Q: Cleaning chrome wheels?

[tas]

What does everyone use to clean your chrome wheels? Are there any cleaners or polishes that work?

[OneQwkStang]

I use PEEK.
http://www.tripeek.com/

[Jim D.]

Cleaning wheels should be done with car wash, and frequently. Use a spray-on, hose-off wheel cleaner when necessary to dissolve baked-on brake dust.

For polishing, I recommend Mothers Chrome Polish -- it's completely safe for chrome plate.




Despite what some may think, chrome really can't be polished in the usual sense like you polish paint or bare aluminum -- chrome is a permanent finish and using very fine polishes you can clean and brighten, and in the case with Mothers, it also protects.

Many multi-surface metal polish products, including Peek, are not all that safe. Even Peek's website says "Plated metals must be gently wiped with a very soft cloth; use very little pressure; hard rubbing will remove plating" -- this is absolutely true -- so be careful.

See, compounds that clean and polish bare metals including aluminum are in actuality too harsh for chrome, and compounds that clean and polish chrome really don't work that well on aluminum -- it's not an optimal situation to combine these two types of polishing duties. But when you run the risk of damaging that chrome plate, why risk it?

In fact I did a test recently with two brand-name multi-surface products that are available at major auto parts stores and discovered just how very easy it is to scratch chrome. And the problem with scratching chrome is that you simply can't remove those scratches -- you have to re-plate.

[SCMcQueen]

I use Mothers chrome polish on my 19" H302 wheels..Great finish! I also use Mothers wheel and tire cleaner after driving her a few miles...those Saleen brake pads sure do throw off the dust! I spray it on the inside of the wheels when applying and the dust washes right off...easy to use and good results!

[tas]

Thanks guys, I'll try the Mothers polish and cleaner. All I've had were polished aluminum wheels.

[TexasKZ]

I also use Mothers along with their small power ball in a drill. Works great.

[1hot281]

I clay my wheels every 3 to 6 months and use the Mothers Chrome Polish. and with every full detail i seal the wheels with a polymer sealant.

[Jim D.]

Originally Posted by 1hot281

I clay my wheels every 3 to 6 months and use the Mothers Chrome Polish. and with every full detail i seal the wheels with a polymer sealant.

This is a great idea that many often overlook and we don't talk about much -- just like a paint surface, wheels can get contaminants bonded to the surface, so claying either chrome or coated wheels is an excellent idea -- just keep a bar set aside for this "dirty" work and for lower body panels.

And when you're claying your body paint (with a clean bar), be sure to clay the glass -- any hard surface can be clayed.

[tas]

Thanks for the tips guys. As soon as I get home, I've got my work cut out for me.

[XxBoostinxX]

http://www.autogeek.net/wheelstires.html Here are some more tips, this is a great place to buy products and to find other detailing instructions.

[Char259]

How do you apply the polymer sealant, is it apply and buff off?

[1hot281]

Originally Posted by Char259

How do you apply the polymer sealant, is it apply and buff off?

Depends on the brand. Mothers FX SynWax, Meguiar's NXT TechWax 2.0 and Ultimate Wax, Zaino Z-CS Clear Seal and Poorboy's EX-P, are all examples of popular synthetic polymer sealants. Some brands like Poorboy's, Zymol, Armorall, and Eagle1 have specific wheel sealants or "protectants" specifically designed for use on wheels.

I would just follow the instructions on the bottle of whatever product you choose to go with... but the same sealant's i use on paint work fine on wheels. Buff on, let dry, buff off... then allow to cure for 12 to 24 hours without driving or getting wet to let the polymers set up and crosslink to bond to the surface.

I should add that a sealant is not 100% needed, but for me personally it's just an added bit of protection. The Mothers Chrome Polish does actually have some protectant in it and is fine as a stand alone product.

[tas]

Does anyone use a powerball to apply polish, or do it by hand?

[Jim D.]

The PowerCone is pretty versatile and very handy for most of the Saleen wheel designs -- that, or a PowerBall Mini.

[Jim D.]

The PowerCone is pretty versatile and very handy for most of the Saleen wheel designs -- that, or a PowerBall Mini.

[07s281sc]

I had a serious problem with my Viper chrome wheels. Baked in brake dust and rough surface. Traditional.cleaning would not fix the problem. I ended up using a 3 step process. First Mothers PRO chrome/wire cleaner, specific formula for chrome wheels only. Second 3m metal polish which will deep clean the surface and remove residue. Lastly, DP glaze to be used as q sealer. Worked Amazingly well, they now look brand spankin New!!! Use microfiber towels for each step...

[Jim D.]

Originally Posted by 07s281sc

I had a serious problem with my Viper chrome wheels. Baked in brake dust and rough surface. Traditional.cleaning would not fix the problem. I ended up using a 3 step process. First Mothers PRO chrome/wire cleaner, specific formula for chrome wheels only. Second 3m metal polish which will deep clean the surface and remove residue. Lastly, DP glaze to be used as q sealer. Worked Amazingly well, they now look brand spankin New!!! Use microfiber towels for each step...

Glad that procedure worked for you!

Now hopefully keeping them clean will be much easier, and you'll be more conscious about doing so in the future and keeping them looking good! :)

[snakebite8]

acid works great on chrome. put it in a spray bottle with 50/50 with water and spray and junk just falls of the chrome.

[Jim D.]

Originally Posted by snakebite8

acid works great on chrome. put it in a spray bottle with 50/50 with water and spray and junk just falls of the chrome.

I guess I should caution people that home brews can be risky... there are many, many different types of acid, and some can be harsh on other finishes such as brakes even when diluted.

[snakebite8]

my uncle buys the acid from paint masters or other company. but its not home brewed. its a cleaner for chrome.

[Jim D.]

Originally Posted by snakebite8

my uncle buys the acid from paint masters or other company. but its not home brewed. its a cleaner for chrome.

I understand what you're saying, but also please understand that there are many different types of acids... phosphoric, muriatic, hydrofluoric, oxalic, and so on. And there's more to over-the-counter wheel cleaners than just any acid and water.

I don't want anyone to think that just any old acid and water is safe, as there are many unsafe acids.

[snakebite8]

oh true very true true.. yes, i will get the name of the company that makes it tomorrow. stuff works great.

[wildhorse]

The only thing I use on my Chrome Wheels is

Very easy to use on windows and Chrome its a foam product