Your alloy wheels are what make your car look good, but they are also the parts that accumulate the most dirt over time. Just like it is important to wash the shell and the windows of your car, it is important to clean the wheels from time to time as well.
Some automated car-wash spots don’t pay enough attention to the rims, and those that do, they are not very trustworthy. Rim-cleaners are known to cause a bit of damage in the form of scratches, and that’s the last thing that you want on a brand-new vehicle.
The best way to take care of this is to clean the wheels yourself, and that’s exactly what we are here to help you with today.
Why Alloy Wheels?
Before we get into details about a cleaning, it is important to acknowledge the benefits of alloy wheels compared to the regular steel ones.
Rims made out of aluminum are much better because they are lighter, which means that your car will be able to speed up and slow down more effectively, by eliminating the extra unnecessary weight. This means that you will be able to operate the vehicle a lot easier, and if you ever need to stop urgently, you’ll do it without any delay or a possible traffic accident.
Another reason is that alloy wheels can dissipate the heat away from the brakes a lot quicker, meaning that you won’t be causing as much damage as you would if you were to use the steel ones instead. The last reason is the fact that they look much nicer, shinier and give that amazing sport look. Of course, all of this comes with a higher price, but we think that those couple extra bucks are worth it. And if you are already thinking about getting alloy wheels, you should definitely let a professional do a custom wheel painting. The team from Toronto at RimPerfection can help you with that, and god forbid, if you ever need a repair, they have you covered.
Okay, now that we got that out of the way, let’s take a look at the top five cleaning methods that you can utilize.
Using Soap and Dish Liquid
Now, this might not be the most effective method, but it’s so practical and can help you when you need a slight “boost” in looks, and you don’t have the time or money to do anything special. This method can be used for when you just want to casually clean your rims after a day of driving, and you can do it like this:
Grab a dish liquid and liquid soap, mix it into a can and apply it to your wheels. When you select the item that you are going to rub the rims with, make sure that it’s something that has a soft surface and won’t damage the looks. A sponge is a good decision, but you have to use the soft side of it. If there is dirt in tricky areas, you can use an old toothbrush that you are no longer using to reach into them.
When you think that you polished the car enough, you can use warm water to rinse off the mixture. It’s simple but effective and it doesn’t cost you a lot of money.
Water and Vinegar
Probably one of the most famous methods when it comes to cleaning your alloy wheels and making them look like they came straight out of the car saloon. There are numerous ways to do this, but a simple trick that will save you a lot of time is to get a spray bottle and fill it half with water and a half with vinegar.
Simply spray the mixture on your rims and as you are doing it, rub with a damp cloth piece, or any other preferred material, just make sure that it’s not something rough that can damage the alloy. This one will make them shine, according to kerbedwheels.co.uk
The Toothpaste Method
If you’ve ever wondered why so many people recommend a toothpaste for cleaning wheels, you’ll never really understand unless you try it. The new look that you’ll get is going to be more than enough of an explanation for you.
To do this, make sure that you choose a high-quality toothpaste, but you will also have to go for the one that’s completely white. This means no blue lines or stripes, no gel pastes or anything similar. Just get a plain white one and mix it with just a bit of water. When you do that, you can use a soft toothbrush to start rubbing in circular motions. When you are done, rinse with warm water and you’ll get that sweet shiny look.
Pre-made cleaning products
There are numerous options on the market that contain all the ingredients required to completely clean your alloys, but they will cost you more money compared to the other methods on this list. If budget is not a problem for you at the moment, this can be a great option because you won’t have to do any ingredient mixing on your own or worrying about getting the right water-to-vinegar ratio.
All you have to do is purchase one of these, and you even get the cloth that you’ll need with it. The rest is up to you. Pre-made cleaning products are the simplest method, but they will cost you the most money, maybe even more than visiting an automated car-cleaning service.
Baking Soda
Last but not least on today’s list, warm water, and baking soda are known to be a great combination for cleaning almost anything, especially aluminum rims. The great thing about these DIY methods is that you don’t have to stick with just one of them. If you want the best results, feel free to mix these up and use them all if you think that it’s necessary.
Sometimes your rims can get very dirty, especially if you’ve been visiting a mountainside with your car, and now they are all muddy. Nobody says that you cannot use baking soda and water, then perform the toothpaste method and finally finish with some soap and warm water. There aren’t any rules in your garage, so feel free to use them all if that’s what you wish. The correct ratio for the baking soda method is one-third of a cup filled with soda and a tablespoon of dish liquid. Fill the rest with hot water and you’re good to go.
