1 huge secret that most auto detailers and auto enthusiasts are determined to learn! 2/19/23
The best cleaning methods and products for wheels!
Wheel cleaning solutions is almost the number one thing that clients who perform their own auto appearance are in search of. When it comes to high end vehicles or your daily auto that you would love to see stay in excellent condition, the method of wheel cleaning you select needs to be compatible for the appearance that you want to see in the future.
For example if you were to own a basic mode(perhaps a company car or truck) of transportation and have very little connection with it or you plan to only keep the vehicle for a short period of time but would like to keep it really clean then you may consider a very strong cleaner like our "wipeout"(only for standard alloys and chrome) that lifts dirt quickly and effortlessly without hardly any assistance as the wheels are being simply rinsed. There are also some odd cases where someone purchases a used vehicle and the wheels have been cleaned with a similar product in the past for some time so in order to get them back to their cleanest look you almost have to use a product like wipeout in those rare cases due to the wheels surface being altered prior over time.
If you wish to make sure you're using the proper long term benefit technique, then you may want to hear a few suggestions from a group of sports car enthusiasts!
Many years ago, we were listening to a group of Porsche owners go back and forth about what works best for them at a yearly car meet. There were some really good points made. This of course was something that we would one day enjoy sharing with clients that take pride in taking good care of their investments. We certainly felt the same way from our experience in the auto detailing industry but listening to other enthusiasts is always a great deal of fun!
Two very good points were made.
1. If you have really high polished aluminum wheels with a polished lip, it's best to only use a safe nonaggressive soap that performs well without using a wheel cleaner.
2. Try to find a non-acid wheel cleaner that you truly trust that will help break down brake dust and dirt debris when it comes to all other wheel types. This will help keep the wheels that you are cleaning in exceptionally clean condition while allowing you to maintenance them regularly without any long-term unforgiving consequences.
These enthusiasts held on to their favorite wheel cleaner and methods because they had finally found what worked best for them! You don't just come to these conclusions by chance, but it pointed at the hidden truth that they had more than likely found out the hard way in the past which sparked a desire to pursue the best method. A few couldn't help but give credit to the others because their wheels looked absolutely amazing!
Gather a little determination and then search until you find your favorite wheel brush!
Without a doubt if you want to make sure your wheels stay in excellent condition without build up that is hard to remove over time then you will have to get "hands on" or find the right tools that can assist you while you perform a thorough cleaning. We located wheel brushes at some point in time that had soft loose microfiber mounted to a handle and they looked like the safest tool you could possibly use. Luckily when we used our wheel cleaner "Solution" as well we noticed it was the absolute perfect match! The wheel brush was long enough to extend into the wheels to reach the backside and the thicker material seemed to really grab the surface with our wheel solution and soap each time. In and out of wheel spokes depending on the wheels design can be a challenge and while having the right tool is good, you will certainly want to have a safe, effective cleaner in most cases that will make up the difference on what you may not reach with your tool.
1500 - 1800 psi water rinsing
As a detailer there is a hidden truth about water pressure. Too much psi is certainly not safe but lower psi systems can truly benefit those who enjoy cleaning their investments or an investment for their client. If you've never used a pressure washing system and need a few tips, see below for a few safe habits we follow.
- Always use the nozzles with a larger degree spray (example 40-degree nozzle)
- Spray approximately 2 feet away while rinsing
Conclusion
For us the secret is locating the right product and tools that help you with your cleaning technique. Over time it will not only become an easier task, but it will also start to become part of the detail that you look forward to as well. If your wheels or a client's wheels that you clean frequently collect a lot of brake dust, then you may even want to use a seat with wheels that will make it more comfortable while you clean and reach in and out of your soap bucket. Shown is Red Head wash and wax, Solution wheel cleaner, and Mr. Blue which always leaves a signature shine on the tires! If you are cleaning with our brand of products, we recommend that you use Bubbles if the wheels have been ceramic coated.
1 absolutely remarkable principle when it comes to vinyl and leather that we learned from a legend. You will be incredibly shocked when you find out what they shared with us! 1/12/23
As the years passed by, we have had the opportunity to meet so many great clients. Today we simply couldn't just tell you a handful of favorites because when it comes to auto care enthusiasts it's as if you find out something so great about most clients you meet. Before we added ceramic interior protection as a service, the client we want to tell you about had several exterior coatings installed by us and eventually purchased a new Lexus SUV that had perhaps the most beautiful bright red leather we had seen at that time. In between talking about their new investment on one of their routine visits they shared with us a few cool facts about their past in the auto restoration industry. Eventually during one visit they shared about how they had even painted numerous rare cars shipped directly to their restoration store, especially "Porsches" that would be shipped to them to be professionally refinished for celebrities. Paint work for Jerry Seinfeld maybe? Well, we will leave that guess up to you! Our client would always mention that it's time to have their leather conditioned again and it would be about 2 months since their previous visit. So, we would of course say sure and detail the newer Suv again conditioning the bright leather that stayed in absolutely amazing condition.
We hope that the story was as much fun for you as it was for us to share but the real thing, we wanted to focus on was that this retired legend saw the value in quality protection for their new leather seats. I feel bad writing this next line, but we didn't give enough credit to just how important the conditioning aspect is to auto detailing until our client demonstrated it by mentioning what their primary reason was for their next detailing appointment. It also let us know that without a doubt they appreciated the quality that was delivered by the conditioners that were being used. From that point on we began to take a much closer look at various vehicles and the noticeable difference between leather/vinyl that may have aged differently over the years, some with protection and obviously some without enough protection. Did you know that conditioning your seats once a month could keep the leather in absolutely immaculate condition in some cases? Without it abrasion, loss of color, and leather becoming more brittle could become something that sneaks in on your once so nice leather seats. For the pros reading this the same goes for your client's autos as well that count on you for protection. We offer a few products that have really become favorites with customers we detail for and of course clients that enjoy detailing as well. Two products that we use on leather to keep seats hydrated and softer even to the touch are BTS protectant and Leather pro. Both products work extremely well and provide a charming leather scent to the vehicle as well. Using the right microfiber pad makes a huge difference with installation and allows you to equally distribute the level of shine that may be to you or your client's taste. Medium pressure will leave a lower level of shine on the surface and lighter pressure leaves a more rich and coated appearance. Letting the leather or vinyl dry for about 5 to 10 minutes with the conditioner is not required but something we do (for older leather) before returning again if we want to add two coats. This doesn't cover leather and vinyl that needs deep cleaning but stay tuned detail enthusiasts because we plan to share that with you soon!
