Clarity Car Washing

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Top 7 Wheel Cleaners

David Alexander Sinclair

Wheel Cleaning

Introduction

As any car enthusiast knows, keeping your car in top condition involves a lot more than just washing and waxing. One important aspect of car maintenance is keeping your wheels clean. After all, your wheels are constantly in contact with the road, and can easily pick up dirt, grime, and brake dust, which not only looks unsightly, but can also damage your rims over time. That’s where wheel cleaners come in.

There are many different types of wheel cleaners on the market, and choosing the right one for your needs can be a bit overwhelming. In this article, we’ll go over the different types of wheel cleaners available, and the top 7 wheel cleaners we recommend for beginners and enthusiasts.

Types of Wheel Cleaners:

here’s a little back story to wheel cleaners and how they chemically work…

Acid-based cleaners:

Acid-based cleaners are the most powerful type of wheel cleaner available, and are designed to remove even the toughest dirt and grime from your wheels. They are typically used by professional detailers, and are not recommended for use on painted or polished wheels, as they can cause damage. If you do use an acid-based cleaner, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, and wear gloves and eye protection. These cleaners have a pH level closer to 0. Here’s a pH scale provided by USGS.gov:

USGS pH scale

When to Use An Acid Based Wheel Cleaner?

You would use an acid based wheel cleaner on factory clear coated wheels that are caked in brake dust. You can use it with other wheels when you are at an expert level but that’s a topic for a different article and if you don’t have experience doing this, do not try this. Here’s a picture for an example of a wheel with enough brake dust to qualify it for acid wheel cleaner:

Wheel that could benefit from an acid wheel cleaner

If your wheels look like this or worse, it could benefit from acid. Generally speaking you’ll want to start with a less powerful cleaner to try out first to keep things safe and only use acid as a last resort.

I like to use acid based wheel cleaners at times (when they meet the above criteria) for an initial break down of the brake dust. Steps I take when washing a car by starting with the wheels when the wheels are very dirty:

Steps to Cleaning Wheels With Acid

  1. Rinse wheel

  2. Spray acid cleaner like Meguiar’s Wheel Brightener - link: https://amzn.to/3MaYWs3

  3. Gently agitate acid with a boar’s hair brush (link: https://amzn.to/3FPhtWQ

  4. Rinse the wheel with water.

  5. Spray with a degreaser so that the pH is balanced out (13 + 1 / 2 = 7) (link: https://amzn.to/3LVzYwE)

  6. Rinse the wheel again with water

  7. Foam with a pH balanced car wash shampoo like Meguiar’s Gold Class Soap:

  8. Proceed to wash the paint and windows of the vehicle

  9. Do a final rinse of the entire vehicle

Alkaline-based cleaners:

Alkaline-based cleaners are a milder alternative to acid-based cleaners, and are safe to use on most types of wheels.

Difference between Alkali and Base:

Alkali are bases that dissolve in water and are less likely to cause damage to a wheel because rinsing it will chemically dissolve the corrosive chemical from the wheel completely. A base is a substance that can accept a proton and has a pH greater than 7 and has to be thoroughly rinsed to physically remove the corrosive chemicals, while alkaline refers to a solution with a pH greater than 7 that dissolves in water. All alkaline solutions are basic, but not all basic substances are alkaline. Essentially all degreasers in the detailing world you will encounter will be alkali as they are mixed with water.

Alkali wheel cleaner products are still effective at removing dirt and grime, but are less likely to cause damage. Be sure to choose a cleaner that is pH-balanced, as cleaners that are too alkaline can also damage your wheels over time.

Recommended Alkali Wheel Cleaner:

Super Clean: https://amzn.to/3TNhOid

Why is this recommended? It’s cheap, very available, and is dilutable depending on what you need. Can be used for many different tasks and if diluted 10:1 poses very little risk at damaging your wheels (after rinsing of course).

The main ingredient in super clean is sodium hydroxide which is very popular in the detailing world for cleaning things that get grease buildup.

It can even be used on leather when very diry:

All-purpose cleaners (APC):

All-purpose cleaners are a versatile option that can be used on a variety of surfaces, including wheels. They are typically milder than acid-based and alkaline-based cleaners, and are a good choice if you’re looking for a single product that can be used for multiple cleaning tasks.

Recommended APC:

Link: Meguiar’s All Purpose Cleaner: https://amzn.to/40EvuOQ

Iron Removers:

Visit our article on iron removers here:

Recommended Iron Remover: Turtle Wax 53759

link: https://amzn.to/3TIHJI4

Long story short, iron removers are a great pH neutral way to clean your wheels however, it is much more expensive per ounce.

Choosing the Best Wheel Cleaner for Your Car:

When choosing a wheel cleaner, there are several factors to consider:

  1. Type of wheels: The type of wheels you have will affect the type of cleaner you can use. For example, if you have painted or polished wheels, you will want to avoid acid-based cleaners, as they can cause damage. Be sure to choose a cleaner that is safe for your specific type of wheels.

  2. Level of dirt and grime: If your wheels are heavily soiled, you may need a more powerful cleaner, such as an acid-based or alkaline-based cleaner. If your wheels are only lightly soiled, an all-purpose cleaner may be sufficient.

  3. Environmental concerns: If you’re concerned about the environmental impact of the cleaner you choose, look for products that are biodegradable and eco-friendly.

  4. Ease of use: Some wheel cleaners require more preparation and effort than others. Consider how much time and effort you’re willing to put into cleaning your wheels, and choose a cleaner that fits your needs.

Choosing the right wheel cleaner is an important part of keeping your car looking its best. By considering the type of wheels you have, the level of dirt and grime, environmental concerns, and ease of use, you can find the perfect cleaner for your needs. With regular use, a good wheel cleaner can help extend the life of your wheels, and keep your car looking like new for years to come.



