Aluminium wheels are quite durable and longer-lasting than the regular wheels. However, cleaning aluminium wheels are satisfying when you finally witness the shining chrome on your ride. 

Your wheels are definitely the filthiest part of the car as they have direct contact with the roads. You never know what your wheels picked up from the road. 

And we are here today to help you through the cleaning of your aluminium wheels. We’ve gathered all that you need to get started with the cleaning.

So, we promise not to waste any second of yours and get right to it-

9 Effective Steps to Cleaning Aluminium Wheels

If you want to keep your alloy wheels safe from harmful corrosion, it’s essential that you clean them on a regular basis. Regular cleaning can also bring a change in the look of your ride.

Anyhow, if you want to give your car wheels a proper cleaning, you’ll need some essentials.

Things You’ll Need:

• A Quality Wheel Cleaner
• Hose Pipe
• Soft-Bristled Brush
• Microfiber Cloth
• Wheel Sealant 
• Detailing Pad

Now, let’s see how you can pull off proper cleaning of your aluminium wheels.

Yeah, we’re going step-by-step to make it easier for you.

Step 1: Select Your Wheel Cleaner

You might be thinking why picking up a wheel cleaner is added as a step here. Well, it is as important as any of the cleaning steps. Moreover, it is the first and most crucial step.

DO NOT use the regular cleaning products of the household. It can cause damage to your wheel rather than cleaning it.

A wheel cleaner has all the right elements to get your alloy wheels shining. So, you need to grab a wheel cleaner first to get rid of the regular dirt.

However, if you have hard-to-deal with grime, you should grab a spray-on cleaner. A bottle of the cleaner should be enough for at least three individual uses.

If you’re looking for a quality wheel cleaner, click here. 

Step 2: Wet the Wheel

So, for this step, you need to grab your hose pipe. Start to wet the wheel with water to get rid of as much dirt as possible. 

Dried dirt and the dust near the brake are quite too tough to get rid of. So, you need to keep the water flowing for some time to give it a good rinse. Water should reach everywhere.

You add any pressure attachment with the hose to make the cleaning easier for you. The pressurised water will blast off nearly any debris on the wheel. It’s going to be quite satisfying too. 

Step 3: Apply the Cleaning Product

Now, it’s time to bring out your wheel cleaning product. Start off by applying the cleaner on the centre hub of the wheel. Don’t worry about the amount; apply your necessary amount. 

Also, make sure that the cleaning product is reaching all the outlying parts like the wheel’s spokes. 

Apart from these, you should remember to keep yourself at a safe distance after you’ve applied the cleaner. You don’t want any chemical fumes around you.

Also, if the wheels have plastic covers for the hub, remember to take it off before you spray the cleaner. 

Step 4: Let the Cleaner Set

If you’re done with spraying the cleaner, let it sit for a minute or two. As you let it sit, it’ll start reacting to the dirt on your wheels. 

So, you should spray the cleaner on all the wheels at the same time so that you save time. 

Step 5: Scrub the Wheel

Detailing brushes are very useful when it comes to cleaning your aluminium rims. So, grab the soft-bristled brush for detailing your wheel.

There’s a certain way for you to start with the brush. You need to work your brush in circles on the wheel surface. This particular movement will help you get rid of the dirt right away. 

Keep the rim screws and the spokes in mind. These are the areas where most of the dirt piles up.

Moreover, don’t forget to clean the detailing brush with warm water. You should get warm water in a bucket and clean the brush whenever you feel like.

Step 6: Rinse Your Wheel

Now that you’re done scrubbing the dirt off the wheel, time to rinse your wheel to get it totally off the wheel.

Make sure that you got all the spots on the wheel. Because any single trace of cleaner can dry at the place causing to build up unwanted residue. In the worst-case scenario, it can cause corrosion on your wheel.

However, if you have any attachment with the hose, it would make your rinsing a lot easier than ever.

Step 7: Wipe the Wheel

Time to get the water off the wheel. So, you need to wipe your wheel with a dry microfiber cloth. You should run it through every place you can on your wheel.

In other words, you want the microfiber cloth to soak up any water from the wheel. This way, you won’t have to worry about any water spots on your beautifully clean and fresh wheel.

Step 8: Apply Protection on Your Wheel

Yeah, we are calling you sealant the protection for your wheel. Well, it is indeed a protection layer as it protects your wheel from the dirt piling up and harming the wheel.

Use your detailing pad to use the wheel sealant. Rub the sealant on every part of the wheel and let it sit for 30 minutes at least. 

Step 9: Buff Your Wheels

You need to use a microfiber cloth to buff your wheels. Go in circles over the wheel surface to get rid of any extra sealant. Keep going until the wheel is shining. 

Bottom Line

Cleaning aluminium wheels is honestly fun. No need to frustrate yourself if you’re not doing it right.

However, if you ever feel that you’re not doing it right, you can always get in touch with the professionals.

If you are interested to know about the common mistakes you might be doing while washing your car, click here.

Last but not least, let us know how your cleaning went because we will be more than happy to know about your experience.