When it comes to car detailing, people often focus on the paint, windows, and interior, but the car wheels are often overlooked. Clean, shiny rims instantly upgrade your vehicle’s look and protect your investment. If you’re tired of scrubbing brake dust off your rims in your driveway, we’ve got great news: there’s a better, easier, and much more satisfying way to get great results.
At Anytime Touchless Car Wash, we make cleaning car wheels easy, effective, and affordable—whether you’re using our self-serve bays or letting our advanced touchless system do the work. Here’s how to clean car wheels like a pro, and why it’s best to leave the hose, bucket, and dish soap at home.
Why You Should Never Ignore Dirty Wheels
Dirty wheels aren’t just a cosmetic problem. That grime is often a mix of brake dust, road salt, oil, mud, and microscopic metal particles. Over time, that mess can corrode your aluminum rims. This can affect performance and cause safety issues.
Cleaning Car Wheels at Self-Serve Bays
Start with the Right Tools
At our self-serve wash bays, we provide everything you need for professional-level wheel cleaning, including high-pressure sprayers, hog’s hair bristle brushes, and foaming solutions.
And at our vending machines, you can also get premium products such as:
- tire shine
- bug & tar remover
- microfiber towels
- and more!
Step One: Let Your Wheels Cool Down
We know you’re excited, but don’t spray hot wheels. If you’ve just finished driving, give the rims time to cool. Cleaning hot metal with cold water can damage the coating and cause water spots.
Step Two: Wheel & Engine Cleaner
Hit your four wheels with a good rinse using the high-pressure hose in our self-serve bay. This clears off loose mud, dust, and grime so our cleaner can dig into the tougher stuff.
Pro tip: Rinse from top to bottom and don’t forget to aim at the axle and inner rims.
Step Three: High Pressure Soap
Select WASH/SOAP and apply high-pressure soap to your wheels. Spray liberally onto one wheel at a time. Let it sit for a minute or two so it can break down that stubborn brake dust.
Step Four: Scrub Gently, But Thoroughly with our Premium Foam Brush
Using our premium hog’s hair foaming bristle brush, clean spokes, lug nuts, and tricky crevices. Be gentle—scrubbing too hard can cause scratches on your clear coat or damage polished or coated wheel finishes.
Work on one wheel at a time and rinse between steps to keep dirt from resettling.
Step Five: High-Pressure Rinse Again and Inspect
Give the wheel another good rinse to remove cleaner and lifted debris. Take a moment to inspect. If you see areas that still look a bit dull or grimy, hit them again with cleaner and a light scrub.
Remember, wheel cleaning isn’t just about appearance—it’s about maintenance. A thorough rinse helps protect both your car and your effort.
Want Next-Level Shine? Add Clear Coat Wax
For the full car detailing effect, finish with a wheel sealant or rim wax. This protective barrier helps repel dust, mud, and future gunk. It also makes the next wash a lot easier!
Step Six: Dry with our Hand-Held Blow Driers
After a thorough rinse, it’s time to dry your wheels—and at Anytime Touchless Car Wash, we make it easy. Our self-serve bays are equipped with powerful handheld blow-driers that let you blast away leftover water from your rims, lug nuts, and all the nooks where moisture likes to hide. This touch-free drying method helps prevent water spots and streaks while protecting your wheel finishes from accidental scratches. It’s the perfect final touch for that clean, polished look.
Finishing Touches
Our detailing/vacuum area is the perfect place to apply any extra finishing touches without making a mess at home. You get microfiber cloths in our vending machines to evenly apply our tire shine and buff out any excess for a smooth, streak-free finish. It’s a simple step that gives your wheels that glossy, just-detailed look, without the hassle of cleanup in your driveway.
Washing Car Wheels at the Touchless Car Wash
Want to skip the elbow grease entirely? Our Touchless Car Wash uses advanced chemistry and turbo nozzles to clean even the toughest spots on your wheels and tires. It’s a fast, convenient way to wash your car—wheels included—without ever stepping out of the driver’s seat.
While nothing physically touches your vehicle during the wash, we do offer a specialized Tire and Wheel Scrubber as an add-on. Since it’s tough to fully clean wheels with just chemicals and high-pressure water, this option provides an extra boost for stubborn grime. The Tire and Wheel Scrubber is included in our top two wash packages for maximum shine and cleanliness.
Our touchless car wash is safe for all wheel finishes, including polished, coated, and painted rims.
Why Home Washing Doesn’t Cut It
Trying to wash your wheels at home might seem convenient, but most driveways don’t offer:
- High-pressure rinse options
- Specialized tire cleaner and wheel cleaner
- Safe drainage (all that brake dust is harmful to your lawn!)
- Touchless technology that protects coating and paint
Save your back—and your driveway. At Anytime Touchless Car Wash, you get professional results without the hard work.
Maintenance Tip: Clean Your Wheels Regularly
Even the best cleaning won’t last forever. Make cleaning your car wheels a regular part of your car care routine. We recommend washing every two weeks—or more often if you drive through construction zones or dusty roads.
Keep Your Car Wheels Looking Great
Whether you’re cruising through town or pulling into the office, clean rims make your whole car look better. From high-tech wheel cleaners to expert advice and hands-free options, Anytime Touchless Car Wash gives you everything you need to keep your car, wheels, and tires in top condition.
Final Thoughts: Wheels Matter
When it comes to car detailing, your wheels are where the magic happens. Don’t settle for dull, dirty wheels. Treat them right, and they’ll keep turning heads wherever you go.
Ready for a professional shine?
Visit any of our Anytime Touchless Car Wash 7 locations today, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year!—Your wheels and whole car will thank you.
