Which cleaner formy rims?

[Peter_Klim]

I have aftermarket aluminum rims with chrome lips with 10 spokes. The spokes are 2 toned in loished black and polished aluminun.

Which cleaner do I purchase? Reading what type of wheels each cleaner is designed for, it looks like mine cover at least 2 types.

Oh, and I want to just spray and wipe. My car doesn't get very dirty and I'm no longer hose wahsing - just using the Ultimate Quick Detailer - so I don't want to hose down the rims and splatter water on the car.

Here are the rims:

[CieraSL]

Re: Which cleaner formy rims?

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+G14616

[BlackScreaminMachine]

Re: Which cleaner formy rims?

Are yours sealed or clear coated polished aluminum, or are they bare? IF cleared/sealed you can use harsher and imo better cleaning products. People here have used also the same soap you was the car down with. Also All purpouse Cleaner.

Many options.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Which cleaner formy rims?

From the sounds of it these wheels are being used on a car that is not a daily driver and is kept in a garage - you're routine is to take the car out for a drive on a nice day and then wipe it down with something like UQD when you get home, and the car is otherwise never given a full soap and water bath. Sound right?

If so, and from the way you've described the wheels, the polished black is either an anodized finish or painted but the polished aluminum could be either bare metal or clear coated. A quick test with a foam applicator pad and even just some cleaner wax or metal polish will tell you which it is - if the applicator turns as black as soot very quickly when working the cleaner wax or polish against the "polished aluminum" then it's bare metal. If not, it's clear coated. If bare, then those areas are going to be very delicate, but since you're not looking for a dedicated wheel cleaner you shouldn't have to worry too much. The Quik Wheel Detailer that Shane linked to is exactly what you're looking for to fit your requirements for a safe "mist & wipe" product. If your brakes aren't giving off a huge amount of brake dust then even UQD is a perfectly fine alternative. Just make sure the wheels have cooled sufficiently before wiping them down.

[Peter_Klim]

Re: Which cleaner formy rims?

This is not my rim. And...This is pretty annoying...

I posted a link to the manufacturer of my rims, which gave the details on them. After I posted I got a message stating the moderator needs to review my post. So I guess they didn't like the link and instead post a picture of the rim - wrong finish.

I posted this post as a reply to my 1st post in this thread nad got the same message again.

I will try to put the correct riim up.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Which cleaner formy rims?

This is not my rim. And...This is pretty annoying...

I posted a link to the manufacturer of my rims, which gave the details on them. After I posted I got a message stating the moderator needs to review my post. So I guess they didn't like the link and instead post a picture of the rim - wrong finish.

I posted this post as a reply to my 1st post in this thread nad got the same message again.

I will try to put the correct riim up.

Sorry for the confusion, but as I noted in your original post, new users are not allowed to post hyperlinks until they reach a 30 post count.

The rim shown was the exact rim that came up when I clicked your link, which is why I embedded it.

If you are going to post it again, please be sure to use THIS METHOD instead of posting the link.

*Tip, right click the image of the wheel you want, copy the "image location" and then click the icon on MOL that is light yellow with the mountain and moon, then insert the link there.

Thanks!

[Peter_Klim]

Re: Which cleaner formy rims?

My rims are Work Varianza Schwert Sc2 step lip. The finish they call it is: "Black Polish"

This is a pic I took of them: ... great, I don't even have an option to attach a photo

[Peter_Klim]

Re: Which cleaner formy rims?

Sorry for the confusion, but as I noted in your original post, new users are not allowed to post hyperlinks until they reach a 30 post count.

The rim shown was the exact rim that came up when I clicked your link, which is why I embedded it.

If you are going to post it again, please be sure to use THIS METHOD instead of posting the link.

*Tip, right click the image of the wheel you want, copy the "image location" and then click the icon on MOL that is light yellow with the mountain and moon, then insert the link there.

Thanks!

Thanks.

I copied the link that took me a page with a few otherpics. OK, I will try to figure it out. Sorry, i signed up a while ago and haven't been here for a while so I forgot the 30 post rule.

[Peter_Klim]

Re: Which cleaner formy rims?

You are correct about how often and when I drive my "garage queen" car

They are aluminum with a clear coat. The lip is chrome (I think, it looks it) and the spoke are 2 tone- coated aluminum and a glossy black.

My previous rims never really got dirty at all and neither will these. So I don't need anything agressive at all to clean with. But now that I've been told I can get away with not having to spray my car with the hose, i want to not have to spreay the wheel either.

I will take your advice! Much appreciated!

From the sounds of it these wheels are being used on a car that is not a daily driver and is kept in a garage - you're routine is to take the car out for a drive on a nice day and then wipe it down with something like UQD when you get home, and the car is otherwise never given a full soap and water bath. Sound right?

If so, and from the way you've described the wheels, the polished black is either an anodized finish or painted but the polished aluminum could be either bare metal or clear coated. A quick test with a foam applicator pad and even just some cleaner wax or metal polish will tell you which it is - if the applicator turns as black as soot very quickly when working the cleaner wax or polish against the "polished aluminum" then it's bare metal. If not, it's clear coated. If bare, then those areas are going to be very delicate, but since you're not looking for a dedicated wheel cleaner you shouldn't have to worry too much. The Quik Wheel Detailer that Shane linked to is exactly what you're looking for to fit your requirements for a safe "mist & wipe" product. If your brakes aren't giving off a huge amount of brake dust then even UQD is a perfectly fine alternative. Just make sure the wheels have cooled sufficiently before wiping them down.

[Peter_Klim]

Re: Which cleaner formy rims?

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+G14616

AWESOME!! This looks like the ticket! Thanks!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Which cleaner formy rims?

A quick Google search turned up the Work Wheels website and pictures of this wheel in a variety of finishes, including the "black polish" and "red polish" variants. Assuming both colors use the same process, looking at the red it appears to be either painted or powder coated as opposed to anodized (the red is just easier to see in the images than the black) since the color looks quite deep and rich. That's probably a good thing as anodized finishes tend to be very delicate - so called "black chrome" is usually an anodized finish and about as far removed from real chrome as you can get!

None of this really changes anything with regard to our earlier recommendations - just use caution when dealing with these wheels as some of the surfaces may be quite delicate. We would recommend picking up some nice microfibers and dedicating them to use on these wheels, washing them thoroughly after use. Stick with either UQD or QWD for light cleaning, and if you ever find you need to wash them, use soap and water and a soft wash mitt only.

[Peter_Klim]

Re: Which cleaner formy rims?

A quick Google search turned up the Work Wheels website and pictures of this wheel in a variety of finishes, including the "black polish" and "red polish" variants. Assuming both colors use the same process, looking at the red it appears to be either painted or powder coated as opposed to anodized (the red is just easier to see in the images than the black) since the color looks quite deep and rich. That's probably a good thing as anodized finishes tend to be very delicate - so called "black chrome" is usually an anodized finish and about as far removed from real chrome as you can get!

None of this really changes anything with regard to our earlier recommendations - just use caution when dealing with these wheels as some of the surfaces may be quite delicate. We would recommend picking up some nice microfibers and dedicating them to use on these wheels, washing them thoroughly after use. Stick with either UQD or QWD for light cleaning, and if you ever find you need to wash them, use soap and water and a soft wash mitt only.

Thanks again!

Yes, that is the web page i had the link to in my 1st post. It definitely is not an anodized black finish on my rims. It is a very glossy black. Thanks again!