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I was attempting to clean the alloys today - first time since August! - and needless to say there was quite a bit of stubborn brake dust on them. Tried the local garage jet washer but still loads left especially on the rims. So was wondering quite how powerful a pressure washer I need to buy to blast the rest of the stuff off? If I use some cleaner stuff first will a little budget pressure washer do the trick? Presumably they're great for washing the rest of the car too?

Start here

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/Stor ... egoryId=22

Nope, pressure washer will not clean enough crap off your wheels on its own that is for sure. Don't get me wrong they are a damn useful thing for cleaning around the house and car (decking for instance or patio)
Either elbow grease or some decent cleaning potions will do the trick on your wheels though.

You can either go really harsh with something like Wonder Wheels, it works but its either really acid or alkali (cant remember off hand), it works though but you wouldn't want to be using it on them every week or anything.
Meguiars - Super Degreaser (mixed at 4:1) should also shift "normal" build up wash to wash. They also have a product called Wheel Brightener which works well I hear. Or try one of the following - http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wheels-am ... cat_7.html
You will need to use a brush of some sort too to work in there.
Or other thing I can think of is getting a clay bar kit which shifts allsorts of stuff easily enough.

Sounds like a jet washer won't be a shortcut to using all the other cleaning stuff then, even if it is an expensive high pressure one. Think I'll just get a cheapo little one and rely on some elbow grease as well!

Cheers for the advice on wheel cleaning stuff by the way!

No worries at all mate, its something I am getting into in a bit of a big way at the moment so have been spending far too much time (and money!) on cleaning lotions and potions of late.

Yup - nothing short of elbow greese on those wheels - However, Wonder Wheels REALLY does do the business. For baked on dirt which you must have given that you haven't cleaned your wheels since last year!!!! Wonder wheels directly onto a cotton cloth rather than the soft brush that comes with it. That should do 90% of the work. After that I use Safe-Cut for stubour staining. Nice and mild cutting agent, probaly too mild as it requires alot of rubbing but you won't scratch or worse rub through your lacqure!!!

i would only use an acidic wheel cleaner if your wheels are unmarked? as if they have been curbed or such like the acid wheel simply eat away at the paint and you'll find the paint flaking off.
I learnt the hard way Megs wheel brightener is very good but a high dilution rate is recomended to be on the safe side

use an old sock, that does the trick, where it like a glove, works wonders getting in the spoke!

The good old "use an old sock" method eh?

Ah, the teenage years.

NumberoftheBeast wrote:The good old "use an old sock" method eh?

Ah, the teenage years.

well I have the ergonomic spoke brush from Megs, and more gear you can chuck a stick at, all failed me, and what was best, a good old mark 1 British Army sock haha