleaner that has pH balanced.
General Cleaning Procedure
Now, let us take a look at the effective procedure to clean wheels fitted on your car.
·The first advice would be to clean the wheels separately then rest of the car. Use a separate bucket of water and sponge to clean the wheels. This will assure that the grime and dirt coming out of the wheels and tires does not spread to the rest of the car.
·Next step would consist of applying wheel cleaners. There are plenty of options available in the market. Choose a cleaner based on your specific wheel type and instructions on cleaner packaging. Certain types of wheel cleaners come in the form of creams that have to be applied using a soft cloth, while there are others which should be sprayed over the wheel surface.
·You should use a feather bristle brush to remove the dirt and debris deposited on your wheels. Scrub the wheels thoroughly one at a time and move on to the next wheel only after rinsing off the wheel you were working on. Get into the crevices where the brake pads are located. This area accumulates maximum dust from the road and it is also very sensitive to corrosion. Rinse the cloth from time to time, you being cautious never hurts when it comes to cleaning the wheels.
·There are special microfiber towels that should be used to dry the wheel. Dry the entire wheel. If the wheels are not dried, then the detailing solutions you would add will not have any effect and expose your wheels to rusting.
·Now, add the detailing solutions with care. This solution will protect your car in the long run, so be careful while applying.
You are done with cleaning the wheels of your car.
