Polished aluminum wheel cleaner?

So the wheels on our 2013 Focus are the premium 18 inch polished wheels. I'm doing the brakes on the car today and I noticed that the wheels are pretty dirty. Is there a good product to clean these wheels with? There is no clearcoat that I can see.

Unless its powdercoat or your supposed to re polish them all the time theres almost always clear coat on them. I have no brands to suggest other than just get some thats clear coat safe. Better safe than possibly flakey wheels ya know?

Always start with mild cleaners, and only work up to harsher products if it's necessary. Good old soap and water is a first choice. As mentioned, they are most likely clear coated.

Simple Green? Only if it has a clear coat.. I like it for my car.

Soap and water w/ a wheel brush.

I use Simple Green a lot and like it, but it will damage clear coat on wheels if you aren't careful - either rinse it off quickly, or use it in a diluted form.

Remember, caustic based degreasers (simpler green, super clean and the like) WILL darken aluminum. Depending on the surface of the aluminum it can happen very quickly

This was a fresh piece of alloy sheet that had the protective plastic film peeled off moments before soaking it into a gallon of hot tap water with 2 cups of super clean in it. It was in the solution for 2 minutes

This water neck was sandblasted and tossed into the same solution. It did this in under a minute because of the sandblasted surface.

Acid based products will brighten aluminum. It bleaches it out. Aluminum Brightener available at auto parts stores is very quick acting stuff.

Start with a basic soap with a neutral PH. If that doesn't cut it I would switch to a solvent.

Dawn and water?

Jumper K. Balls wrote: Remember, caustic based degreasers (simpler green, super clean and the like) WILL darken aluminum. Depending on the surface of the aluminum it can happen very quickly This was a fresh piece of alloy sheet that had the protective plastic film peeled off moments before soaking it into a gallon of hot tap water with 2 cups of super clean in it. It was in the solution for 2 minutes This water neck was sandblasted and tossed into the same solution. It did this in under a minute because of the sandblasted surface. Acid based products will brighten aluminum. It bleaches it out. Aluminum Brightener available at auto parts stores is very quick acting stuff. Start with a basic soap with a neutral PH. If that doesn't cut it I would switch to a solvent.

I may have to try this with the valve covers we talked about. Still haven't had a chance to send you them.

There are no production car aluminum wheels anymore that aren't coated or surface-converted in some way. 3-piece race wheel shells and kart wheel shells are about all that's raw.

I'm a convert to Sonax wheel cleaner. It's not caustic. Spray it on yellow, it turns bloody/purple and converts the metallic components of brake dust to something else, chemically. Depending on which wheels I may agitate with a soft brush to get in the corners and between spokes, like on BBS/BMW style 5s. Then hose off.

I like it so much I got a 5 liter refill from Amazon when it was on sale. It's great stuff.

SONAX!

motomoron wrote: There are no production car aluminum wheels anymore that aren't coated or surface-converted in some way. 3-piece race wheel shells and kart wheel shells are about all that's raw. I'm a convert to Sonax wheel cleaner. It's not caustic. Spray it on yellow, it turns bloody/purple and converts the metallic components of brake dust to something else, chemically. Depending on which wheels I may agitate with a soft brush to get in the corners and between spokes, like on BBS/BMW style 5s. Then hose off. I like it so much I got a 5 liter refill from Amazon when it was on sale. It's great stuff. SONAX!

I love Sonax, did not know it came in a 5lt refill. Off to Amazon.