Clean aluminum rims – to the perfect shine in 5 steps

Well-maintained aluminum rims are shiny business cards that not only enhance your vehicle visually. Cleaning rims properly is not rocket science. Here are the tips from the ADAC experts.

Almost a third of all car owners in Germany wash their car at least once a month. Power twelve car washes a year and many sparkling clean vehicles on the streets. But the rims are often neglected when it comes to cleaning.

It is these vehicle parts in particular that get dirty every time you drive and are sometimes subjected to a lot of wear and tear. Dust, gravel, mud, road salt – Rims have to withstand a lot in everyday life. And on an otherwise immaculately maintained car, dirty aluminum rims are particularly noticeable.

But it's not just the visual impression that counts. The front rims in particular can be finer, black Brake dust first deposited, only to be permanently burned into the rim surface when the brakes are very hot.

Clean dirty rims regularly

The ADAC experts therefore recommend that you regularly and, above all, use aluminum rims thorough cleaning to undergo. This is the only way to remove dirt and brake dust in a timely manner before cleaning the rims becomes difficult work and, in the worst case, the material is damaged.

The optimal time to clean the rims

You change your vehicle's tires twice a year anyway. So take advantage of the change from summer to winter tires and vice versa to protect your rims twice a year to be cleaned thoroughly.

Many tire dealers offer a cleaning service as part of the wheel change. The washing machines can usually be used to clean the wheels inside and outside sufficiently intensively. The advantage: the wheels are… dismantled condition treated. This means that no agents come into contact with brake discs, pads and calipers.

The same applies, of course, if you change the tires yourself. Take advantage of the opportunity to clean and take it seriously heavily soiled insides of the dismantled wheels. The wheels should be cool before you start cleaning.

Which wheel cleaners to use?

The selection of wheel cleaners is large. Before purchasing a product, check whether it is suitable for your rims. Especially with sensitive aluminum rims, you should only Special cleaner use. Don't skimp on the costs here, because the right cleaning agent makes cleaning much easier. Before using the cleaner for the first time, read the instructions carefully. Under no circumstances should you use this on aluminum rims or painted rims acidic or alkaline Rim cleaners, as these can attack the surface.

Are more suitable pH-neutral products or normal all-purpose cleaners with high fat-dissolving power. There is less chemistry at work here, but the mechanical power of manual work dominates.

Five steps to a clean aluminum rim

Step 1: Pre-cleaning

Take your car to the car wash. The rims there are usually with a high pressure cleaner freed from coarse dirt. Some providers also offer a special rim cleaning program.

Alternatively, you can get to work yourself at a self-service car wash with a high-pressure cleaner. You should also definitely take part in the following steps for cleaning the rims Washing area carry out.

Step 2: The rim cleaner

Dry the aluminum rims with a rag or paper towels. Now spray it suitable rim cleaner according to the instructions for use and allow it to take effect. This is the only way the cleaner's active ingredients can develop their chemical power. Don't forget the insides when cleaning a set of tires that have been removed.

Step 3: The main cleaning

Grab one now Washing brush and give the aluminum rims a good scrub. Alternatively, use a washing mitt. Always work in one direction and avoid circular movements when wiping.

If the dirt is very dirty, repeat steps 2 and 3.

Step 4: Remove rim cleaner

You can effectively remove dirt in recesses or in hard-to-reach places with a toothbrush or a hard brush, for example. Then wipe off the remains of the rim cleaner with a Cloth (e.g. microfiber or cotton) and plenty of warm water. Allow the rims to dry.

Step 5: The sealing

Finally, contribute to the Protection Apply a sealant to the rims – depending on the provider, these are either sprayed on or applied with a cloth. This is how you preserve the sparkling clean rims until the next cleaning.

ADAC tip: If you notice any damage such as dents or scratches on the aluminum rims after cleaning, this is one Investigation It is advisable to take the affected rim(s) to a specialist workshop. Hairline cracks can occur which affect the stability of the rim. Repairs are only permitted to a depth of less than one millimeter. Here you can find more information about repairing aluminum rims.

Cleaning steel rims: This applies

Essentially, there are no special features when cleaning steel rims. Be for these too special rim cleaners offered that treat the protective layer particularly gently. Sealing is not absolutely necessary.

What are home remedies good for cleaning rims?

Supposedly perfect home remedies for cleaning rims keep appearing in forums and recommendation videos. Some users swear by conventional oven spray, others by vinegar essence diluted with water, and still others by Coca-Cola. These home remedies are intended to replace professional wheel rim cleaners.

The ADAC experts think so skeptical. Although superficial dirt can be removed in this way, stubborn dirt and especially brake dust cannot be tackled effectively. In addition, vinegar in the wrong concentration can attack aluminum rims.

The more often you clean the aluminum rims, the easier it is, comparatively speaking harmless means and with little effort to bring the wheels back into shape visually.

In general, you should avoid all cleaning products and washing materials that sand or scratch. These damage the surface of the rims or roughen them. The result: dirt settles even more strongly. The paint is often damaged or even removed if mechanically aggressive agents are used. That’s why a final seal is extremely important.

Text: Jörg Peter Urbach. Technical advice: Ruprecht Müller