Cleaning a vehicle’s wheels doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. The most challenging part might be deciding which wheel and tire cleaner are best for your application. When cleaning wheels and tires, you first must decide if you are going to clean only the wheel and follow up with a tire cleaner or if you are going to clean the wheels and tires at the same time. Next, you should always consider what type of wheels you will be cleaning. Are the wheels coated aluminum alloy, steel, chrome, powder-coated, or plastic? Once you determine the wheel type, you will want to select a wheel and tire cleaner approved for the type of wheel on the vehicle. Suppose you want to take the safe route. In that case, Malco recommends selecting a versatile general-purpose cleaner like our Complete™Non-Acid Wheel & Tire Cleaner, a great ready-to-use cleaner for both wheel and tires that is safe for virtually all types of wheels and works in five quick steps.

Instructions:

1. Start with a cool, dry wheel.
2. Liberally spray cleaner onto the wheel and tire
3. Let the cleaner dwell on the surface for five minutes.
4. Agitation with a wheel and tire brush for heavily soiled wheels agitation may be necessary.
5. Thoroughly rinse the wheel with clean water until all suds have dissipated.  

Remember a few critical points to protect your wheels and tires from damage when cleaning wheels and tires.

1. Always clean one wheel at a time.
2. Never apply wheel and tire cleaner to hot wheels. Doing so can cause damage to the wheel.
3. Do not allow wheel and tire cleaner to dry on the tires. Doing so can cause damage to the rubber.

After you have finished cleaning all four wheels and tires, you are now ready to move on to washing the vehicle.