I’ve had my Sportline 280 with the standard 19” Vega alloys since September 2020 (and still loving the look of it all), I’ve been cleaning the car with the pressure washer and two bucket two wash mitts method then finishing it off with autoglym rapid aqua wax but just been doing the wheels by hand with the grubbier wash mitt (got a new one for the upper bodywork) which has been fine until now but I’m noticing a bit of build up that’s not coming off now at the edges so wanted to get some proper alloy wheel cleaner again. Just looking at some autoglym stuff on Amazon that says it suitable for use on lacquered alloy, painted alloy & plastic wheel trims which I guess would cover the Vega alloys but wanted to check before I buy.

any suggestions appreciated!

A brush like that, an old paint brush and AA alloy wheel cleaner from Home Bargains - its about £2 and does the job. 

Don't forget some iron remover.

 

As above... I've recently discovered iron remover and it's blooming marvellous! Not just for wheels either (although that's where you see it the most). Autoglym's version is called Magma.  I'd be inclined to try that before a wheel cleaner. 

I also use a brush, Meguiar's Supreme Microfibre in my case. 

I wouldn't put that brush anywhere near my alloys VRS.  Good for washing dishes only!

 

If you are serious about keeping them in a good condition and unmarked get some Bilt Hamber auto wheel, a set of Wheel woolies and a microfiber mitt for the wheel faces.  

True.  Meguiar's idea of a brush is a Microfibre on a stick (click), it seems OK for scratches.  Bilt Hamber is good stuff, it's their korrosol I use.

I had my superb over 3 years and use Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel or RRC iron remover gel...absolutely fantastic. I have ceramic coated them though which helps massively...

Rinse 

APC on tires and wheels I also use a non acidic wheel cleaner, autobrite, gyeon etc. Dwell, agitate and rinse. 

Then I would use fallout as the last step, agitate and rinse. 

Then seal or protect with a product of your choice

 

I’ve gone for the autoglym non acid version after reading everyone’s replies and some online reviews of the traditional acid versions. Will post back how I get on when I next clean the car and have time to tackle the wheels properly 

Just bear in mind fallout does not clean wheels

On 16/07/2021 at 00:24, Steviedakota said:

I wouldn't put that brush anywhere near my alloys VRS.  Good for washing dishes only!

 

I wouldn't even use it for them, they'll end up all scratched with that wire frame! 

 

Good choice going for the Autoglym Custom Wheel Cleaner (if that was the one you went for) @SkudMissile21. It does a good job. Get yourself some Magma and a tin of Alloy Seal and keeping the wheels clean will be so much easier. A drop of Intensive Tar Remover will probably come in handy too. 

 

*Other products are available.* 

Washed the car for the first time yesterday a week after collecting it from the Skoda garage, used Maguires Gold for the bodywork, 2 bucket method with  wash mit.

Wheels : bought new Turtle Wax RL alloy wheel cleaner this has fallout in the formula and bought a wheel wash mit which worked ok although not easy to get between alternate spokes on the Vega wheels.

Next wash I will remove the wheels so I can clean the insides better.

Martin

I see people mentioning "fallout" and "iron remover" in the comments above. What do those words mean in this context? To the me, in Australia, the main concerns are brake dust and road grime.

 

I have not had to wash the wheels on my new Octavia yet but with my previous cars I have just used a brush (picture attached) dipped in the mild car washing solution (e.g. from Armorall, Meguiars etc) that I use for the rest of the car.

The results were satisfactory.

 

Of course I cannot get into the interior of the wheel so that gets more and more grimy buy it is not very visible. So long as the bits everyone can see are shiny and clean I am happy.

Is the discussion above looking for products that can get to these impossible to reach areas and/or remove the brake dust and other dirt without requiring actually scrubbing with a brush.

 

By the way that brush that I use is not metallic and I cannot see any way it could cause scratching. It came from a car parts store and it has the consistency of a typical dish washing brush, or even a firm toothbrush, but a size and shape more appropriate for getting in between the spokes of an alloy wheel.

 

Fallout remover removes the iron oxides from the wheels. This basically doesn´t have to be done every single time, if you wash you car regularly (once per 1/2 weeks).

