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easier way to clean sls wheels???
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 12:22 am
by Juan
Is it me or these rims are hard to clean - they look awesome after a wash but it takes me a lot of time to clean - I can hardly get my fingers in there to clean the dust. What do you guys use and what kind of results are you getting? I dont want to spray something thats going to stain my rims...
Re: easier way to clean sls wheels???
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 1:03 am
by KuroNekko
Personally, I think the best way to clean wheels with many spokes is to use a terry cloth or even better, a microfiber cloth. Most wheel brushes won't fit into the slots between the spokes.
I don't bother getting wheel cleaners. I just use the car soap and let it work into the wheels a while as I am washing the rest of the car. I then clean the wheels with a sponge and then finish up with a cloth. The cloth between the spokes is what will really get the dirt between the spokes.
In the end, it's all about time and effort. Wheels are cumbersome to clean, but if you spend more time, you will get better results.
Also, I apply plastic polish to the headlights at every car wash with the hope that it prevents UV hazing that you see on many car headlights. I have read somewhere that it is supposed to prevent hazing.
Re: easier way to clean sls wheels???
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 1:26 am
by chazyouwin
I agree they are difficult. What I do with my cars is to take them to a good car wash and when the employees are just about done wiping down I ask for one of the wet towels. I clean/dry the wheels myself in front of them. They are nice and wet and the dirt comes off, albeit it requires movement within each spoke. If the employees get the hint and chip in they get an extra $1 tip ($2 altogether). Either way, the wheels look great thereafter. I can't stand grime build-up.
Re: easier way to clean sls wheels???
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 1:31 am
by rbutler752
My system is this simple.
1 - I got ceramic brake pads. Less dust and lighter dust.
Re: easier way to clean sls wheels???
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 1:15 pm
by puckaveli
I use a Swiffer duster 360, I spray a light amount of wheel cleaner on it and it's done in no time.

Re: easier way to clean sls wheels???
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 2:44 pm
by CLLee
I think you're talking about the 20-spokes

XLS wheels in the Australian specs.
I use a dedicated microfibre noodle mitt to wash the wheels.
Something similar to this image, but I have one that allows my hand to go in between the spokes. I've tried several types of microfibre mitts, and I find the noodle ones work best for the wheels.
(I prefer the thick pile microfibre ones for the body)
Just normal wash with a good car shampoo, get my hands on each spoke and in between. The noddles are particularly useful around the air valves and nuts.
Takes about 5 mins to do all 4 wheels.
Whatever method you use, it will become faster and easier once you've gotten into a routine. Device a method/product that suits you, stick to it for a while and fine tune it as you go along.
Easiest way to clean wheels???
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 9:48 pm
by WESHOOT2
I live on and travel on muddy dirty roads.
I consider the filth a 'protective coating'.
Solved.
Re: easier way to clean sls wheels???
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 9:59 pm
by krellmk
Weshoot... man you are crazy... love your style
Re: easier way to clean sls wheels???
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 12:16 pm
by Ronzuki
A good hard down pour washes my car most times. It sits outside and I run around amish farm country (dirt and horse crap are everywhere), so the car is never clean. I run it throught the car wash after winter to rinse off the salt underneath then once or twice more if we're supposed to get a long break from any precipitation....that's when the wheels get blasted and cleaned. As soon as I do that, it rains anyway and it's covered w/ road crap again.
Re: easier way to clean sls wheels???
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 2:36 am
by kizashi_VA
You can buy one of those small size wheel brush things online, or you can be cheap like me: buy a small headed toothbrush, those round ones are pretty good.