Sorry if everybody knows this, but every time I read a "how to" regarding vehicle detailing (not here, mind you), I get hacked everytime some guy tells me to use a $10 bottle of "wheel cleaner" to clean your chrome or aluminum wheels. I have been that guy that has bought all those products to keep the polished alum wheels on my wife's Grand Prix (sorry for the GM usage) and someone told me to use Windex. So my jaw dropped when I went outside with a rag and a plain ol' bottle of Windex and simply wiped all the brake scum off one of the front wheels. Once the shock wore off, I just got plain mad that we the general consumer are being duped into buying a $10 bottle of wheel cleaner. Kinda like when you learn about the "clay bar" trick that auto detailers use when they charge over $100 to "buff" out your paint. If you didn't know this trick, try it out. If you already knew, then pardon my rant. Take it easy
I use an aluminum cleaning acid called "aluminum brightner" on most of mine. I buy it by the gallon, about $20, at my local parts house. I dilute it with water to the desired strength. Over time it will dull highly polished aluminum if it is used at high strength levels. It is designed for use in the trucking industry to clean aluminum fuel tanks, cab guards, trailers, etc. I used it on both coated and noncoated wheels. It turns white on non-coated aluminum, and on coated aluminum it cleans the top surface but doesn't affect the undeneath unless there is a break or cut in the coating. It is not as toxic as muriatic acid, but if you have any open cuts in your skin, you will feel it's burn. Also, it doesn't harm steel or well painted surfaces. I usually just pour some in a bucket and dilute with water, then use a brush to apply it. Let it sit about a minute, then rinse with a strong stream of water real good.
This might sound strange. But I use toothpaste to help get rid of the hard stuff. Then just rinse it off then use windex. Shines that chrome really well and it leaves a nice scent. lol.
