Best alloy wheel cleaner to avoid damage?

[tmitch]

I am worried that in the past I have used the wrong or too aggressive wheel cleaners (wonder wheels) on my previous cars causing the alloy wheels to deteriorate. I currently use megs all wheel which produces good results. Is this a safe produce as I've read that acid based cleaners are too harsh? People on other forums rate P21s gel wheel cleaner as a safe non-acid cleaner. I have also heard of people using P21s total auto wash a citrus based cleaner on their wheels.

Have people used these products and what do you think of them?

[Mike Phillips]

I've seen these other products you mention but I've never used them. Here's a completely safe solution, (no pun intended), from Meguiar's.

http://www.meguiars.com/?wheel-care/Hot-Rims-Multi-Piece-Wheel-Wash

[Murr1525]

The Multi-Piece works really well for me, and also good on mufflers/tailpipes.

[Kickin Griffin]

^^^^^ Why don't we get these in the UK?

I personally use Megs #36 as my safe wheel cleaner and it works very well too, and then follow up with a layer of NXT Tech Wax on the wheels, brings them up nicely.

For my non-safe wheel cleaner, and only for really grotty wheels which I know I can use the product on, I use Megs Wheel Brightener cut 4:1, works a treat but you've got to be 110% certaint the wheels type is suitable. (I also used it cut 1:1 on a reall really bad set of wheels, wokred well and the wheels came up brilliantly, but I would certainly not recommend using it at this dilution...)

[F-150]

Re: Best alloy wheel cleaner to avoid damage?

Originally posted by tmitch
I am worried that in the past I have used the wrong or too aggressive wheel cleaners (wonder wheels) on my previous cars causing the alloy wheels to deteriorate. I currently use megs all wheel which produces good results. Is this a safe produce as I've read that acid based cleaners are too harsh? People on other forums rate P21s gel wheel cleaner as a safe non-acid cleaner. I have also heard of people using P21s total auto wash a citrus based cleaner on their wheels.

Have people used these products and what do you think of them?

I've used P21S wheel cleaner. It's a very, very, mild cleaner. Expect to agitate with the sponge it comes with, it gave me good results, but the formula (for the regular wheel cleaner) doesn't cling to the surfaces like a foam like the hotrims wheel cleaners do. The Gel for the directions I think it says let sit for 2 hours (which is a long time), I have not used it because it was meant for wheels that don't get cleaned frequently. I wash my truck once a week or week n a half along with the rims so they don't get too dirty.

[F-150]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
I've seen these other products you mention but I've never used them. Here's a completely safe solution, (no pun intended), from Meguiar's.

http://www.meguiars.com/?wheel-care/Hot-Rims-Multi-Piece-Wheel-Wash

Hey Mike so is this product safe for all wheel surfaces? I don't know what type of wheels I have (don't know if they're coated or not), I just know they're aluminum.
Here's a pic of mine if that helps:

I've been relying on cleaners that I know are safe for all wheels like P21S and Hi-Tech Wheel Cleaner, but I'd like to try out this product, being that it's probably more effective in cleaning. The reason I've not been using hotrims all wheel cleaner is because it's not safe for anodized aluminum and I don't know if mine's anodized aluminum.
(sorry tmitch, don't mean to highjack the thread)

[Monk]

The reason I've not been using hotrims all wheel cleaner is because it's not safe for anodized aluminum

Lord why do they call it All Wheel Cleaner and "Safe for All Wheels" if it is not safe for anodized aluminum. I hope you are mistaken!

[F-150]

I'm pretty sure I'm correct, but it's safe for all other surfaces.