Best wheel cleaner?
Discussion
Hydrochloric acid - diluted down to 2/3 water. (brick cleaning solution from the builders merchants)
It works well, having used it on the cars for years - no corrosive effect, breaks down the brake dust quickly - just keep it away from the car body as a precaution (easy washed off if it does over spray)
I used Wonder Wheels for a time and am sure by the smell/effect it is the same diluted mix.
Was cautious about the wheels being affected at first but its fine......
It works well, having used it on the cars for years - no corrosive effect, breaks down the brake dust quickly - just keep it away from the car body as a precaution (easy washed off if it does over spray)
I used Wonder Wheels for a time and am sure by the smell/effect it is the same diluted mix.
Was cautious about the wheels being affected at first but its fine......
Wonder Wheels have a few different products.
The one in the silver box is considered too harsh for regular use. Although apparently it is very good.
The smelly stuff in the pink bottle - Hot Wheels - is pH neutral and is suitable for regular use. This is only £4 in Morrisons btw. Halfords charge £10.
The one in the silver box is considered too harsh for regular use. Although apparently it is very good.
The smelly stuff in the pink bottle - Hot Wheels - is pH neutral and is suitable for regular use. This is only £4 in Morrisons btw. Halfords charge £10.
Undiluted Flash floor cleaner (£1 a litre) and a stiff brush will shift most grime without hurting the finish including removing bugs etc off the front.
Some domestic items are cheap and work very well. My other one is Cherry Blossom black shoe polish for the tyres.. Nice finish and last ages.
Some domestic items are cheap and work very well. My other one is Cherry Blossom black shoe polish for the tyres.. Nice finish and last ages.
Harpic Power Plus. Contains just under 10% Hydrochloric Acid. Cost £1 and is actually better than Wonder Wheels because it's a gel and sticks to the wheel, and completely obliterates baked on brake dust! It also cleans stainless steel like bike exhaust headers etc. Great stuff to have in the garage.
Wait Here Until Green Light Shows said:
Harpic Power Plus. Contains just under 10% Hydrochloric Acid. Cost £1 and is actually better than Wonder Wheels because it's a gel and sticks to the wheel, and completely obliterates baked on brake dust! It also cleans stainless steel like bike exhaust headers etc. Great stuff to have in the garage.
Fair play to you Sir.I've been putting off a proper clean for months now, with the job becoming less and less attractive as each week passed, and thought wtf, it's worth a bash... (I was 25/75 considering a refurb this year/next year)
Old paint brush, slop it on, brush into nooks and crannies (twice on the fronts) blast it off 3-4 minutes later.
BINGO. Best wheel cleaner I've ever used - just need to check the tyres in the morning to see they haven't dissolved.
I use Bilt Hamber first and then for some stubborn marks use Autoglym Tar Remover, it normally shifts things. Then clay them if you have full blown OCD (ahem). Once they are fully clean, if you apply a sealant or wheel wax (eg Collinite 845) it makes wheels ridiculously easy to clean from then on with normal car shampoo and water
Bilt Hamber is great stuff when combined with a good wheel sealant. If you leave the wheels with nothing sealing them, crap will stick to it (much more so than bodywork yet people put wax on their bodywork right?). I use GTechnique C5 Wheel Armour which although expensive is fantastic at sealing the wheels and ensuring if you just wipe them down regularly (hot water+car shampoo+Mitt) brake dust will just come away. I use Auto Wheel periodically to get the micro particles out which do not come off by hand cleaning alone. Its £40 for the pair of products but effectively means end of brake dust problems full stop.
Bilt Hamber is very effective, and the colour change is definitely not a gimmick – it’s a visual clue that the chemical process is taking place.
It sounds like many are expecting a spray on power hose off process, which can sometimes be the case, but more often than not a bit of aggitation will be necessary.
To that end, invest in a set of Wheel Woolies – even with brick acid/WW, they’ll last you for at least the next 5 years.
