Wheel cleaning?

[Paddcomp]

As it's time to return the CLS GE to its 18s after winter thought I give them a good clean whilst they're off the car. I've seen some threads from others efforts, which looked impressive, so how hard can it be.
How do you get the backs of the wheels really clean?

I started with Bilberry wheel cleaner, moved on to an iron remover, then tried lifting old balance weight backing with tar & glue remover.
Nothing seemed all that effective to be honest. The glue needed lots of work with a knife blade, and I ended up using a bertex abrasive cloth on the rest of the surfaces. This still left me with lots of residue and discolouration which can be seen between the spokes. I couldn't get it any better unfortunately, so a coat of Bouncers Looking Sweet all round and refitted them.

Is it just a lack of elbow grease?

 

[Leabrooks]

Clean the wheels first with some household detergent like Stardrops or Flash and a scrubbing brush and sponge, rinse, forget the expensive wheel cleaners, then wipe/ scrub with some paint thinners and a toothbrush and lots of kitchen roll.... to remove wheel weight gum, road tar and film etc use a scalpel, modellers razor blade or a craft knife then use thinners. Don't get suckered in to the branded wonder stuff...oh, you already have!

 

[Paddcomp]

You'd thought I'd have learnt by now, I've still got some snake oil somewhere.

 

[Leabrooks]

And for really caked on wheel crud, grease and grime, use OvenPride, if it cleans your oven.....or spend another £20 on snake oil in a can........

 

[Sp!ke]

I think you should sticck to dedicated wheel cleaning solutions that dont harm your wheels.

Oven cleaner will without doubt cause problems.

 

[Paddcomp]

Isn't oven cleaner caustic? What does caustic soda do to aluminium again?

 

[zenman63]

The adhesive from wheel weights come of if you soak in petrol.

 

[nigel cross]

Remove the wheel weight residue with Tardis, and to get rid of all the little back specs use clay.

 

[Chrishazle]

Step 1 - pressure washer.
Step 2 - IronX
Step 3 - Tardis
Step 4 - Rimwax!