how to clean brake dust off of aluminum rims

What Are Wheel Cleaners? Are They Safe?

If you've looked into wheel cleaners, you might have heard some conflicting reports. Some people say they're safe, while others say they're dangerous. Which is it?

In most respects, it depends on what type of cleaner you use.

Acidic Wheel Cleaners

We're all familiar with what acid does. It eats away at a surface and "burns" through it, right? To some extent, that's correct, but that's not the whole story.

Acids are extremely effective at dissolving ferrous metals. However, they're not as effective at dissolving most plastics. This is why you see powerful acid cleaners sold in simple plastic jugs. Hydrofluoric acid can burn through a cast iron plate if given enough time, but it won't burn through a proper plastic storage jug.

This is the cause of some confusion regarding acid wheel cleaner safely. Old-school rims were made of steel, which could easily get damaged by an acid cleaner. Most modern rims, on the other hand, are made of a coated aluminum alloy. Between the coating and the non-ferrous metal, the rims are relatively safe. Meanwhile, iron dust is quickly dissolved.

That's not to say that acidic wheel cleaners are totally safe, though. For one thing, they can eventually damage your wheels if they're left on for extended periods.

It's essential to follow all the manufacturer's instructions. It might be tempting to leave your acid cleaner on the surface for a few extra minutes for extra effectiveness, but don't. If the bottle says to let stand for five minutes, start rinsing after five minutes.

Similarly, you need to be very careful with your skin. Always use heavy-duty nitrile gloves when working with acid, and wear a pair of safety goggles to protect yourself from splashing.

Just as you'd follow the instructions in every other regard, stick with the manufacturer's mixing instructions. Most acid cleaners are sold as concentrates, and should never be used without first being diluted. Undiluted concentrate can cause serious damage to your wheels, and can also cause severe chemical burns.

Non-Acidic Wheel Cleaners

There are plenty of non-acidic wheel cleaners available on the market. However, you need to know what you're looking at. The main reason people buy a non-acidic wheel cleaner is because they're looking for something non-corrosive.

However, most non-acidic wheel cleaners are instead highly alkaline. They're still corrosive, just on the other end of the pH spectrum. These chemicals can be useful for some specialized applications, but they're just as hazardous to bare skin.

If you want a non-corrosive (or minimally corrosive) cleaner, look for one that's pH-balanced. However, keep in mind that pH-balanced cleaners can vary in quality. An ordinary soap isn't going to remove brake dust. You need one with special catalysts for ferrous metal particles.

How To Get Baked-On Brake Dust Off Wheels (Alloy Wheels, Aluminum Wheels, Chrome Wheels, And More)

Now that we know a thing or two about wheel cleaners, it's time to get down to the nitty-gritty. Here are four ways of eliminating unwanted brake dust.

The Best Method: Decon Soap + Ceramic Shine

Torque Decon Wash Pack is a pH-balanced wheel cleaner or "lube" that's less corrosive than traditional cleaners. Instead of eating away iron particles with acid, it contains special catalysts that dissolve brake dust, and it turns purple when it's done cleaning.

Using Decon is easy. Just spray it on, wait for a few minutes, scrub it off, and rinse it clean. The whole process takes only a few minutes, and you can wait for it to work while you're cleaning other parts of your car. The kit even includes a safe, reusable scrubbing pad that's good for 100 washes.

To help bring out extra shine in your wheels, use a ceramic shine coating to finish things off. This is a glossy, protective coat that sprays on in seconds. It can also be used on the rest of your car for water repulsion and a mirror-like gloss. Read our full guide here on how to ceramic coat your vehicle .

Method #2 - Wheel Cleaners

Of course, there are plenty of traditional wheel cleaners on the market as well. If you choose an acid cleaner, make sure to follow all the manufacturer's safety rules. Wear proper protective equipment, and never apply cleaner that's mixed more strongly than is recommended.

After application, an acid wheel cleaner works similarly to Decon soap. You wait a few minutes, follow up with a stiff nylon brush to break up any deposits, and rinse clean. The same goes for non-acidic corrosive cleaners. When talking about the best wheel cleaner, there are so many options you can go with depending on the job at hand. For most people, we'd just recommend picking up our Decon Soap . It's a general-purpose decontamination car soap that'll let you hit many, many birds with one stone.

Method #3 - Iron Removers

Iron removers are a good follow-up treatment - not for your wheels, but for your paint job. If there's brake dust on your vehicle's body, you don't want to use a cleaner designed for rims. Instead, you want to use a paint-safe iron remover.

Iron removers work similarly to Decon lube. They use catalysts to remove iron deposits, and usually change color when they're ready to rinse off. The difference is that these iron removers are safe for paint and aren't designed for scrubbing. Instead, they gently loosen iron that's deposited on the surface, to the point where it can be rinsed away.

Method #4 - Pressure Washer