February 24th, 2023 by Sarah Miles

If you like to keep your car clean and looking good, an important part of that whole routine is detailing your tyres and wheels. The appearance of your alloy wheels can make or break the look of the whole car so it’s not an area to skimp on, plus your efforts in this area will be rewarded by wheels that resist rust and corrosion, thus allowing them to stay in top condition for much longer.

This wheel cleaning routine will ensure that your wheels stay in mint condition and never let the appearance of the car down.

Deal with iron contamination

You may not even know what iron contamination is, but all cars are vulnerable to it and it can have a serious detrimental impact on your wheels. Firstly, take a look at your wheels. Can you see areas of discolouration? They may only be very tiny. Run your hands over the surface of the metal. Does it feel slightly rough to the touch? Does a cleaning cloth snag when you wipe it? If the answer is yes to any of the above, it’s likely that your wheels are showing signs of iron contamination.

Iron contamination, also known as iron fallout, happens when tiny particles of iron from your brake pads and from the road, become attached to your wheels. They form a strong bond, due to the shape of the particles, which allows them to grip, and that’s why they can’t simply be washed away. Over time, the particles oxidise and this will slowly eat away at the metal, eventually allowing rust to set in.

Because you can wash them off, you need to use a specialised product that contains an active ingredient for this purpose. Iron fallout remover creates a chemical reaction that is kind to the surface of the wheels but will force the fragments of iron to change shape, lose their jagged edges, and relinquish their grip. Simply spray onto the surface of the wheel, leave for 5 minutes, and then rinse away – taking the particles with it. It will also remove the areas of discolouration, restoring them to their original even tone.

6L Cleenly Extreme Iron Contamination Remover

Price: £26.95

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Clean into all the nooks and crannies with snow foam

Snow foam is a commonly used pre-wash treatment for your entire car that does a great job of removing a lot of the dirt before you start contact cleaning (and therefore reducing the risk of scratching). It’s great for the paintwork but is especially useful for the wheels as the expanding foam will find its way into the various tiny crevices that could be hard to reach when cleaning by hand. The snow foam works by grabbing dirt from the surface of the car and allowing it to be washed away. The brake dust that contains iron fragments that have not yet bonded to the metal will be washed away before they cause any damage.

You will need a pressure washer and a snow foam lance to use snow foam on your car but it’s well worth it to get a deep clean and make the process easier. Apply it to the car when dry and direct it into all parts of the wheel to get good coverage. Leave for 5 minutes and then rinse away.

2 x 5L Cleenly PH Neutral Apple Snow Foam

Price: £25.96

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Shampoo and wax

No doubt you already use a car shampoo on the paintwork of your car, but did you realise that you can apply pH-neutral shampoos to your wheels as well? This will remove any last remaining bits of dirt left behind by the snow foam, as well as allow you to buff them up to a deep shine. More importantly, a product like Cleenly Car Wash and Wax which contains carnauba wax will give them an extra layer of protection that could help keep grease and tar deposits at bay, which are substances that help iron particles to stick.

5L Cleenly Car Wash & Wax with Carnauba

Price: £15.95

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