How to Look After Alloy Wheels

Having shiny, well looked after alloy wheels can make your car look new and help maintain the value. But with daily wear and tear, alloys quickly become dull, corroded, and damaged, making the entire car look much older than it is. If your alloy wheels could use some TLC, here are some steps to make them look their best.

1.   Easy Cleaning

Alloys need regular cleaning and ongoing maintenance to keep them looking their best. All you need is water, soft cloths, a wheel cleaning brush, and some large cotton swabs.

Start by hosing the wheels down with a hose or bucket of water. Don’t be shy, you’ll need to get right into all the nooks to get the best finish. This will get most of the dirt, dust, and grime off before you go in with a cloth.

Once you’re done hosing, gently scrub the alloys with a cloth and warm soapy water. Then rinse with plain water to get a good shine.

The brush and cotton swabs will come in handy when working on the narrow, hard-to-reach places.

2.   Waxing & Polishing

If your wheels are chrome, you’ll need a specialist chrome polish. While aluminium wheels will need aluminium polish. If you have powder coated alloys, an automotive wax is the best option for getting a good shine.

If you have anodised wheels, you do not need to polish or wax them at all, so you can skip this step.

Whatever wax or polish you’re using, apply it using a clean cloth and buff it until you get a clear shine.

3.   Sealing

To keep your alloys looking better for longer, you can apply a wheel sealant on aluminium, chrome, and powder coated alloys. This will lock in all that hard work you’ve done cleaning and give a great finish.

4.   Visit a Pro

If your alloys are extremely worn, scuffed, scratched or damaged, the best way to look after them is to visit an alloy specialist. If you’re based in Bognor Regis, we can refurbish and repair your alloys to make them look brand new. We also offer powder coating and hydrographic dipping services to transform the colour and make them showroom standard. Give us a call to learn more.