You clean and polish your car on a regular basis. You also take it for annual check to MOT and every weekend, you vacuum it to make it cleaner.
But you might want to know how to clean the alloy wheels and their rims? You must be cleaning them until now as these components of the car are likely to catch the dirt.
In this article, I will guide you on how to clean alloy wheels with WD-40.
Usually, a black powder is the car rim dirt that can gather with the brake pad’s surface disintegration. So, every time you are going to use the brake will be connected with the rotating disc to create debris.
You might also observe a greasy layer on the rims, this can be a result of oil from the car’s transmission system and engine. This great might mix with water and transform into emulsions that once dried will be hard to remove.
What is WD-40?
WD-40 is a solution that you can use in different ways including removing moisture, securing from corrosion and rust, penetrating the stuck parts, and lubrication over mechanical items.
When we are dealing with cleaning alloy wheels, it will be helpful in terms of removing grime, grease from the surface.
So, whether you are looking for a way to get rid of dirt from alloy wheel rims, maintain the machinery or keep your car in an ideal condition, WD-40 will be ideal option and has been successful for years.
Things You’ll Need to Clean your Alloy Wheels with WD-40:
To ensure the proper steps in order to clean the alloy wheels with WD-40 without any damage, you need some supplies. Here is the list of supplies:
- WD-40
- A microfiber cloth or rag
- Wheel cleaner
- Boars hair brushes
- Water
How to Clean Alloy Wheels with WD-40 – The Right Method
Before we get started with the steps that you need to go through to clean the alloy wheels with WD-40, it is suggested that you clean the rims of your car on a weekly basis. This pre-wash will get rid of the outer dirt particles with ease, and will make the process easier for WD-40 to reach the smallest areas for perfect cleaning:
Now let’s get started with the easy steps you need to follow for wheel cleaning with WD-40:
Step 1:
The first thing is to ensure that the wheels are dry and do not soak it just before you clean it using WD-40.
Step 2:
Use a good quality, microfiber cloth for this procedure and spray it with WD-40.
Step 3:
Begin with rubbing the microfiber cloth smoothly on the wheels. Be careful and avoid missing the center hub and outlaying parts and spokes. If there is a heavy buildup in some portion, lightly mist over that space directly.
Just keep in mind that you need to use microfiber rage juts over the wheels! It must not be touching brakes and tires.
- If the wheels contain a plastic hub cover, you need to remove them first, then you rub WD-40 over them.
Step 4:
Now give the WD-40 to sit over the allowed wheels for at least 2 minutes. Once this is done, the formulation will start going through the caked dirt.
In order to make the process faster, you can try to rub all the wheels at the same time to save time. After that, go ahead to the next step. This will give enough time to other wheels to make the WD-40 more functional.
Step 5:
You should use another clean microfiber cloth now and after a few minutes just wipe the WD-40 away.
Step 6:
After that, soak the wheels in plain water.
Step 7:
Now use your desired wheel cleaner.
Step 8:
Now completely spray it on the wheels.
Step 9:
In order to reach the smaller areas of the wheels, you need to use a boar brush. Use it in a circular motion on the surface of the wheel. This movement will help to remove the remaining dirt and it can be done without much effort. You need to aim the rim spokes and screws where the dirt gathers.
- You can find these brushes at very cheap price from the automotive store.
- To keep the brush clean, use the warm water, it should be done with some duration break as it tends to get dirty.
Pro Tip:
If you are not able to locate the correct brush, you can go with your old toothbrush. The long handle, flexible and soft bristles can be ideal to access the difficult spots easily.
Step 10:
The last step is to rinse the wheels thoroughly. You can also use a hose in order to remove the remaining dirt or cleaner from the wheel rim. If there are traces of cleaner left, they will become dry and result in corrosion.
- If your hose has an adjustable nozzle, then set the wide spray or fan for larger coverage.
- Keep spraying with water until it seems to be complete cleaning!
Main Points to remember:
- You must ensure that you are using a wheel cleaner to completely washing the wheels when you use WD-40 over them. Remember that WD-40 has been famous for collecting dust as it tends to take the place of water. That is why washing the tires well with water will get rid of the WD-40 after you used it for proper cleaning.
Is WD-40 Safe as a Wheel Cleaner?
Yes WD-40 is a safe when it used as a wheel cleaner. All you need to do is to follow the correct steps but it is safe. You should not be changing it with another wheel cleaners, but will perform as an ideal solution for alloy wheel cleaning collection.
What is the Cheapest Method to Clean Alloy Wheels?
Alloy wheel require proper cleaning when they get dirty in order to ensure that corrosion, oxidation, and rust are taken care of. One of the cheapest methods you can use to clean alloy wheels is by using warm water and vinegar to a spray bottle. Now spray it on the wheels and let it there for a while. Ensure that you use a microfiber cloth to clean it and rinse with plain water.
