Simply leaving your rims exposed to the air will cause them to turn dull and look shabby. Aluminum is a relatively soft metal, which means it responds well to polishing. Allow the soap to soak in for no more than 5 minutes and then hose it off with a strong stream of water. Eventually, however, the metal surface becomes stained and scratched and looking generally dull, so much so that it either needs to be replaced or cleaned. We recommend cleaning the wheels before washing your vehicle. Aluminum wheels can shine like chrome when they are cleaned and polished to perfection. This process causes a controlled oxidation that covers the every part that has been treated. Keeping those new wheels clean is crucial both for their appearance and longevity. As mentioned already, the best thing to wash anodized aluminum with is a quality car wash with water. Next, use the 400-600 grit wet/dry sandpaper to sand the rims until the pitting is gone. When cleaned and polished, aluminum wheels have the potential to shine like chrome. Once your rims have been thoroughly sanded to an even brightness, rinse them with water and then polish them with aluminum brightener available to your local auto parts dealer. Dremel tool and felt polishing wheels/cones; Safety glasses, respirator mask, and gloves. Mix the cleaner thoroughly in the water and place the aluminum piece in it. Removing Anodizing From Aluminum Quickly and Easily. All you need is the right chemical, and you can find it in your grocery store. After a few minutes you will see that the piece is a uniform, flat color. If your rims are still corroded, go to the next step. Since aluminum is one of the softer metals, it responds quite well to polishing. Also, you can spray the piece with clear lacquer or enamel to protect it in harsher environments. I have seen numerous wheels and other items boogered from degreaser. Allow the clear coat to dry overnight before attempting to reinstall the tires or reinstall the wheels back on the vehicle. It’s not a terribly difficult task, either, as this article will describe—just a straightforward, step-by-step process that virtually anyone can do. How-To Refurbish Oxidized, Faded or Stained Anodized Aluminum, Powder-coated Aluminum or Painted Aluminum. Do NOT use power tools. Don't be afraid to use a little elbow grease. Today Parr train dogs and write articles on a variety of topics for websites worldwide. How much time and effort it will take to clean your corroded rims depends totally on how badly corroded they are and what type of corrosion is present. One would think, therefore, that de-anodizing would require the same materials, only in reverse order. This should remove most of the surface grime and allow you to get closer to the real corrosion. Again, don't be afraid to use a little elbow grease. So many people feel like they need to use heavy cleaners to get things clean. If you don't get the "black" spot then your wheels are clear-coated or have some sort of protectant on them. Cleaning wheels and rims is one of the least-fun chores of detailing a Lexus. Use solvents with care as they may stain the finish. Use a Fire Hose Nozzle to deliver a strong stream of water. Do this using a pressure washer filled with water or a spray nozzle on a hose. Mask off painted areas of your vehicle using painter's masking tape and sheets of plastic. Larry Parr has been a full-time professional freelance writer for more than 30 years. Smut is the chemical residue that forms during the de-anodizing process and you want to remove it periodically to expose the surface to the chemical. I plan to clean them up first with soap and water, followed by an few applications of the multipiece wheel cleaner to clean up the back of the wheel. Aluminum polish, in this example I used Blue Magic, but there are many other brands that will work. If the process is going too slowly you can add more cleaner. will last a number of years without tarnishing. Sanding can be done by hand or, for large areas, a small sanding wheel on a drill can be used, but be certain not to apply too much pressure and to keep the wheel moving so that you do not gouge too deeply into any one spot on your rims. If you take a little dab of the Mother's or Brasso that you are using to shine your aluminum cast wheels and rub on the wheel using a cloth for only a few seconds you should get a definite "black" spot on the cloth. Stains and blemishes should have disappeared, leaving only scratches. Frequent cleaning will help to keep future corrosion to a minimum. For many types of pitting this is, unfortunately, the only solution. Once you’ve removed as much dirt and brake dust as you can, spray each wheel with a non-acidic wheel cleaner, like Sonax, and use a soft bristle brush to work it into a lather on the surface of the wheels. Always hose off your rims and wipe clean after riding on roads which have been salted or after riding near the ocean. They collect brake dust and road grime, and may require use of specialized cleaners to avoid damaging their finish. Formulated for bare aluminum metal and anodized wheels, it is beneficial in removing all types of stains and scratches. Wipe your rims dry with a good terry cloth. Allow the soap to soak in for no more than 5 minutes and then hose it off with a strong stream of water. Apply more aluminum polishing compound and rub it gently by hand using a clean cotton cloth. If you are cleaning an aluminum pot or pan, rinse the pan under a strong jet of water. To clean oxidized aluminum wheels, start by rinsing the wheels with water, making sure to focus on the build up around the spokes. A lot of trim pieces on older cars were made of aluminum that was anodized. Anodized aluminum is pure metal that has been altered by chemicals and an electrical current. And on anodized aluminum I use car wash soap. If you are polishing an uncoated aluminum wheel, remove the wheels from the vehicle and remove accessories like center caps and valve stem covers. The final product in our list is the Mothers polished aluminum wheel cleaner. In fact, if you scrub or polish such a surface all you will get is a shiny drab-looking finished product. Whether you want to restore its shine or prepare the surface for painting, vinegar will do the job without harsh chemicals. But, we knew we could clean … After you’ve placed the billet aluminum wheels or accessories on your vehicle it’s typical to see hazing start after 24 – 48 hours. 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