How to Clean Aluminum Wheels

You may have painted your vehicle's aluminum wheels to complement the color of your car, or you probably use anodized aluminum wheels to improve their looks. The major problem affecting these wheels is the oxidation which make them look dirty and old. Grit, grease stains, and tar also do their best to make them look ugly which ultimately, mars the beauty of your vehicle. Following are some helpful tips on how to clean aluminum wheels of cars.

Tips for Maintaining Aluminum Wheels

1. First of all, we will undertake the task of cleaning these wheels by taking one of them off your car one at a time, this will help you in handling the wheel easily while continuing with the task.
2. Before starting to clean the aluminum wheel remove every removable items from the wheel such as center-caps, valve stem covers, etc. This will reduce the surface area to be cleaned and you will be able to work unobstructed.
3. The hot dust particles resulting from the use of the brakes, eventually give rise to car brake problems; the dust particles mixed with tar from the road, and the grease can get stuck to the wheels. This can make the task of cleaning an aluminum wheel a tedious one.
4. If you are thinking of using household items like dish washing soap, or one of the cleaning solutions from your household collection then, understand that they are not strong enough to remove the dirt from the wheels.
5. The car wash soap that you use regularly is also not strong enough to remove the tar, grease stains or the dust that has accumulated in the nooks and crannies of the aluminum wheel.
6. Following are a few characteristics of cleaning agents that you may use for stain removal. Before purchasing the cleaning solution or paste or gel, make sure that they do not contain ammonia, anhydrous chemicals or acids. Though the cleaning solutions containing these chemicals get the dirt off the metal surfaces and make them look shiny, the effect is short-lived. Ammonia and anhydrous chemicals can etch and age the aluminum metal in the wheels prematurely. These chemicals can cause re-oxidation and tarnish these wheels.
7. If you have fitted your car with mag alloy or magnesium alloy wheels, then know that it is white in color, which you cannot improve by polishing unless there is less than 20 percent of magnesium in it.
8. The next step is to wash the wheel. Use the cleaning solution or car wash soap you have bought to get all the loose dirt off the wheel.
9. If you are going to use a brush to clean the aluminum wheels then instead of a tire brush, use a wheel brush, which is lot softer and doesn't leave scratches on the surface of the wheels.
10. Try to reach every nook and cranny in the wheel surface to get rid of the loose dirt. Afterward, dry it using a clean cloth or towel.
11. Next, we tackle the stubborn grease stains and tar that have survived the washing and are still present on the wheel's surface.
12. These can be removed using wax and grease remover solution such as paint prep. Pour a small amount of this solution in a small pot.
13. Soak a soft cloth in the grease remover solution and wipe the whole wheel several times. If the stains still persists then wipe the wheel with a clean rag and re-apply more wax and grease solution to the wheel surface.
14. Pits, if they are present, in the surface of wheel need to be buffed to get rid of them. Remember that coarser the abrasive pad or sandpaper, the more deep will be the scratches that it leaves behind.
15. Use the finest grade pad or the least you can start with is 400 grit wet and dry paper and then to polish off its work and the remove the scratches, use 600 grit paper.
16. Ideally, it is advised not to use below 180 grit sandpaper on the aluminum wheels, but if the situation demands it you can pick from 80 - 2000 grit sandpapers.
17. Be careful to stroke evenly and in straight lines, round the rim and on the faces of the wheel to get the best results.
18. When you move from one grit paper to the next, buff at an angle 90 degrees to the direction you used with the last grit paper.
19. Clean with a rag as often as possible to remove the loose debris from the surface you are working at, rather than working it into the surface.
20. Repeat the process till you are sure that the wheel is clean of all the stains and pits. Take special care while cleaning the areas with nut-holes, corners and joints, especially, where the surfaces join the hub.
21. If you are satisfied with the result, wash the wheel to get rid of the used cleaning solution and the dirt off the wheel surface.
22. Polishing aluminum wheels is always recommended after it is washed, so, use a soft and clean cloth to first, let the wheel dry and then you can use any of the polishes available or can choose to wax and buff it.
23. Repeat the steps mentioned above for the other wheels.

After finishing with all the wheels of your vehicle, you may wish to go a step further and paint the car wheel rim with a paint, but are advised to leave this job with the professionals unless you are a steady hand. Wash the car to complete the job, and with a cup of steaming coffee in your hand, you can stand back and admire your handiwork.

It is easy to dream about a shiny and eye-catching vehicle, but it is difficult to maintain one on our own. The instructions given above on how to clean aluminum wheels are easy to follow and you can get the desired results with it. Best of luck!