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Has anyone ever tried Scrubbing Bubbles on wheels and tailpipe? I don't know what's on the roads but the wheel cleaners I have tried never work and I end up having to get steel wool out.
Best to understand what's in cleaning agents. Bathroom cleaners for soap scum usually have an acid as the active ingredient. Many wheel cleaners use acids. Some wheels (and other surfaces) can be damaged by acids. Uncoated aluminum would have a bad reaction. Painted and plated surfaces usually are okay but that's not a guarantee. Wheel cleaning agents are usually pretty good for brake dust and simple dirt. A lot of degreasers, like Purple Power and the like, use lye as the active ingredient. Those work well but you have to make sure you properly dilute them and don't get it on your hands.
There are a lot of other products, some are solvent based, some are alternative chemicals, that may also work well on whatever grime you're dealing with. Sometimes, it's just a matter of a more robust detergent, like dish washing soap, to cut through grime.
Don't use more power in cleaning agents than you really need.
One important aspect in my mind is to make sure to get a product that is safe and effective for the type of wheels its getting applied to. The Eagle One line of products has good reviews and is readily available at Wally, Adv Auto, AutoZone, Amazon, etc.
I would second simple green, it cuts right through brake dust, grime, etc, and is quite mild. I have been carrying it in the back of the truck for years, my latest usage is to wash my hands after I come out of the grocery store.
What's the finish on the wheels? You should NEVER have to use steel wool on any finished automotive surface. If you already have, then you've marred the hell out of the surface already and it's a lost cause. The most aggressive I've ever had to get with wheels is Chemical Guys wheel cleaner and the ball buster foam ball that goes on a drill. Any decent wheel cleaner you just spray, let it sit for a moment, then wash off like normal. If you have stains from brake dust, try simple green. If you're already resorted to steel wool, your surface is shot and there's not a lot you're going to do to correct it without refinishing.
What's the finish on the wheels? You should NEVER have to use steel wool on any finished automotive surface. If you already have, then you've marred the hell out of the surface already and it's a lost cause. The most aggressive I've ever had to get with wheels is Chemical Guys wheel cleaner and the ball buster foam ball that goes on a drill. Any decent wheel cleaner you just spray, let it sit for a moment, then wash off like normal. If you have stains from brake dust, try simple green. If you're already resorted to steel wool, your surface is shot and there's not a lot you're going to do to correct it without refinishing.
It is just stock platinum wheels. When I say steel wool I’m meaning 000 or the batting style polish.
It is just stock platinum wheels. When I say steel wool I’m meaning 000 or the batting style polish.
I still stand behind my previous statement, I wouldn't use steel wool on any part of a vehicle if it's a finished surface. Have you tried some good quality wheel cleaners? My typical tire brush is really soft and I don't put much effort into cleaning my wheels and I live in an area where there's a lot of salt on the roads. I spray on the cleaner, let it sit and it washes off very easily, chemicals do all the work. I use Chemical Guys Diablo Wheel Cleaner but there are a lot of other great options out there that will do the same thing. The only time I really use any sort of mechanical action on my truck's surface is during a full out detail and the truck's surface has been decontaminated through washing and clay barring first. If you go to an aggressive scrub up front, you're just rubbing in the dirt, brake dust or whatever is on the surface, causing scratches.
If you've been using steel wool, my guess is there are a lot of small surface scratches that are now holding material in, making them look dirtier and also harder to clean. I know you're not using an aggressive pad, but it's still a lot harsher than a microfiber and plenty hard enough to scratch a finish surface. You'll never find steel wool in a detailer's bucket. Just my $0.02, I'm not a detailer by profession, I just enjoy doing it and have picked up a lot of pointers over the years.
Has anyone ever tried Scrubbing Bubbles on wheels and tailpipe? I don't know what's on the roads but the wheel cleaners I have tried never work and I end up having to get steel wool out.
If you live where they use salt and brine on the roads, try using straight white vinegar. I put it in a spray bottle and use it to clean my wheels, chrome step bars and bumpers. It takes that white crusty stuff right off.
Dawn dish soap, mix 50/50 with water and put in a spray bottle, wont remove rust, sometimes removes tar, for tar use the mechanic type tubs of hand cleaner towelets, they eat the tar right off, also works good on lower body panels. Steel wool is a no no, might as well use sandpaper. Acid cleaners are also bad, especially with the flaking chrome problems.
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