easier way to clean sls wheels???
Is it me or these rims are hard to clean - they look awesome after a wash but it takes me a lot of time to clean - I can hardly get my fingers in there to clean the dust. What do you guys use and what kind of results are you getting? I dont want to spray something thats going to stain my rims...
Personally, I think the best way to clean wheels with many spokes is to use a terry cloth or even better, a microfiber cloth. Most wheel brushes won't fit into the slots between the spokes.
I don't bother getting wheel cleaners. I just use the car soap and let it work into the wheels a while as I am washing the rest of the car. I then clean the wheels with a sponge and then finish up with a cloth. The cloth between the spokes is what will really get the dirt between the spokes.
In the end, it's all about time and effort. Wheels are cumbersome to clean, but if you spend more time, you will get better results.
Also, I apply plastic polish to the headlights at every car wash with the hope that it prevents UV hazing that you see on many car headlights. I have read somewhere that it is supposed to prevent hazing.
I don't bother getting wheel cleaners. I just use the car soap and let it work into the wheels a while as I am washing the rest of the car. I then clean the wheels with a sponge and then finish up with a cloth. The cloth between the spokes is what will really get the dirt between the spokes.
In the end, it's all about time and effort. Wheels are cumbersome to clean, but if you spend more time, you will get better results.
Also, I apply plastic polish to the headlights at every car wash with the hope that it prevents UV hazing that you see on many car headlights. I have read somewhere that it is supposed to prevent hazing.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
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I agree they are difficult. What I do with my cars is to take them to a good car wash and when the employees are just about done wiping down I ask for one of the wet towels. I clean/dry the wheels myself in front of them. They are nice and wet and the dirt comes off, albeit it requires movement within each spoke. If the employees get the hint and chip in they get an extra $1 tip ($2 altogether). Either way, the wheels look great thereafter. I can't stand grime build-up.
2010 Kizashi SLS FWD Gray; 2013 Grand Vitara 4wd red; 2012 SX4 blue; 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV black
Previous: 2002 XL-7 Limited (2); 1992 Accord; '91 Volvo; '85 Toyota; '84 Celica; '73 Mercedes.
Previous: 2002 XL-7 Limited (2); 1992 Accord; '91 Volvo; '85 Toyota; '84 Celica; '73 Mercedes.
- rbutler752
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- Joined: Thu Mar 21, 2013 2:26 pm
My system is this simple.
1 - I got ceramic brake pads. Less dust and lighter dust.
1 - I got ceramic brake pads. Less dust and lighter dust.
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- 2- spray this after you wash the car. Don't let this dry, spray and wash off. You will need to do some work on the corners with a terry cloth.
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- 3- spray this after the wheels are flawless. Allow them to dry totally before driving off. But I usually do a few coats.
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I think you're talking about the 20-spokes
XLS wheels in the Australian specs.

I use a dedicated microfibre noodle mitt to wash the wheels.

Something similar to this image, but I have one that allows my hand to go in between the spokes. I've tried several types of microfibre mitts, and I find the noodle ones work best for the wheels.
(I prefer the thick pile microfibre ones for the body)
Just normal wash with a good car shampoo, get my hands on each spoke and in between. The noddles are particularly useful around the air valves and nuts.
Takes about 5 mins to do all 4 wheels.
Whatever method you use, it will become faster and easier once you've gotten into a routine. Device a method/product that suits you, stick to it for a while and fine tune it as you go along.


I use a dedicated microfibre noodle mitt to wash the wheels.

Something similar to this image, but I have one that allows my hand to go in between the spokes. I've tried several types of microfibre mitts, and I find the noodle ones work best for the wheels.
(I prefer the thick pile microfibre ones for the body)
Just normal wash with a good car shampoo, get my hands on each spoke and in between. The noddles are particularly useful around the air valves and nuts.
Takes about 5 mins to do all 4 wheels.
Whatever method you use, it will become faster and easier once you've gotten into a routine. Device a method/product that suits you, stick to it for a while and fine tune it as you go along.
A good hard down pour washes my car most times. It sits outside and I run around amish farm country (dirt and horse crap are everywhere), so the car is never clean. I run it throught the car wash after winter to rinse off the salt underneath then once or twice more if we're supposed to get a long break from any precipitation....that's when the wheels get blasted and cleaned. As soon as I do that, it rains anyway and it's covered w/ road crap again.
Ron
2010 Kizashi GTS, CVT, iAWD (3/10 build date)
2011 SX4 Premium Hatch, CVT, iAWD (12/10 build date)
2018 Mazda CX-5 iAWD Touring
2014 Wrangler JKUW (GONE, traded
)
1991 Samurai, 5-Speed, EFI, Soft-Top (
sold)
2010 Kizashi GTS, CVT, iAWD (3/10 build date)
2011 SX4 Premium Hatch, CVT, iAWD (12/10 build date)
2018 Mazda CX-5 iAWD Touring
2014 Wrangler JKUW (GONE, traded


1991 Samurai, 5-Speed, EFI, Soft-Top (

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You can buy one of those small size wheel brush things online, or you can be cheap like me: buy a small headed toothbrush, those round ones are pretty good.