Thread: Cleaning Alloy Wheels

Kevin, grab yourself a Wheel Cleaner from Autobarn or wherever, that contains Phosphoric Acid.
When using it, don't do it in the Sun, or if the Wheel has been in the Sun. Must be cool.
Spray first at the bottom of the rim and work upward.
Let it sit for a bit, then scrub with a Toothbrush.
(Preferably one you don't use anymore!)

Ok ill give it a go, this looks like metal brake dust that had gone hard and stuck to the alloy though, bit durt as such, think this stuff will still work

Yep it will be fine.
You may have to do it twice, just depends how long you leave it on, and how strong the actual cleaner is. They all vary.
I can't give you a specific brand, as the stuff I use for work comes in 20 ltr drums.

Try Bowden's "wheely clean" works great.It doesn't contain acids etc which can damage the painted surface of the wheel and is available from SuperCheap.

Not sure if it is safe on rims, but coke is a cheap source of phosphoric acid.

There are plenty of good wheel cleaners around. All the well known car care product makers have them.
Just read the bottle, & for a start, get one of the milder ones,...it'll say on the bottle what they're safe for.
And, as a previous poster has said, simply spray it on, but do NOT let it get on your brake discs. Let it sit for about 30 secs, then start to scrub it in with a tooth brush. After you've scrubbed the stubborn bits you've mentioned, leave it sit for whatever time it says on the bottle, then spray it off with a hose. If the "blemish/deposit/dirt" whatever has been there for a while, you might have to do it a few times, but doing it reasonably carefully on a few occasions is better than one big hit which could damage your rim.
Pickles.

I found that Penetrol and some Extra Fine #0000 steel wool worked really well on my motorcycle alloy rims for removing caked on brake dust.
Never tried it on the car yet though so might try on the inside of the rim first.
Cheers
Mark

cold black Tea sprayed onto the rims, let soak and use a bristle brush cleans up alloys pretty well. I didn't believe it until I tried it.(b worked on build up of Brake dust)