(Updated on July 28, 2022)
The wheels that you see on most cars today are made from an alloy material, usually a blend of nickel and aluminum. The aluminum material is what gives car wheels their durability and lightweight attributes. Aluminum wheels are also a lot more inexpensive when compared to the traditional steel wheels. That is why aluminum has become the preferred metal of choice for most car wheels.
A lot of car owners are sensitive when it comes to the appearance of their car wheels. If you drive over a lot of dirt and gravel, then your wheels and tires are going to get dirty very fast. Do not assume that a simple car wash or garden hose will clean way this dirt either. Usually, the dirt and grime will stay on the wheels and tires after a wash.
The only way to successfully clean away these dirty elements is to use a special wheel and tire cleaning solution. This must be a solution which is not sensitive so that it won’t affect the aluminum material of the wheels.
Top 8 Best Cleaners For Aluminum Wheels
To help you with this search for the right cleaner, below are the top 10 best cleaners for car aluminum wheels.
1) CarGuys Wheel & Tire Cleaner
- ✅ CAR GUYS Wheel Cleaner is a versatile brake dust cleaner that is safe on wheels, tires, and...
- ✅ Safe on Rims and Tires! – Our advanced pH Neutral formula, safely removes the toughest dirt...
- ✅ Quick & Easy to Use! – Nobody likes wasting time and money. Our highly concentrated cleaning...
- ✅ Why choose CAR GUYS? – We Care About Quality! Our products are made with the latest...
CarGuys Wheel & Tire Cleaner is an environmentally friendly cleaning solution for your wheels and tires. If you drive in snowy or icy environments where the streets are normally salted, then this cleaner does a great job of removing the salt grime from your wheels. In the end, your wheels and tires will be left looking much cleaner.
2) TriNova Wheel Cleaner Rim Cleaning Spray
TriNova Wheel Cleaner Rim Cleaning Spray can be described as a premium cleaner for your wheels and rims. The formula of this cleaner contains no acid ingredients, which means that it won’t deteriorate or fade the appearance of your aluminum wheels. Plus, you can spray this solution right onto the wheels and wipe it away easily. Take it with you and use wherever you’re located.
3) Sonax Wheel Cleaner Full Effect
- Safe On All Factory Installed Wheels: Acid-Free, Ph Balanced Formula Won'T Damage Wheels, Safe On...
- Watch It Work: The Color Changing Formula Activates When It Comes In Contact With The Ferrous Metals...
- Advanced And Effective Chemistry: Full Effect, Non Acid Wheel Cleaner Attaches And Emulsifies...
- Full Effect Is Great For Both The Diy (Do-It-Yourself) And The Professional. Effortlessly Achieve...
Sonax Wheel Cleaner Full Effect comes in a gray bottle and contains no dangerous acids. The formula does contain a nice pH balance which is meant to reduce wear and tear to your rims and wheels. As you go about your day and drive, the formula will continue to fight off harmful remnants and debris from the road. This is certainly worth trying out.
4) Chemical Guys Diablo Gel Wheel & Rim Cleaner
- FOAMING CLEANER FOR YOUR WHEELS & RIMS - Oxygen-infused cleaners and slick lubricants in Diablo...
- WASH AWAY HARMFUL BRAKE DUST & ROAD GRIME - Diablo Gel Wheel And Rim Cleaner lifts away stuck-on...
- PRESERVE YOUR SENSITIVE WHEEL & RIM FINISHES - Brake dust and road filth are not just ugly, they...
- SAFELY CLEAN ANY TYPE OF WHEEL WITHOUT SCRATCHING - Unlike other wheel cleaners, Diablo Wheel Gel...
Chemical Guys Diablo Gel Wheel & Rim Cleaner is a more unique formula that comes out as a gel on your wheels and rims. The idea is that the gel will attach itself to the dirt on your wheels and rims. Meanwhile, the gel loosens all the dirt so that it can be easily wiped or scrubbed away. There won’t be any discoloration from this process either.
5) Meguiar’s Hot Rims Aluminum Wheel Cleaner
- ALUMINUM WHEEL CLEANER: Meguiar’s safest, least-aggressive cleaner is designed specifically for...
- EFFECTIVE FOAMING ACTION: Our Extreme Cling foam grabs the wheel’s surface to effectively and...
- VERSATILE USE: Safely and effectively cleans uncoated polished aluminum, as well as alloy, anodized...
- ULTRA-SAFE: Gentle cleaning agents won’t harm wheels or brake components
If you’ve got a lot of dirt, grime, and/or dust on your wheels, the Meguiar’s Hot Rims cleaner will eliminate it all fast. You simply need to spray the solution onto your wheels and then use a garden hose to rinse the solution away. As you do that, all the dirty elements will get rinsed away too.
6) Eagle One E301454900 PVD and Aluminum Wheel Cleaner
- Ideal cleaner for both aluminum wheels and polished aluminum accessories
- Rigorously tested and proven to be safe with new PVD wheels
- Gentler pH-neutral formula removes dirt, grime and brake dust without worry of damaging your wheel...
- Coating and wheel manufacturer recommended cleaner specifically for PVD and aluminum wheels
Eagle One Aluminum Wheel Cleaner gives you a tough, yet safe solution to remove brake dust, grease, and grime away easily. Since there are no acid ingredients in the formula, the foam will leave your wheels’ surfaces looking good as new. Made specifically for aluminum and polished aluminum surfaces.
7) Griot’s Garage Wheel Cleaner
- Safe for all wheel finishes
- pH-balanced, non-acidic, non-caustic
- Viscous liquid stays on wheel to break up and loosen brake dust and road grime
- Product changes color as it interacts with brake dust
Griot’s Garage Wheel Cleaner is formulated to be a deep cleaning solution for your wheels. You can purchase this cleaner by the gallon so that you have plenty of it available. If you regularly drive in areas which get your wheels dirty, then you’ll want to have plenty of this cleaner on hand. It works great with just about any type of wheel finish too. Whether you have dirt, grime, or brake dust built up on your wheels, this is the cleaner to get.
8) Armor All 78011 Extreme Wheel & Tire Cleaner
- Triple-Action formula dissolves grease, road grime and brake dust
- Intense foaming action clings to wheels and lifts away the most stubborn soils
- Blanketing agent helps formula spread into nooks and crannies to attack tough dirt
- Safe for factory and aftermarket coated wheels when used as directed
Armor All 78011 Extreme Wheel & Tire Cleaner allows you to spray a strong foaming solution onto your wheels to loosen the dirt, dust, grease, and grime on them. Then you can take a soft cloth and easily wipe it all away with a few strokes. This is a deep cleaning solution too while still remaining safe to use.