Your car’s wheels are the most susceptible parts when trying to deal with dirt and scratches. Wheels are considered to be a vehicle’s first defense line and they also play a major role in making sure you are separated from the ground. This is the reason why you would get to see some scratches on your tires as a result of the twigs, scuffs, rock and more that they come in contact with.
They also tend to accumulate oil, dirt, grease and grime and that is why taking your car to car wash regularly is a good idea but the truth which you are yet to figure out is, washing your car at the car wash would not get rid of those dirt, grime, grease stains completely from your car wheels. Fortunately for car owners, there are suitable options that they can make use of themselves to get rid of these stains from their wheels.
If you intend saving yourself the stress of visiting the car wash regularly and also spending money unnecessarily then sit back and relax as we take you into the world of wheel cleaners.
You would find it pretty cool and relaxing to clean your car wheels when working with a reliable wheel cleaner but most people find it as a painful or stressful act to engage in and this is because they do not make use of the right cleaning materials especially a wheel cleaner. Typical alloys even though they are quite nice to look at is also a good way to trap dust mud and dirt as well as grime too.
There are a quite nice wheel cleaner products on the market that you should take a look at but that would be another stress because you would be taking a look at thousands of wheel cleaners.
Well, we have got you covered as this review talks about the 10 best wheel cleaner which would get your wheels looking brand new again. Without wasting further time, let us take a look a look at these 10 best wheel cleaner products:
1. Sonax (230200-755) Wheel Cleaner Full Effect
One glaring aspect of this wheel cleaner is knowing that one can actually make use of the various types of wheel finishes, trims and surfaces. This is what makes the Sonox product to stand out from other products on the market. Its impressive formulation is carefully balanced and what this simply means is that this product has the right type of pH and acid-free balance. This makes it the best product when dealing with caked grime or caked dirt.
Now, that isn’t just all you need to know about this product as it also works in improving and changing color as it is being used. This product produces a luminous pink shade as it is being worked with to get rid of dirt and what more, and this product is very effective to the point where you have to clean until its wheels are spotless. At this point, you would no longer be able to see the pink color anymore.
This also makes this product the perfect choice for cleaning up all the nooks and crannies of a car wheel.
Key Features:
- Its formulation is quite safe therefore making it ideal for use several wheel finishes
- It is also very safe as it doesn’t contain acid in its formula
- Would turn luminous pink as work is being done
2. CarGuys Super Cleaner – Effective All-Purpose Cleaner
Now, looking at the name of this product, you would be wondering why we have gone on to include a product that doesn’t state or have a “wheel cleaner” attached to its name. Now this leaves you wondering if we have made a mistake and at the same time also asking or wondering what this product is capable of. We are here to tell you that this product is Car Guys is simply exceptional.
Having this product means you have an ideal product that would replace all other cleaning products that you work with and when we say all other cleaning products, we also include your car wheel cleaner product. One good aspect of this product is its safety as its formulation ensures using this product on various surfaces but not on instrument and glass panel screens.
Working with this cleaner product is very easy as you can spray and end up getting an amazing clean from this mild and non-toxic cleaner. Now, in conclusion, you can clean up several surfaces using this product and what’s more, it also comes along with a towel for free each time you purchase.
Key Features:
- Formulated to work on various surfaces
- Also comes with a free towel
- Its formulation is non-toxic and that means it doesn’t contain Ammonia
3. MEGUIAR’S G9524 Hot Rims Wheel Cleaner
Let us take your mind back to a movie scene a bit and this movie is the Ghostbuster 2 where pink slime was sprayed all over the statue of liberty in an effort to make the statue walk. Now that method of application could also serve as a guide for customers who intend making use of this product. But before making use of this product, there are first certain things you need to know about this product.
This product is designed to produce a foam when sprayed onto the wheels for cleaning and you would also be impressed at how this product would be able to hold on to surfaces that are being cleaned even though such surfaces are in a vertical position.
This makes applying this product very fast and simple. All that is required is to spray onto the surface to be cleaned then allow it do its job of breaking down grime and dirt before wiping off with ease.
It features a mild formula that would go easy on rubber, trims and factory paints and one doesn’t have to be extremely picky when trying to spray this product onto a surface. It is a very affordable product that users would find easy to make use and also offer users shiny and sparkling results.
