My detailer has this stuff he just sprays on and washes off with water and the wheels look brand new no matter how much brake dust has built up. hes kind of a **** and wont tell me what it is. anyone have any clue?

 

no clue but i'd love to find a rim cleaner that actually works, i've tried dozens that say - 'spray on, rinse off and it'll look like new', and you wind up scrubbing them as if you didn't use any cleaner to make them look clean again

your detailer really wouldn't tell you that?? try to catch a look at the bottle he uses and see if you can find a label, otherwise find a detailer who is actually personable, i've never heard of someone holding out on a rim cleaning solution lol

 

its a plain bottle. hes a cool guy but its like his "secret stuff". Maybe a detailer will chime in

 

Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser designed for wheels works great on the caked on brake dust. My wheels are quite new now

 

^ does it need excessive scrubbing afterwards? I can get my rims looking nice new and shiny with just some soap water and elbow grease, but i see all these products that advertise their simple directions - "Let soak for only ONE MINUTE and simply wash away, GOOD AS NEW!"... and well, its about as good as it was before i put the useless cleaner on

are there any cleaners like this? or is elbow grease the best rim cleaner out there?

 

Naw man, all you do is get it lightly wet then rub, not press, against the caked on brake dust patch (mine were in the crevices of my rim). I was pleasantly surprised at how little effort I had to use in order to get something that wouldn't come out from my last detail. Definitely gonna buy more. Target had a pack of 4 for about $4 I believe . Its the ""Wheel & Tire" version of the Eraser btw

The only thing I would recommend is a metal polish (if you want it extra shiny) and a wheel sealant afterwards , but thats prolly expected from any wheel cleaning. Now...if only my lug nuts weren't super torqued...then I can do the inside well of the rim too...stupid Costco...

 

What are you going to do if you have a flat?

Also good topic,.. Would be nice to have a spray on , spray off brake dust eliminator , minus any scrubbing.

I find that from a 15minute drive I can run a towel around my front wheels and it will be filthy with brake dust. Maybe cleaning them well and sealing them will make some of it not 'stick' ?

 

IMHO there is no subsititue for "elbow grease" combined with soap and water.

 

most of those stuff has acid in there........I would rather use the "elbow grease".....

 

^^ unfortunately i agree, i've yet to find that *magic product*, but after scrubbing with any product, the rims look new =)

 

While the sprays dont eliminate the need to wash by hand with soap and water, I still use them because I feel like they remove a good deal of the brake dust and only leave minimal dust and dirt to remove by hand. Makes the job easier.
I use the Meguirs all-wheel, but unfortunately a bottle doesnt last all that long, maybe 5 washes or so (I dose it pretty good).

 

I use Meguiars wheel brightener. It's some strong stuff, but I dillute it a good amount becaus my wheels do not really require any scrubbing.

ADAM P, do you know what color the cleaner is?

 

I've been told for chrome rims windex or window cleaner is best. I have been using window cleaner on my stock chrome rims and it works great. I'm not too sure for caked up dust and what not because my rims aren't caked with dust/dirt. So everytime i wash my car i use window cleaner for up keep and they have been sparkling since.

 

^^ hmm that sounds like a good thought, i might have to try it

 

^^ hmm that sounds like a good thought, i might have to try it