Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Your Car Wheels

If you are fortunate enough to own a performance vehicle (i.e., not your average Impala), you probably already know that cleanliness is next to godliness. Luxury vehicles are high performance, glamorous and generally tend to outperform in speed and agility. However, the downside of owning a performance vehicle is that they often also tend to underperform in just about everything else — including maintenance, part costs and fuel economy. 

A key factor here is efficiency. A luxury vehicle has a high level of efficiency in performance on the track, but in the short term. An all-purpose vehicle, on the other hand, typically has long-term efficiency and can go a great deal of time without a very detailed clean.

Most all-purpose vehicles have a full auto detailing once every 1 to 2 years. Often, undercoating and the occasional car wash will do.

With that being said, performance vehicles have higher resale value if they’re well-maintained. It’s recommended that you give your car a full detail at least once every 4 months. The frequency can vary, but it should roughly be within this time range.

We also suggest skipping the gas station car wash — a professional detailing eliminates deeply lodged contaminants that can damage the leather interior, windows, and even the wheels. Yes, the wheels! 

From the tire to the rim, your wheels are crucial to your luxury vehicle’s performance. If you’re taking on a quick car cleaning yourself, read on and you’ll find out some key mistakes to avoid when cleaning your wheels. 

Using the wrong cleaner
Most auto body experts recommend using a wheel-spray, followed by a designated shampoo. Automotive shampoos are designed to be gentle on materials such as chrome and alloy, especially if they don’t already have a protective coating. 

One particular mistake to avoid is not properly washing the wheel spray off after finishing the application. While full of useful foaming agents that break down grime without issue, they may continue to degrade the wheel after the fact. Rinsing is required, but an automotive shampoo will work to remove the harmful chemicals. 

If your wheels are coated, use a pH neutral shampoo that is wax-free (you don’t want to end up with a greasy looking film). If your wheels are uncoated, use a decontamination shampoo and this will ensure all chemical residue is removed. 

Brushing too early

Brushing at the right time is crucial for the health and appearance of your rims. Usually, brushing immediately follows the use of a wheel cleaner, as well as when using an automotive shampoo. 

We’ll focus on the brushing that follows the use of the wheel cleaner. If your cleaner has specific instructions to ‘let sit’ for some time and then brush, brushing too early will aggravate your rims and potentially cause small abrasions that can expand over time. Not good!

Cleaning the body first

Do not do this, unless you’d like to have a do-over of the same step. If you wash your car’s body first and then wash your wheels, you’ll inevitably have to go over some of the body again. Dirt and grime from the spatter caused by cleaning your dirty wheels can also get into your suspension system and onto the overall body. 

Washing all of the wheels at the same time

This particular error is almost self-explanatory. If you apply your wheel-spray to all four wheels in quick succession, it might seem like you’re saving time — but in actuality, you’re just creating more work for yourself. The spray will inevitably oxidize, dry out and make it that much harder to remove. This can also put your wheels at risk for chemical damage and abrasion. 

Contact Clear Water Detailing Today

At Clear Water Detailing, we’re always happy and ready to make your car look as good and perform as well as possible! Clients who reach out during the off-season will receive a discount coupon for next year. Call us at (416) 827-5424 or use the handy contact form on our website to learn more about our detailing services!