How to Get Your Car Wheels Looking Good

Cleaning your car can be a fun and rewarding process. One of the dirtiest parts of your vehicle that most automated carwashes miss is the wheels. Your rims, brakes, and tires are the final touch that can make or break the appearance of your vehicle. In this tutorial, I will show you how to clean your wheels and keep them looking great!

• One or two buckets of water
• Soft-bristled brush or drill brush
• Sponge or detailing rag
• Dish soap or degreasing wheel soap/cleaner
• Tire Shine
• Car Wax

You will want to get your vehicle in the right spot to clean your wheels. A dirty surface will quickly undo your progress. Tire shine will typically absorb and dry best in sunlight or warm temperatures.

If you are cleaning the body of your car, you will want a separate bucket. Wheels are notoriously dirty- the last thing you will want to do is spread brake dust over the body of your car. You may want a bucket of water for soap or cleaner.

Using a hose or water bucket, rinse off the wheels of your car to remove dirt.

You can either use a spray attachment to a hose or a sponge to apply soap to the wheels of your car. If you have wheel cleaner/degreaser, you can use that to spray directly onto the rims. Note that this process will cause your tools to become quite dirty!

Brake dust and other grime is not easily removed by simply spraying your wheels with soap and water. Using a brush or a drill brush, remove dust and grime. In my experience, soft-bristled brushes work slightly better to clean those hard-to-reach places.

Watch your hard work wash off with ease once it is loosened from the surface of your wheels! Spray the wheels with a hose or splash them with your clean water bucket.

For a longer lasting shine and to prevent buildup of brake dust, you can apply a layer of specialized wax or wheel preserver to the rim. Do not apply to your tires, and ensure that the wheel is completely dry before beginning. Spray on wax and work into the wheel in a circular motion with a clean detailing rag.

Tire foam causes your tires to shine in a deep, black color. The black rubber sidewalls of the tires often becomes faded from the sun and elements of the road. Apply the tire foam as directed, making sure to apply to the sidewalls and avoiding the tire treads (the part of the tire that touches the road).

Sit back, relax, and watch the tire foam do its work. Ensure that your car is in a warm place or in sunlight, as this can affect the effectiveness of the shine.

Some tire foam is self-absorbing and does not need to be removed. However, many types of tire foam will require you to remove excess foam with a detailing rag or sponge. Either way, you will likely need to remove excess foam that has dripped onto the rims.

Enjoy your clean wheels!