Key Features:
- Would apply with ease
- Would rinse off with ease
- Safe to use of tires, rims and paints
- This is also a foam-based product
4. Mothers 05924 Foaming Wheel & Tire Cleaner
This is also another cheap wheel cleaner product to make it to this review but you shouldn’t allow its cheap price tag to fool you. There is a lot of potentials contained in this bottle than that which the eye sees and after figuring out what this product is capable of, you would be surprised at why its price tag is so cheap and affordable. Just like every other product that we have ended up talking about, this product can be used on a wide range of surfaces.
It is also very easy to apply and that is why it can also be used on chrome and painted surfaces. This wheel cleaner is also formulated to produce foam capable of penetrating caked dirt and at the same time car owners have nothing to worry about as its foam would not harm your car paint.
This foam goes tough on dirt and doesn’t require scrubbing to rinse off and now you know that you are getting a high quality and professional cleaner at a cheaper rate.
Key Features:
- Has a non-acidic formulation
- Would produce a foaming spray for cleaning
5. TriNova Wheel Cleaner Rim Cleaning Spray
Now we have a high-quality label or brand to finally enter this review and right now we are talking about the Trinova brand which is well popular for its production of high quality and reliable automobile products that would help in keeping your car in a good working condition. This wheel cleaner would offer a deep cleaning action and that is why it is a good choice if you are working with older wheels that haven’t received attention and care in years.
What makes this product unique is not just about how it cleans but about its capability to restore your tire’s shine and that is why this product is a good option for cleaning up dirty and dull wheels.
There are certain irritating stains that get stuck on your wheels thanks to snow but you do not have to worry anymore as this cleaner would tackle such snow stains and road deposit stains.
Considering all of these huge successes, you would be able to tell that this wheel cleaner is a good choice especially in cold weather conditions and users would also find it quite convenient to work with.
Key Features:
- Would get rid of salt and snow stains
- Designed to help your old tires regain its lost shine
- Its formulation is free from acid thereby making it safe for use
6. Aero Cosmetics Wash ALL Degreaser, Wet or Waterless
If you have never heard of the brand Aero Cosmetics then we are here to tell you that they are one of the best and loved a brand that deals in the production of high-quality automobile products. They go out of their way to make sure they produce goods that are of great quality and goods that would be of great use to the public and guess what, this wheel cleaner product isn’t different from other high-quality products they have made.
This is one well-formulated product that would offer not just an effective but a deep cleaning action, when used on wheels and here, is one more thing you should know about this product, it features a safe and mild formula which makes it a preferred option for use on a whole lot of surfaces. When talking about wheels, people tend to limit using this just for cars but that shouldn’t be as this product can be used in cleaning wheels of an aircraft.
However, being water-based also implies that one shouldn’t go through stress just to wipe this off so users would find it easy to wipe off this product with or without the use of extra water. This goes a long way in ensuring that every cleaning task is easier and faster.
Key Features:
- Can be washed off without the use of water
- Has a water-based formula that makes it ideal for use on several surfaces
- Formulated to meet Boeing specifications
7. Adam’s Deep Wheel Cleaner
Taking a deeper look at this review you would understand that every product that we have talked about has been centered on getting rid of dirt which has accumulated right on the exterior of any wheel. If you drive a sports car that has sports alloys and wheels then you would be looking at a different situation entirely when it is time to clean your wheels. That would be dealing with brake dust.
Brake dust is a by-product that would come on your wheels whenever you drive and it would be very noticeable on a regular car wheel but on a sports car, more cut back is likely to show up.
If you find yourself in this category then this wheel cleaner is all you need as it features a special formulation that makes sure it dissolves and tackles brake dust and metallic debris. Furthermore, it has a neutral pH that makes it ideal for use on various surfaces.
Key Features:
- Features a neutral pH
- Specialist in dealing with brake dust
- Tends to change color
8. Griot’s Garage 11107 Wheel Cleaner
Griot’s Garage is well known for its production of premium car cleaning products which has earned it a place among other top brands too and this wheel cleaner which it has manufactured also bears the same high-quality trademark.
Having a balanced and a mild pH formula makes it safe for use on various materials including paint and aluminum but also guarantees that its formulation is environmentally friendly and non-toxic.
This makes rinsing without worrying possible and just by using this car cleaner, you are also assured that you would be getting a high quality and outstanding finish meaning this wheel cleaner would leave your wheels looking incredibly slick and fresh. It also comes at an affordable price.
Key Features:
- Has a gentle formula
- Well balanced pH level
- Would get rid of brake dust, grease and dirt effectively
9. 3M 39036 Wheel and Tire Cleaner
The 3M brand is one that you can also trust when it comes to getting rid of grime and dirt and the 3M brand has been at making such high-quality products for years now that they basically have a specific product for all car components. Today we are looking at the 3M wheel cleaner which promises to offers car owners a deep and quick cleaning action.
