Proper Wheel Cleaning
October 17, 2009 by Gainesville Detailing
Many people take this task for granted when detailing their vehicles. Not only do most people take it for granted but they usually do it at the worst time. Either the wheel is cleaned while they are in the middle of washing the car or they do after the body of the car is washed.
Two reasons to not wash at either of those times is 1.) The wheels are the dirtiest part of the vehicle.
2.) Chemicals used on the wheels/tires/wheel-well area are much harsher than ones used on the rest of the vehicle
Now lets address those two issues. Both of the above mentioned issues are a prime example of why the wheels need to always be done first.
Since the wheels are the dirtiest part of the vehicle they should be cleaned first. The reason they are done first is so you avoid splattering dirty water or grime from them up onto a freshly washed body. Begin the same way you would normally. First rinse off any and all loose dirt. I always make sure that I spray down the wheel wells really well. Sometimes a lot of dirt and grime can get caught up under the wheel well. Prepare a bucket with rinse water that is completely separate from the normal wash bucket. For this procedure it is good to have a couple brushes as well as a good scrub pad that is only for wheel cleaning.
On to the cleaning. Spray down the wheel well area with a good all-purpose cleaner/degreaser. Make sure you get it evenly distributed and spray down the tire and wheel. Don’t skimp on the product here. Now move onto the next wheel and do the same. Stop after getting to the second wheel. Although you can do all four wheels at once it’s sometimes hard to get to the last one before the cleaner dries. The cleaner should be left on for a couple minutes. Letting the cleaner sit for a few moments will allow it to begin to break down any dirt and grime. Now take one of your brushes and work the cleaner into the wheel wells. Some wheel wells are funkier than others and may require special brushes. Know your wheels and what it will take to clean them. Rinse your brush after scrubbing the wheel well. Begin to scrub your tires really well, they have lots of dirt nasties ground into them. For the actual wheel itself you will want to use a brush that can fit between the spokes and get into any lugnut areas. After scrubbing all areas good give it a rinse. Inspect the wheel for any signs of discoloration or uneven color. This is usually a sign that they wheel may still be dirty. If it is dirty don’t worry just use the same method again and it will come out spotless. We hope that this helps. Keeping them cleaned the right way will ensure an even distribution of the protectant that will be applied.
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