wheel wax/spray and cleaning products?

[CNHSS1]

Hiya,
we have a number of new vehicles with painted OEM wheels, alloys and steels, vans, cars etc, and want to know whats the best to coat them with initially to make them easier to clean. Is there a spray on wax or similar or is body wax best?

similarly whats the best to clean them with to remove brake dust and general muck.

couple of points to note, our lads wont do faffing, if it aint quick and simple, then it wont happen. They will be jetwashed with a big Karcher unit and a wheel brush to clean the crud off.

any that know me will realise that this is way out of my range of knowledge
CNH

[reliant-reviver]

Mrs Reviver can thoroughly recommend Poorboy's Wheel Sealant.

It's pink - she hates pink

It smell's like bubble gum - she hates the smell of bubblegum

On a hot day outside, bees and wasps seem decidedly taken by the smell of this product being applied. She does not like being stung.

Actually she probably wouldn't recommend it at all. Or maintaining KN Diamond wheels for that matter.

Does leave a fantastic finish though, dirt practically slides off. Bit of elbow grease required initially, but pays off in the long run.

One tub goes a very long way.



Plenty of spray on products as well, but no experience of those although there is some Autoglym wheel sealer on my shelf to try.

My winter steels were (and still are!) smothered in vaseline, warning this will melt when brake temps are high, ask me how I know.

[ScimmyMike]

For cleaning I love Bilt Hambers auto wheel, spray it on, let it go deep purple then rinse off and all brake dust and crud come with it, you can give it a good agitation with a brush should the need arise before rinsing.
After I use Smart Wax RimWax on the SAAB alloys, nowt on the wolfies though, find the beglum is it? cleaner seals at the same time as polishing

[swoakes]

I'm sure poshtwit will be along soon; upon his recommendation I purchased some Citrus pre-cleaner that we spray on prior to a jet wash. Gets brake dust off the wheels great. I think the commercial hand car washes use it too.

Take a look here Craig

viewtopic.php?f=100&t=25163&hilit=+citrus+pre+wash

[Nick]

I have never found a cleaner to match Wonder Wheels.

[ScimmyMike]

I have never found a cleaner to match Wonder Wheels.

Try the Bilt Hamber stuff Nick, remarkably similar if not better.

[CNHSS1]

Cheers Chaps

ive used wonder wheels myself but it always smells vicious and bless 'em, whilst we provide PPE, none of 'em bloody wear it so don't want someone having the afternoon off as they've got wheel cleaner-it is

will check out the Bilthamber and Citrus links, cheers Mike and Steve O

CNH

[Oaksey]

Valet pro Dragon's breath is very good and I'm pretty sure it's pH neutral too

[RodH]

Wonder Wheels is great for cleaning wheels.
It also cleans rust stains out of plastic header tanks.
It does however contain Hydrochloric Acid and it stains stainless kitchen sinks.(comes off with a Brillo pad)

Rod.

[PoshTwit]

Evenin' all!

Most "specific" wheel sealants and waxes are just re-bottled regular stuff (marketing exercise)... It's a van. It needs to work for a living and it's going to get battered! Plus, the guys will just want an easy life when it comes to maintaining the thing so no 2-bucket wash, no individual wheel brushes and mitts and certainly no time to go through a rinse, shampoo, wheel-cleaner, rinse, tar remover, rinse, fallout remover, rinse process!

Craig - any coating that you put on the wheels will be stripped pretty quickly by aggressive washing techniques so it will be better just to use a pump sprayer with an all-purpose cleaner in it all around the vehicle at wash time and done regularly enough, the bonded contamination will not be able to build-up sufficiently to need such things as fall-out removers (Dragon's Breath) and the like. Try the ValetPro Citrus Pre-wash at around 10:1 with water and see how you get on. If you find you need something stronger, do get in touch.

Rich

[CNHSS1]

Hi Rich,
Thanks for the advice. We have new vans, and pickup but also 3 x £40-45k cars which the employees have the pleasure of cleaning, but i take your point the effort being relative to the vehicles.
We have spokey wheel brushes which they like as they are easier than using sponges between alloy spokes. We keep cars 3 years and vans 3-5 dependant on panels or lutons, so the 2 bucket wash etc is out, they all work for a living and long term damage is next owners problem, so long as they look smart and presentable in our ownership.

This valetpro stuff, where do i buy? From you or local outlets? Ive not heard of it before, but as mentioned cleaning prods arent my strong point lol.

Also can you recommend a half decent wheel brush for me? I have a couple but the wire 'shaft' bends where it meets the handle and i think will fatigue and snap. Recommendations, approx costs and where to buy please

TIA
Craig

[PoshTwit]

Not me - I have no allegiance to any manufacturer.

Try cleanyourcar.co.uk or i4detailing.co.uk. Best quality wheel brush I've found is EZ detail brush found at the above. Solid handle and looks like a mucho-macho bog brush but great for what you need.

[PoshTwit]

Oh, and around £20 for 5 litres of pre-wash and £15 for the brush.

[swoakes]

Valet pro on Ebay Craig

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Valetpro-Citr ... 20f45585fe

[CNHSS1]

Cheers Rich , shame you dont flog the gear though, id rather give the money to a scimitar type than AN Other.

Cheers for the link Steve O