Autobead Acid Wheel Cleaner 500ml - Destroy Brake Dust & Contaminants - Concentrated Gel-Based Rim Cleaning Dirt Remover

A) Not in the slightest. While it’s certainly true that improper use of poor quality AWCs has the potential to cause damage, they have also been proven to be ultra-effective at ridding wheels of all forms of dirt and grime. Our own Clean Wheels spray is pre-mixed to optimum strength, easy to use, and is suitable for use on most wheels. A bottle of G3 is one of the most expensive cleaners here by volume, but it’s still worth it if you really want the best results. Its pH-neutral formula is as safe as a wheel cleaner can possibly be, so even if you get some on adjacent paintwork, it’s no bother. As with the other pH-neutral cleaners, the Farecia product turns red when it’s ready to be rinsed for a ‘touch-free’ clean. The results are great, too, with serious cleaning power to leave a satisfying, streak-free and dirt-free finish after a simple spray-and-rinse process. div>

Q) I’ve inherited some old, commercial AWC from a friend that once ran a professional car wash, will it be safe to use on my alloys? A word of warning: As it reacts to the mineral deposits, the acid will neutralize and release toxic gasses right into your face. You want to be using this product in a well-ventilated area with full protection equipment - gloves, eyewear, and a respirator.Clean Wheels is acid based yet safe to use on the majority of alloy wheels. We’ve agitated it with our Hi-Tech Wheel Brush, ideal for access to the tight areas on the annoying-to-clean-but-nice-to-look-at alloys. It should also be pointed out that great care must be taken when used on alloys that have been kerbed. I found out the hard way that after using an acid wheel cleaner on a kerbed wheel that it actually managed to get under the paint layer and caused bubbling of it. This cause a significant degree of damage to the wheel and it had to be refurbished after that. Acid Wheel Cleaners (AWCs) have been a fixture of the detailing landscape for decades. Prized for their versatility and ability to break down even the toughest of baked on brake dust and other deposits, AWCs have nonetheless come in for some negative press of late, with various sections of the internet calling for them to be all but abandoned in favour of less effective, differently formulated alternatives. The fact that they’re made of a corrosive substance ensures that all acid-based wheel treatments should be treated with respect, but, when used carefully and correctly, they’re a valuable tool in the battle to keep your alloys looking flawless. As we’ve already touched upon, AWCs have been part of the car cleaning scene for generations, and though some now have reservations about their use, they continue to play a massive role in the professional car cleaning industry. Fast acting and effective, the chemical makeup of AWCs ensures that they make light work of most contaminants, yet this potency has also resulted in some bad press in recent years, much of it based on hearsay and internet rumour rather than cold, hard fact.

In fact, the bulk of the negative publicity surrounding AWCs stems from misuse and misunderstanding, both of which can be dangerous when discussing products as potentially dangerous as acids. At Autoglym, we feel that AWC do still have an important role to play in the sphere of detailing, hence why Clean Wheels, one of our longest standing and best selling products, is an acid formulation. It’s a proven weapon in the fight against dirty wheels, and when used correctly and sensibly poses no risk to alloys or human health.A) In the right hands, yes, but be sure to read the label and safety data sheet before you decide. That being said, we really don’t know why you’d want to, not when Clean Wheels is so effective, affordable and simple to use. Clean Wheels has been proven to be every bit as effective as commercial cleaners yet comes in a ready to use form, meaning that you can leave diluting acid wheel cleaners to the professionals. Spray your body panel generously and leave it to sit for a couple of minutes so that it can penetrate deep down and dissolve the mineral deposits. Then, wipe it away with a clean microfiber towel. The very fact that acid is central to their chemical makeup means that AWCs are not suitable for all detailing eventualities, and this is particularly true if you happen to own a set of high-end aftermarket wheels. Wheels with an anodised or chromed coating, or those with a diamond cut are not suitable for AWC treatments. These finishes do not like acid, potentially leading to a compromised finish on the wheel. Much as some of us car-cleaning nerds may consider that sort of job to be valuable ‘me time’, we still expect a good wheel cleaner to take the manual labour out of the job where possible. Polishing your car is a great way to fade small scratches and imperfections. Find out how with our handy guide.

This product, in my experience, takes a lot of the ‘elbow’ out of the ‘elbow grease’ equation. Just spray on the wheels and let it do all the work.” – RtDK When it comes to cleaning wheels, one of the biggest questions is if it’s safe to use acid wheel cleaners. First off, let’s discuss what an acid wheel cleaner is. These are cleaners that are between pH 1-5, with alkaline cleaners being in the range of pH 9-13 and those in the middle (such as car shampoo) being classed as pH neutral. Are your wheels chromed or anodised? If so, choose a pH-neutral product that won’t damage their delicate surface. Each cleaner advises what types of wheels they are suitable for.Q) Is it true that AWCs are ‘old hat’ and have no place in the modern, professional car cleaning industry? We find this is a harsh process and can leave pitting; therefore we now use the latest techniques which involve us removing all the paint and corrosion in an acid bath. This is carried out at our depot. Due to the strength of the acid used we cannot do it on the mobile service. You can have your wheels painted to the original colour or if you fancy a change we can mix any colour you like. If you have a specific colour you would like you can supply us with a paint code and we will match it. The steps for the acid stripping and powder coating process are as follows: