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Originally Posted by z400 The area behind the wheels (along the bottom of the car) gets really dirty from driving. Do you guys clean this area with the same mitt? Wash this area last?
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Depends on how grungy the wheel wells are, and how much effort I want to put in.
For ultimate job, this is what works for me:
1. Remove wheel. Clean inside of rim, scrub tire with cleaner. I find a B&D "ScumBuster" to be a great tool. Lot's of all-purpose cleaner. I like Greased Lightening's Orange Blast for wheels and tires.
2. Hose down with maximum pressure available to dislodge as much crud as possible.
3. Note: Be carefull to keep all purpose cleaners, degreasers, and engine cleaner chemicals away from the paint on the fender. At best, they'll strip the wax. At worst, actual paint damage may happen. Spray down wheel well and suspension components with all purpose cleaner. Inspect mechanical parts. Tough grease on suspension components may need engine cleaner.
4. Repeat step 2 (rinse).
5. Heavy brush loaded with lots of suds from wash bucket. Whatever you use for car wash should be OK.
6. Repeat step 2 (rinse - I like lots of water).
7. Spray break cleaner on caliper, agitating with old tooth brush to get off brake dust and dirt. Take a good look at pads while you're there to make sure they haven't worn out. If you've got drum brakes, just look longingly at the hunk of rust called drums, sigh, and dream about disk brake conversion. (This is for others - you and I both have 4-wheel disks I see). I'm still trying to decide what to do about rust on rotors, other than replace with cad or zinc plated rotors.
8. Chenile covered sponge with lots of sudsy water from wash bucket.
9. Repeat step 2 (rinse - told you, I like to use lots of water).
10. Quick dry with towel. This is a good way to waste a MF, so the old terry cloth ones you gave up on when you discovered MF are good. If they get greasy, throw them in the washer with a little simple green.
11. Apply
Meguiar's Engine Kote (EK)protectant. EK is OOP, but I still have some. EK has been replaced with
Meguiar's Hyper-Dressing, but since I still haven't run out of EK, I have no experience with it's replacement.
12. Remount wheel and touch up dressing.
13. Repeat above until all 4 wheels are done.
14. All rags, towels, wash mits, and/or sponges get thrown in the wash. A little simple green in the wash cycle, a little vinegar in the final rinse, then air dry. Seperate from your MF stuff! Remember, we used chenile and cotton in the wheel wells.
Like I said, depends on how much work you want to do. I do the above when I rotate my tires, but I wouldn't do it every time I wash or detail my car. Maybe just hose down, wash with soap as best I can reach around the wheel, then rinse off before I attack the exterior of the wheel. Maybe just skip it if it hasn't been raining since the last wash. I've also had moderate success spraying with "Scrubbing Bubbles" bathroom cleaner, letting it dwell a bit, then hosing off.
Above also works for other under-car areas, like under the engine, under the rocker panels, and under the trunk.
Hope this helps,
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