All of these can be done in just one step, unlike most low-quality products that offer ten steps.
Paying closer attention to this product would simply tell you that this product is more than a wheel cleaner as it can also act as a tire restorer. What this tells you is you would be getting more benefits than you bargained for just by making use of this product. This wheel cleaner would effectively get rid of scuffs and scratches making them shine like new like when they left the showroom the first time.
Key Features:
- Offers lots of benefits than just cleaning wheels
- Just a one-step cleaning process
- Would safely get rid of scuffs and scratches
10. Chemical Guys CLD_203_16 Wheel Cleaner
This product is a fierce release from the Chemical Guys brand and it is worth taking a closer look at. It features a citrus-based formulation that makes it safe for cleaning custom-built, anodized, polished, chrome, painted and any powder-coated wheel. This wheel cleaner from chemical guys also promises to make your wheels and tires look brand new as it would get rid of debris and dirt from brake and rubber pads.
Despite acting harshly on dirt, this wheel cleaner would pamper your car especially its finish. You can trust this product to offer protection to your car’s vinyl wrapped finishes, factory alloys, wheel covers and also plastic hubcaps. It also features a powerful decontaminating power which would help every wheel to regain its lost shiny look just like it looked when it left the showroom.
Key Features:
- Boasts of a powerful decontaminating action
- Would get wheels to shine like new
- Superb for use on all kinds of wheel surfaces
Buying Guide
There you have the 10 best wheel cleaner but even after looking at these ten best wheel cleaner products, how can you be able to tell which would be suitable for you. Well, we still have some vital information to share with you concerning how you would be able to find that which would be okay for you so we indulge you to still stick around for a little while.
What Wheel Cleaners are and How They Work
The wheels of every car take a whole lot of punishment and that gave birth to the production of wheel cleaners because they are in constant use and living in a busy environment simply means you would be picking up dust, stones, dirt, grime, mud and other tiny pieces. This simply tells you it is a hard life living as a wheel and they can be also very hard to clean which is where wheel cleaners come in.
When cleaners are typically formulated to eliminate grime, mud, dirt, dust but they are also formulated to also tackle metallic contamination. This is why wheel cleaners are quite different from other car cleaning products.
Types of Wheel Cleaners
Most wheel cleaner all have similar properties or carry out similar or the same tasks as they all would work to leave your car shining new again. That being said there are certain differences in all of these products which would make one wheel cleaner a good option for users to you than another wheel cleaner so you should always look out for features like;
Rinse Action
Several wheel cleaners including that we talked about in this review revealed that they would work even without making use of additional water as all that is required of the user is just to spray then wipe off.
This would generally make every cleaning task easier and faster but what you need to know is the case may be different if the wheels are extremely dirty because they would be needing additional attention and care.
Color Change
Some products that we also talked about in this review would change color as they come in contact with metal contaminants and dirt and this is also helpful in providing visible clues regarding if this wheel cleaner is working and if wheels are completely clean.
Neutral pH
Every wheel cleaner that we ended up talking about in this review has a neutral pH or is deemed safe for use on any surface but even at that you still need to take another look at the product’s label to be able to tell if it actually should be used on multiple surfaces. Not all whee cleaners can be used on any surface as there are some with high acidity which could cause damage to your tires, wheels and paintwork.
Materials Needed in Cleaning Your Wheels
Even though you have the best wheel cleaner, there are still other accessories that you ought to have to make the job easier and faster and also help in obtaining a perfect finish. They are
Wax – sealing wheels with wax would repel the accumulation of dirt in the nearest future and it also helps in promoting a long-lasting shine.
Towels and Cloths – these are handy accessories that you should have when cleaning your wheels as they are useful in wiping off wheel cleaners as well as helping to dry off wheels.
Pressure Washer – yes you might need a bucket and water to take care of your wheels but consider making use of a pressure washer, you would find out that they make washing more efficient and faster.
Wheel Brushes – with the aid of wheel brushes you would find it very easy to reach difficult regions especially the alloys where grime and dirt stay out of reach.
Final Words
Keeping your wheels in good condition requires constant cleaning of your car wheels and any of the wheel cleaners that we have talked about would make the task more pleasant and easier.
The combination of safe ingredients and strength also ensures that it delivers amazing results and doesn’t damage your car. You can go ahead and make your choice from the top and reliable products that we have selected. Good luck.
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