It sounds like many are expecting a spray on power hose off process, which can sometimes be the case, but more often than not a bit of aggitation will be necessary.
To that end, invest in a set of Wheel Woolies – even with brick acid/WW, they’ll last you for at least the next 5 years.
Edited by PJ S on Wednesday 6th September 23:42
https://www.dasty.co.uk/products
Dasty degreaser is a wonderful fluid for cleaning wheels and any other cleaning work under the bonnet etc. In Holland we can buy it very cheap (2 euro per liter) and you see many garages use it too. Cheap and very effective
Dasty degreaser is a wonderful fluid for cleaning wheels and any other cleaning work under the bonnet etc. In Holland we can buy it very cheap (2 euro per liter) and you see many garages use it too. Cheap and very effective
Sorry but Bilt Hamber is shyte (have you guys actually used it, or are you just relying on suspect reviews to form an opinion...I don't get it?) - it's only good as a regular cleaner for light brake dust, assuming you can stand the awful smell.
Harpic power plus watered down and chucked in a spray bottle is perfect for regular use...it's also mega cheap.
Harpic power plus watered down and chucked in a spray bottle is perfect for regular use...it's also mega cheap.
Edited by Wait Here Until Green Light Shows on Wednesday 6th September 23:17
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=merlins+blood...
Merlins blood at work. Video taken from internet.
Merlins blood at work. Video taken from internet.
Wait Here Until Green Light Shows said:
Sorry but Bilt Hamber is shyte (have you guys actually used it, or are you just relying on suspect reviews to form an opinion...I don't get it?) - it's only good as a regular cleaner for light brake dust, assuming you can stand the awful smell.
Harpic power plus watered down and chucked in a spray bottle is perfect for regular use...it's also mega cheap.
There's a lot of snobbishness regarding detailing products. I've been asked more than once at shows etc, "what products I use" to keep my wheels and tyres gleaming, and when I reply with Flash, Cherry blossom and Brasso from Poundy's, they just nod and walk away! I think they want a discussion about Halfords finest and most expensive! Harpic power plus watered down and chucked in a spray bottle is perfect for regular use...it's also mega cheap.
Edited by Wait Here Until Green Light Shows on Wednesday 6th September 23:17
Wait Here Until Green Light Shows said:
Sorry but Bilt Hamber is shyte (have you guys actually used it, or are you just relying on suspect reviews to form an opinion...I don't get it?) - it's only good as a regular cleaner for light brake dust, assuming you can stand the awful smell.
Harpic power plus watered down and chucked in a spray bottle is perfect for regular use...it's also mega cheap.
You are the only person i have ever heard say Auto Wheels is crap, and we send a lot of it out every week. Harpic power plus watered down and chucked in a spray bottle is perfect for regular use...it's also mega cheap.
Edited by Wait Here Until Green Light Shows on Wednesday 6th September 23:17
Why anyone would put anything remotely acidic/alkaline on their wheels anymore is beyond me, things have moved on from the 80s now.
Warby80 said:
Wait Here Until Green Light Shows said:
Sorry but Bilt Hamber is shyte (have you guys actually used it, or are you just relying on suspect reviews to form an opinion...I don't get it?) - it's only good as a regular cleaner for light brake dust, assuming you can stand the awful smell.
Harpic power plus watered down and chucked in a spray bottle is perfect for regular use...it's also mega cheap.
You are the only person i have ever heard say Auto Wheels is crap, and we send a lot of it out every week. Harpic power plus watered down and chucked in a spray bottle is perfect for regular use...it's also mega cheap.
Edited by Wait Here Until Green Light Shows on Wednesday 6th September 23:17
Why anyone would put anything remotely acidic/alkaline on their wheels anymore is beyond me, things have moved on from the 80s now.
As for their double speed wax I’m yet to find another product for £15 that beats it. It certainly beats more expensive waxes that I have used.
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