Try this for cleaning inside your wheels

Roger R · 10-28-05, 02:01

I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but I bought a feather duster w/ a rather long handle to get inside the wheels and it works great! If you wanna keep your rims looking like they were just put on, you gotta try this little tip. Its a must especially for those of you with 5 and 6 spoke rims as you can see everything. If this helps one person I will have done my job! Good luck!

BigTinVA · 10-28-05, 02:11

Not sure how long a feather duster will hold up to wheel cleaning chores. I use an Ultra Safe Wheel Spoke Brush from Meguiars and just love this thing. Reaches in deep enough to clean a wide rim and flattens out nicely to get between the calipers and the wheel.

brewthunda · 10-28-05, 02:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger R

I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but I bought a feather duster w/ a rather long handle to get inside the wheels and it works great! If you wanna keep your rims looking like they were just put on, you gotta try this little tip. Its a must especially for those of you with 5 and 6 spoke rims as you can see everything. If this helps one person I will have done my job! Good luck!

I'm a total newbie here . . but one part of my old (horribly misguided) cleaning arsenal that I plan to keep using is a plastic handled toilet brush to clean inside my wheels (7 spoke BMW rims). It's one of those brushes that you see at the supermarket with a big flat loop of sturdy bristles. Worth the $4 price of admission.

Accumulator · 10-28-05, 03:10

Depending on the finish of your wheels, I'd be careful with those brushes. I have the EZ Motorcycle detailing brush from TOL, similar to the Meg's one. I use it on the minivan and my wife's wheels, but not on the S8. Just not soft enough to clean without marring, but it's only an issue on wheels that have a nice finish on the inside surfaces.

Roger R- That's a pretty innovative approach! Just watch that it doesn't wear down too much. Does it clean up OK or does the brake dust stick to the feathers?

Mikeyc · 10-28-05, 05:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by brewthunda

I'm a total newbie here . . but one part of my old (horribly misguided) cleaning arsenal that I plan to keep using is a plastic handled toilet brush to clean inside my wheels (7 spoke BMW rims). It's one of those brushes that you see at the supermarket with a big flat loop of sturdy bristles. Worth the $4 price of admission.

I would leave the toilet brush for the toilet. I imagine the bristles are pretty firm and would leave scratches on the wheel long term. BTW I believe the Megs brush pictured above is around the same price give or take a couple of dollars.

Roger R · 10-29-05, 06:11

I'm sure the Mequiars brush is good, but how long is the actual brush and handle? With this particular feather duster its atleast 10-12" long and the handle about the same. It does a great job on the wheels and when I'm done I just hose it off, let it dry and just "twirl" it back in place. I've been using it for over 2 years now and it just keeps working and working!

BigTinVA · 10-29-05, 12:10

Meguiars brush is 15" overall, 10" of bristles.

BenP · 10-29-05, 12:36

The Meg's brush is great but the bristled section needs to be longer. I have clients with 10J+ rear wheels and you can't get right to the inside of the rim with the Meg's brush as it is now...

Ben

Luster · 10-29-05, 12:43

Just bought the Meg's brush at Wal-Mart.... 6 bucks.

ramp · 10-29-05, 01:02

I've used a feather duster for some time and like it very much, but there comes a point where it doesn't completely clean the sticky, nasty, black break dust off of the wheels, and you actually have to wash them. That is where the Megs spoke brush and a good wheel brush come in. They will not hurt the if they are wet and sudsed-up. I have also had success w/ a rounded household web duster. There are lots of things that work, to some extent, but eventually you have to wash them--even if you have waxed them they clean up easier, but they must all eventually be washed.

Bill D · 10-29-05, 01:09

Roger,

I used to do with my other car and yes, it works well. In my pre Autopian days, I used to fit a heavy inside out athletic sock over a similar long handled brush. Actually, it did work well and there were no ill effects as far as I saw. The tools mentioned here could have a MF wrapped and wedged around them for that routine wheels wipe down. Very thankfully, my Audi wheels have enough room for me to fit my hand through the spaces between the spokes and I use an old, "demoted" sheepskin mitt . I wipe the wheel down just about every day.