Is this more of a thing in the UK? Or in areas woth a snowy winter?

I have never heard of any issue with iron oxide here. Other than rust (aka iron oxide) on the disk rotors - but I never noticed it on the wheels.

 

3 minutes ago, DaveFromSydney said:

Is this more of a thing in the UK? Or in areas woth a snowy winter?

I have never heard of any issue with iron oxide here. Other than rust (aka iron oxide) on the disk rotors - but I never noticed it on the wheels.

 

You may not have noticed it but it will be there. 

My wheel wash method is,

 

Pre spray with a citrus APC including the tyre walls and arches. 
 

stiff brush on the tyre walls to remove previous dressing (and the build up of dirt the dressing attracts) 

 

Rinse the arches with the pressure washer and then rinse the wheel last to remove all the  dirt from the arches, being sure to rinse as much of the barrel as possible.

 

using a detail factory soft bristled brush I wash the face of the wheel with a standard shampoo. I then do the inside of the barrel with a large EZ detail brush. Then with a dedicated wheel mitt I wash the face of the wheel to ensure I haven’t missed anything. 
 

once that’s all rinsed off, if the wheels require it (once every three or four months) I will apply a bleeding fallout remover (Purple Rain from Autobrite Direct) and agitate with the detail factory brush and then rinse.

 

once the car is done and it’s dry I wipe the wheels off with a spray wax (Meguars Ultimate spray wax) and buff with some dedicated wheel towels. 

once a year, I take the wheels off and allow access to the arches for a full clean and decon. The wheels get a wash, two stage decon, clay, polish and wax. 

 

 

21 hours ago, john999boy said:

Is this more of a thing in the UK? Or in areas woth a snowy winter?

I have never heard of any issue with iron oxide here. Other than rust (aka iron oxide) on the disk rotors - but I never noticed it on the wheels.

 

 

So my car is less than three months old and I was dubious about that too, but used Bowden's 'Wheely Clean" spray on the wheels the other day and was amazed how much purple gunk came away from the wheels (ie. iron oxides). So I'm a bit of a convert.

 

For those of you not from this part of the world, Bowden's make quality car care gear in Australia, but come up with the most ridiculous funny names for their products. 'Wheely Clean' is marketed with a new formula that quote "no longer smells like arse". My current favourite of theirs is "Far Cough" interior deodoriser:

 

It wasn’t my quote above but I do think that the product that ‘no longer smells like arse’ isn't an iron removal item as I’ve yet to come across anyone saying it actually smells nice - which I’m presuming is inferred?

Edited 20 July, 20214 yr by john999boy
Major typo

On 19/07/2021 at 06:58, DaveFromSydney said:

Is this more of a thing in the UK? Or in areas woth a snowy winter?

I have never heard of any issue with iron oxide here. Other than rust (aka iron oxide) on the disk rotors - but I never noticed it on the wheels.

 

 

It will be on the wheels and the bodywork, same as tar from the road and said brake dust. It's the very same stuff you see on the brakes. Just think; where does it go when you use the brakes?

 

It's all interspersed with the brake dust and as stated above, if you wash your car frequently, it shouldn't be much of a problem although it will still be there.

 

Most fallout removers have the colour change formula and will turn purple or red when iron oxide is present also meaning there should be no change if there is nothing there.

 

And again, as @AriGold said, you don't need to use it every time wash but it is a good idea to use in your pre-polish wash routine. 

Only use one of these on our alloys…

 

 

…it’s brilliant, safe and retains its shape. I use a hand shaped short, soft noodle microfibre mitt to clean the face then the EZ to clean the spokes, barrel and inner rim. I use two buckets, Meguirs Gold Class shampoo with warm water in BOTH, so the brush gets a good wash after each quadrant of the wheel. I’ve recently coated the wheels with Race Glaze Signature Series Nano Alloy Wheel Sealant; it’s a bit of a PITA to do it as it’s a wheels off job but boy, it’s made cleaning them so much easier. I tend to clean the car every week including the wheels so the dust doesn’t have a chance to build-up. Of course, white worm has appeared, but only on two of them, but fortunately, it doesn’t seem to’ve got any worse. 

Edited 20 July, 20214 yr by numskull