Best gentle OTC wheel cleaner?

Dan

Dan

Well-known member
Looking for some recommendations for a good and safe wheel cleaner. I'd like to avoid strong acid or base formulas. This will be for factory painted wheels.
 
I used SCG's Grime Destroyer (available at Pep-Boys) with nice results.

Don't know how strong it is compared to EO, but it's safe and cleans very well.
 
Ubryaj said:
Personally, I use Eagle One A2Z wheel cleaner to clean my wheels every time I wash and it works great for me...
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I like the way A2Z cleans, however the last bottle I had was covered with some serious health warnings.
 
Yakky, you can get a gallon of Griot's delivered to your door for $30. I suspect that will be less expensive on a per ounce basis than most of the OTC cleaners, and it's a great product.
 
the EO1 a2z cleaner is great and i've used it for many years with no problems. the only downside is that it can get quite expensive buying bottle to bottle as it doesn't come in gallons. another option is to check out the foaming all wheel and tire cleaner from mother's which looks to be virtually the same and is available in a gallon size for around $30...



Mothers® Wheel Mist® All Wheel
 
Like BigAl, I've used A2Z for years and has been one of my faves. After trying the new Mothers Foaming All Wheel & Tire Cleaner I found a superior product. The foam clings really well which requires less product and longer dwell time.



Because I use Michelin Brake Dust Repellent I normally get by with a strong car wash solution. If I need to clean an unprotected wheel, I now go to the Mothers product.



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Alfisti said:
Like BigAl, I've used A2Z for years and has been one of my faves. After trying the new Mothers Foaming All Wheel & Tire Cleaner I found a superior product. The foam clings really well which requires less product and longer dwell time.



Because I use Michelin Brake Dust Repellent I normally get by with a strong car wash solution. If I need to clean an unprotected wheel, I now go to the Mothers product.



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I did not use it on wheels but I did a 50/50 comparison between Mothers and Optimum Power Clean on four tires (1/2 side OPC, 1/2 side Mothers) and Mothers was equal in terms of cleaning ability. Since both were equally clean, I cannot tell which one was better.



I had considered Optimum (full strength) better than Meg's and Majestic Solutions (full strength)on removing tire brown and cleaning.
 
Depends on how dirty the wheels are, unless they are BMW/MB that hasn't seen a cleaning in the past 50K miles, I use Majestic Solutions Super Green cut 1:1, after that, I'd add a coat of BFWD and then your car wash soap will work fine cleaning.
 
It's also worth noting that



this
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and this
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is the same product inside, but targeted at different market, so you'll be great to go with either.
 
tom p. said:
Yakky, you can get a gallon of Griot's delivered to your door for $30. I suspect that will be less expensive on a per ounce basis than most of the OTC cleaners, and it's a great product.
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I ended up going with two things, first Turtle Wax F21 Foaming Wheel cleaner and I ordered a bottle of the Griots. The F21, according to the MSDS, uses some pretty mild chemicals. It also claims, on the label, to be biodegradable. It appears to be an APC geared for wheel use. Griots has a pretty good rep and is BBS approved. Some of the other suggestions, while good, IMO have way too scary warnings on the labels for regular use.



I used to be in the "who needs to use a dedicated wheel cleaner" camp, just wash them with the car soap. Then as the fleet turned 100% German, I have to say, I'm sorry I doubted the need. I want something that will knock off most of the crap before I touch the wheels.
 
P21s gel wheel gel cleaner is safe and works great for really dirty wheels. A little pricey, but very effective and safe.

I used it on a friend's bmw wheels with seemingly baked on brake dust that came from not washing the car for months.

I let the p21s gel sit on it a while, and with a little agitation they came so clean that they looked like new.

Amazing stuff.



As other posters have said, the real trick, once you have your wheels super clean, is to put on a nice coat of protectant (or two) so your wheel do not get so dirty that you need to use something harsh (or pricey) on them. I use BFWD or Poor Boys Wheel Sealant. After that, I just wash the wheels as i do the car. Of course, different washing sponge, etc....
 
yakky said:
I like the way A2Z cleans, however the last bottle I had was covered with some serious health warnings.
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....I noticed right away that it had a pungent characteristic that wasn't necessarily "smell" related but I could certainly feel it in my sinuses. I use it on occasion but I also throw on my respirator and gloves. That may be overkill in some folks eyes, but as I get older I figure I don't need anymore problems than I already got. ;)
 
Kean said:
I figure I don't need anymore problems than I already got. ;)
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Agreed, and I don't like the idea of my wash runoff making its way down to the pond down the street and later into the creeks and rivers. Strong cleaners have their place, but for semi-regular use, I'd prefer to avoid them.
 
yakky said:
Strong cleaners have their place, but for semi-regular use, I'd prefer to avoid them.
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....definitely. The majority of the time, car wash solution and a little agitation is all I need.
 
Initial test findings:



F21 Foaming Wheel Cleaner - Usually I only return a product if its really bad, this stuff is going back. It has as much cleaning power are a regular car wash. Wheel still has considerable dust on it after applying, letting sit for 2-3 minutes and rinsing. Total fail.



Griots - seems to be slightly more effective than Megs APC at 20:1, however I need to try APC @ 5:1 to compare. Wheels rinse mostly clean with a slight film left on them.
 
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