Keeping your car’s wheels in top condition requires more than just a quick rinse with water.
Wheels are constantly exposed to brake dust, road grime and other tough contaminants, which can not only make them look a little less suave but also damage their finish over time. To keep them gleaming, choosing the right wheel cleaner is essential.
What should you look for in a wheel cleaner?
When selecting a wheel cleaner, the first thing to consider is the type of wheels you have. Different materials - whether alloy, chrome, steel, or painted - require different treatments. Look for a cleaner that’s specifically formulated for your wheel type to avoid any potential damage.
One key ingredient to look for in a wheel cleaner is a powerful degreaser. Brake dust is notoriously stubborn and can be corrosive if left untreated. A cleaner with a strong degreasing agent will break down this dust effectively, lifting away the grime without the need for excessive scrubbing.
Another important feature is the pH level of the cleaner. Acid-based cleaners can be effective for removing tough dirt but may be too harsh on certain finishes, potentially leading to etching or discolouration. Opting for a pH-balanced or alkaline cleaner is often a safer choice, ensuring that it’s gentle on your wheels while still being effective against dirt.
Ease of use is also a factor worth noting. The best wheel cleaners should be simple to apply, with a spray-on, rinse-off formula that saves you time and effort. Some even change colour as they work, indicating when it’s time to rinse, which can be particularly satisfying and efficient.
We've rounded up all of the best cleaners for wheels below. Happy cleaning!
Bilt Hamber BH-AW1 Auto Wheel Cleaner
Widely renowned as one of the best in the industry, this Bilt Hamber BH-AW1 Auto Wheel Cleaner is a multiple winner of Auto Express Magazine's Product Awards in the 'Best Wheel Cleaner' category most recently in 2023.
Unlike strong acid-based wheel cleaners, its method of cleaning is harmless to the wheel’s finish, reacting with the oxidising surface of the metallic particles to reduce the size of embedded particles and releasing the contaminants from the surface.
Buy now £19.99, Amazon
Simoniz Ultracare Wheel Cleaner
Simoniz's Ultracare Wheel Cleaner is a powerful wheel cleaner which uses a unique acid-free formula to clean alloys quickly with no corrosive effects. This wheel cleaner can be used on all alloys, and its acid-free, non-corrosive formula removes dirt quickly without damaging them. It can be used on all wheel types, including lacquered, painted and chromed.
Buy now £6.75, Amazon
Meguiar's Ultimate All Wheel Cleaner
Meguiar's Ultimate All Wheel Cleaner is designed to clean your wheels removing dirt, grime and harmful contaminants from your wheels. Specially formulated to remove brake dust residue, you can see it changing colour as it removes brake dust and other contaminants. Being a gel, it sticks very well to the wheel surface and it will simply lift grime and other dirt off along with brake dust residue.
Buy now £16.00, Amazon
Gtechniq W6 Iron and General Fallout Remover for Cars
Founded in 2001 by a quantum physicist, Gtechniq products are some of the best in the business when it comes to quality and price point. This W6 Iron and General Fallout Remover for Cars has a thick gel formula that clings to the surface leaving the paintwork, rims and wheels looking like they've just left the showroom. Not only does this powerful product remove difficult, stubborn dirt but it's also coating and wax safe.
Buy now £7.25, Amazon
Turtle Wax Color Shift Wheel Cleaner
Turtle Wax's Color Shift Wheel Cleaner is an all-round safe, yet highly effective colour-changing wheel cleaner. It's packed with iron-removing ingredients to dissolve brake dust and advanced detergents that cut through grime and dirt to leave wheels clean, bright and contaminant-free. The pH-balanced formulation enables regular use on all wheel finishes, even those with damaged coatings.
Buy now £8.00, Turtle Wax
SONAX XTREME Wheel Cleaner
SONAX Xtreme's Wheel Cleaner features a new, improved formula which helps to effortlessly remove the most stubborn dirt. It can be used on steel, alloy, chrome plated and polished wheel rims. Better yet, it features an innovative ‘bleeding’ effect and the liquid changes its colour to red as it reacts with the iron particles of the brake dust.
Buy now £9.30, Amazon
Autoglym Advanced All Wheel Cleaner
This Advanced All Wheel Cleaner is a pH-neutral, foaming formula that clings to your wheel increasing contact time to effectively remove grime and other contaminants. The active ingredients in Advanced All Wheel Cleaner turn a deep red as they react with brake dust that may have bonded to your wheels. The iron particles are gently loosened and can be easily rinsed away to leave your wheels gleaming.
Buy now £26.97, Amazon
Duel Autocare Toxin
This Toxin formula gets to work by securing and removing iron particles and contaminants whilst turning a characteristic purple colour – leaving all your surfaces with a deep clean.
A tougher approach for wheels that really need a deep clean, the Duel Autocare product is extremely powerful while remaining safe for use on all surfaces - its formula will not cause damage to paintwork, coatings, wheels, rims, alloys, glass or rubber surfaces.
Buy now £16.40, Amazon
4Detailer Hummer Iron
The liquid consistency of 4Detailer's Hummer Iron allows for very easy application. A neutral pH agent designed to remove metallic dirt from rims and bodywork, it perfectly removes filings from brake pads and volatile rust and is safe for any aluminium and painted surface.
Buy now £10.99, More Than Polish
Halfords Alloy Wheel Cleaner
This Halfords Alloy Wheel Cleaner is a quick and easy-to-use spray, which is suitable for most wheels and trims and ideal for removing unsightly brake dust and restoring the overall appearance of your car. A popular, budget-friendly option, it washes off easily and leaves a brighter finish, meaning a deeper clean.
Buy now £5.00, Halfords
Verdict
The Bilt Hamber BH-AW1 Auto Wheel Cleaner excels as the best wheel cleaner due to its powerful, pH-balanced formula that dissolves brake dust and grime effortlessly. Its colour-changing action ensures thorough cleaning, while being safe on all wheel types.
