How to Polish Alloy Wheels

Many car enthusiasts agree that a nice and shiny looking set of allow wheels have the ability of making any average looking car look amazing, and truthfully we’re probably inclined to agree with them. Alloy wheels look amazing and there’s just something about them that really helps to add style and character to pretty much any vehicle imaginable. 

The problem with alloy wheels however, is that as they are so shiny and bright to begin with, once the vehicle is up and running, dirt, and grease can quickly begin to accumulate on the wheels, not to mention brake dust, which is notoriously difficult to remove as it can find itself baked onto the wheels.

If your alloy wheels have seen better days and you want to restore them back to their bright and shiny best, either get a professional to do it, or read on for alook at how to polish alloy wheels and restore them back to their best.

Begin by washing the wheels –Before you even begin to think about getting your polish out, the first thing you need to do is give your alloy wheels a nice and thorough washing. It should be noted that you should also have plenty of old tea towels on hand as you will need them. Wash your wheels using a special alloy wheel cleaning solution that can be purchased from all good motor vehicle specialists. Many of these solutions are powerful degreasers and will cut through dirt, grease and grime in minutes. Often you will simply need to spray it onto the wheels, leave for a few minutes, and rinse it away and hopefully it should have removed most of the dirt. If there are any stubborn areas that the solution isn’t reaching, use good old fashioned elbow grease. 

Remove the wheels –Next up you should remove the wheels from your vehicle as this will allow you to reach every last inch of them. Don’t worry, removing them is pretty straightforward, even for people with limited vehicle knowledge.

Use a bristled brush – To ensure you get every last inch of dirt, and brake dust from your wheel, use a bristled brush, preferably a soft bristled brush that will agitate stubborn dirt and dust. Removing the wheel makes this step so much easier. When you’re happy, apply another coat of cleaning solution and rinse away before drying the wheels. 

Polish –You should have purchased the appropriate alloy wheel polish ahead of time, and now it’s time to make use of it. Apply a generous amount onto a clean tea towel, and work it onto every inch of the metal alloy wheels. Using another clean, and dry tea towel, polish the alloys until the exterior changes from a cloudy appearance to a shiny and sparkly appearance. This is quite hard work so you will be tired and will burn off a few calories in the process.

Re-attach the wheels –Once you’ve cleaned and polished each wheel, re-attach them, making sure they’re secure and attached correctly, and enjoy your hard work.