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      03-16-2018, 06:16 PM   #1
vancitymike
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How do you clean your rims? Favorite brush?

Why are nice rims hard to wash?? I usually just end up using a cloth for a lot of it because nothing I have works well on these wheels - has anyone found a brush or tool that does?
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      03-16-2018, 06:22 PM   #2
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I like the sponge that comes with P21 wheel cleaner.
Saw this recently https://www.lenosgarage.com/collections/newproducts

I don’t like bristle brushes personally, prefer sponges for cleaning and microfiber pads and cloths for polishing and waxing.
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      03-16-2018, 08:24 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vancitymike View Post
Why are nice rims hard to wash?? I usually just end up using a cloth for a lot of it because nothing I have works well on these wheels - has anyone found a brush or tool that does?
I've used every wheel brush you can imagine including boars hair, wheel woolies you name it. The absolute best brush you can get imo is the Speed Master Wheel Brush ($29.99 on Amazon) for the spokes/barrel and a boars hair brush for the face.

The Speed Master literally took the place of 3 different wheel woolies and cut my wheel cleaning time in 1/2.
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      03-16-2018, 09:14 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xantdieselx View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by vancitymike View Post
Why are nice rims hard to wash?? I usually just end up using a cloth for a lot of it because nothing I have works well on these wheels - has anyone found a brush or tool that does?
I've used every wheel brush you can imagine including boars hair, wheel woolies you name it. The absolute best brush you can get imo is the Speed Master Wheel Brush ($29.99 on Amazon) for the spokes/barrel and a boars hair brush for the face.

The Speed Master literally took the place of 3 different wheel woolies and cut my wheel cleaning time in 1/2.
Damn here in Canada, Amazon.ca they run in the $70-110 range lol
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      03-16-2018, 10:31 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xantdieselx View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by vancitymike View Post
Why are nice rims hard to wash?? I usually just end up using a cloth for a lot of it because nothing I have works well on these wheels - has anyone found a brush or tool that does?
I've used every wheel brush you can imagine including boars hair, wheel woolies you name it. The absolute best brush you can get imo is the Speed Master Wheel Brush ($29.99 on Amazon) for the spokes/barrel and a boars hair brush for the face.

The Speed Master literally took the place of 3 different wheel woolies and cut my wheel cleaning time in 1/2.
Damn here in Canada, Amazon.ca they run in the $70-110 range lol
Holy crap that's a lot of coin. You know even at that price I think it's worth it for the time it saves.
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      03-18-2018, 11:25 AM   #6
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SONAX XTREME spray, a hose, a wheel brush and elbow grease.
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      03-20-2018, 12:55 PM   #7
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I don't use a brush!
I don't even touch the wheels!!
So, how do I do that?
First, I clean the car every other week so the wheels don't get extremely filthy.
I buy Sonax Full Effect Wheel cleaner in the handy 5 liter containers (it's cheaper that way and you use more with this method than you would with the dainty size spray bottle).

I put the 5 liters in a 3 gallon pressurized tank sprayer :
(Don't worry you are not going to use 5 liters to clean the wheels)


Then I pressurize the sprayer using my handy portable pancake air compressor to 100psi:


Then disconnect the air compressor walk around with the sprayer to each wheel and blast the holy bejeezus out of them with the Sonax. I let the whole shebang sit for 3-4 minutes and pressure rinse off the Sonax using my Costco PowerStroke 3100 psi pressure washer with a 40° nozzle, (don't go ape sh%t, hold the nozzle at least 3-4" away from the wheel).

After that it is just a regular wash, including the wheels, with Snow Foam and a foam cannon attached to the PowerStroke.

I then dry the wheels with a Toro leaf blower on high:

and presto sparkling shinny wheels without touching them.
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      03-21-2018, 10:19 AM   #8
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I use the wool wheel brushes for the barrels, soft-bristled short brush (rubber trimmed) for the crevices and corners, and a microfiber carwash mitt for the larger surfaces. Without physically touching the wheels, it's almost impossible to get it perfectly clean. Plus, sprays can't get around bends and hit the back of the spokes or the calipers.