Top 7 Wheel Cleaners:

I’m going to rate the top 7 wheel cleaner based on 5 different variables:

  • Effectiveness: how effective the cleaner is at removing brake dust and grime. 0 is not effective at all, and 10 is extremely effective.

  • Ease of Use: how beginner friendly the cleaner is. 0 is not easy to use at all, and 10 is very easy to use. (Workable time, meaning how long the chemical will be agitatable)

  • Danger to Wheel: how safe the wheel cleaner is on wheels. 0 is not dangerous at all and 10 is very dangerous.

  • Environmental & Health Concern: how dangerous the chemical is for the environment. 0 is least concern and 10 is most concern

  • Cost: how cost effective per ounce the cleaner is. 0 is most expensive, and 10 is cheapest.

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#7 Meguiar’s Wheel Brightener

Link: https://amzn.to/3zbaHGU

Price: $26.16 ($0.20/Fl Oz)


Effectiveness: 10/10

Ease of Use: 1/10

Danger to Wheel: 10/10

Environmental Concern:10/10

Cost: 8/10

This product is really one of the most effective products to clean really dirty wheels if you use it on the right wheels, wear proper PPE, and remember to neutralize the acid. However, it is not recommended for beginners as things can go south really quickly and it is very corrosive. This can etch wheels and leave them permanently damaged.

#6 3D All Orange Degreaser All Purpose Cleaner

Link: https://amzn.to/3LVAWcg

Price: $27.80 ($0.22/Fl Oz)

Effectiveness: 4/10

Ease of Use: 8/10

Danger to Wheel: 2/10

Environmental Concern: 4/10

Cost: 7/10

This product is good on cost and great on ease of use. I personally really like this product for tires and engine bay cleaning. It comes in a gallon size, so it’s a solid contender in this line up.

#5 Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions All Wheel Cleaner & Iron Remover

Link: https://amzn.to/3LVApqM

Price: $15.99 ($0.70/Fl Oz)

Effectiveness: 7/10

Ease of Use: 6/10

Danger to Wheel: 2/10

Environmental Concern: 5/10

Cost: 3/10

This product is great for using less agitation on your wheels. Perfect for glossy black wheels or white wheels. There is more of a “fun factor” for this one as it has iron remover in it so you will see the color change to purple while you clean it. Very safe for wheels, but relatively expensive.

#4 Technician’s Choice Brake-R

Link: https://amzn.to/3lLyPgc

Price: $31.95 ($0.25/Fl Oz)

Effectiveness: 8/10

Ease of Use: 7/10

Danger to Wheel: 6/10

Environmental Concern: 7/10

Cost: 7/10
This product is great if you want a product you can spray on your wheel and rinse off. Perfect for quick touchless washes. It is corrosive however, so don’t leave it on your wheels for more than 20 seconds and no more than 10 seconds in direct light on a hot day.

#3 P&S Brake Buster Total Wheel Cleaner

Link: https://amzn.to/3Zn6BGm

Price: $29.93 ($0.23/ Fl Oz)

Effectiveness: 8/10

Ease of Use: 7/10

Danger to Wheel: 3/10

Environmental Concern: 5/10

Cost: 7/10

Great industry standard and comes in a gallon size. Cost is average, but the effectiveness for a less damaging wheel cleaner is fantastic. It can foam nicely which means less potential for scratching as the soap clings to the wheel.

#2 Meguiar’s D14301 Non Acid Tire & Wheel Cleaner

Link: https://amzn.to/3JEC6Gc

Price: $28.99 ($0.22/Fl Oz)

Effectiveness: 8/10

Ease of Use: 8/10

Danger to Wheel: 3/10

Environmental Concern: 5/10

Cost: 8/10

This product by Meguiar’s is very similar to Brake Buster, but the main difference is it’s slightly more effective and can be used as a spray on and rinse off type product as well when you want to save time.

#1 Super Clean Degreaser

Link: https://amzn.to/3LVzYwE

Price: $18.29 ($0.14/ Fl Oz)

Effectiveness: 7/10

Ease of Use: 8/10

Danger to Wheel: 3/10

Environmental Concern: 5/10

Cost: 10/10

This product is what Clarity Car Washing uses for most vehicles. Contreversial perhaps, but you cannot beat the cost effectiveness of Super Clean. If you are professionally detailing, I would recommend using Super Clean for most jobs and using something like P&S for when it’s too dirty for Super Clean, and if it’s too dirty for P&S you can consider using wheel acid (again, only for the right wheels). So essentially, if you’re a beginner or non-enthusiast, I recommend Super Clean. For DIY detail enthusiasts, I recommend Meguiars non-acid wheel cleaner or P&S Brake Buster. If you are a professional detailer, I recommend getting a combination of Super Clean, enthusiast level wheel cleaners, and acid to keep a wide range of tools in your arsenal to get the best cleaning ability.

Conclusion:

If you want the all around best wheel cleaner for cost effectiveness, you’ll want to go with Super Clean Degreaser. This might be controversial to some as it’s not a dedicated wheel cleaner, however for it’s effective results, and extremely low price, it is the best bang for your buck and you can dilute it to save even more. If money is not a factor go with Meguiar’s Non Acid Wheel Cleaner, P&S Brake Buster, Technician’s Choice Brake-R, or Turtle Wax Wheel Cleaner and Iron Remover. 3D Orange Degreaser is a great all purpose cleaner you can use for things other than wheels. And if all else fails to remove the brake dust on your wheel and you need the strongest chemical, go with Meguiar’s Wheel Brightener.