I like trying out different products but I've been rotating around what I currently have (Griot's, Sonax, Chemical Guys). I first spray it down with a wheel cleaner and let it soak for a minute, then physically agitate and wipe with help of ph-neutral/acid-free carwash soap.
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      03-25-2018, 10:44 PM   #9
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I'm not super picky, but a rag around my finger works better than the 3 different foam/brushes I'd tried.
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      04-04-2018, 09:41 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maynard View Post
I'm not super picky, but a rag around my finger works better than the 3 different foam/brushes I'd tried.
This. I do Sonax first to knock off the bulk of the crud, then wash the car, finally use a quick spray of chemical guys wash and wax with a microfiber towel. From there Griots tire shine and good to go.
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      04-05-2018, 10:47 AM   #11
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Rejex! Never scrub your wheels again. But, if you need to scrub your wheel I recommend this:

MR-544 Synthetic Net Speedy Scrubber. It’s available on Amazon. Wash it 3x with towels to remove any excess abrasiveness. I used these for decades on my alloys without issues. Then, put Rejex on the alloy.

https://www.amazon.com/SKILCRAFT-MR-.../dp/B009W0TK46

Last edited by MarcoZandrini; 05-21-2018 at 12:15 PM..
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      04-25-2018, 06:16 PM   #12
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Sonax, large wheel woolie, and a hose (sometimes you have to repeat this twice if it's caked up).... Then you can put some wheel wax on top if you like

Beware of that speed master brush, if you mess up the tip it's a nice piece of twisted metal that you jam into your nice wheels. It wasn't a problem at first, but the more you use it, the protective cap will fail, and it will ding your wheels
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      04-26-2018, 02:50 PM   #13
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Get wheels off the car (that 2nd set helps); put them on a table so I don't have to bend down (old back) and wash with carnauba detergent, using soft brush and microfiber; dry with microfiber; let them rest; Chemical Guys wax.
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      05-13-2018, 08:29 PM   #14
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+1 on the Speed Master. I've been using them for years. Wheel Woolies are a great tool for getting into some of the places where the SM can't get into properly such as the lug holes.
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      05-17-2018, 06:41 AM   #15
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I use a soft bristle brush for pans i noticed at WalMart. At $2 i thought WTF? i'd try it. Works perfect! Has a 1' handle, 7000 miles still like new!
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      08-13-2018, 12:06 PM   #16
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I use these (https://www.mcmaster.com/#scrubbers/=1e52049; then scroll down to "Mesh Scrubbing and Scouring Sponges") and McGuiar's car wash. Wash the speedy scrub with towels 2 or 3 times.

Last edited by MarcoZandrini; 08-16-2018 at 12:54 PM..
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      08-14-2018, 09:32 AM   #17
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I started using the chemical guys wheel wax and it does help with the brake dust based on early indications.
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      08-14-2018, 09:46 AM   #18
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I've been using IronX lately (+ what I wrote above) and it seems to work better than the other wheel cleaning chemicals.
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      08-20-2018, 01:13 AM   #19
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I always opt for black wheels and don't worry about cleaning them.
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      08-22-2018, 09:01 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcoZandrini View Post
Rejex! Never scrub your wheels again. But, if you need to scrub your wheel I recommend this:

MR-544 Synthetic Net Speedy Scrubber. It’s available on Amazon. Wash it 3x with towels to remove any excess abrasiveness. I used these for decades on my alloys without issues. Then, put Rejex on the alloy.

https://www.amazon.com/SKILCRAFT-MR-.../dp/B009W0TK46
Interesting.. I may have to try this. So do you just spray your wheels off with water? And how often do you have to reapply the Rejex?

5 stars on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rejex-High-Gl.../dp/B00GM6NF0I
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      08-30-2018, 10:32 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Geo_M240i View Post
Interesting.. I may have to try this. So do you just spray your wheels off with water? And how often do you have to reapply the Rejex?

5 stars on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rejex-High-Gl.../dp/B00GM6NF0I
Try this link for the speedy scrubs: https://www.mcmaster.com/#scrubbers/=1edrlv0. The scrubbers are in the middle of the screen.
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      08-30-2018, 01:03 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maynard View Post
I'm not super picky, but a rag around my finger works better...
Ditto. Sometimes simpler is better; it's a touchy-feely thing.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcoZandrini View Post
Rejex! Never scrub your wheels again.
Rejex has been my #1 care product for over a decade now. Love, love, love it.

Hint: Just tried their Mr. Detail product for the insides of my window glass. It's a MUST-have, also!
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