How to Polish Rims

The rims for your car are like the shoes you wear with a suit; they should be keep shiny and clean at all times. Polished rims add definition and character to your ride.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Clean off any dirt and brake dust. Spray your rims with a high pressure hose and wipe every visible section of the rim until it is completely dry. The more intricate the rim's design, the more meticulously you must clean. Dirt or brake dust can mix with the polish and destroy the rim.

2. Know the composition of your rim. Using the wrong polishing agent on your rims could ruin their appearance forever. For example, if your car is fitted with an alloy rims package, use only polishes that are meant for alloy rims.

3. Choose a quality polishing product. There are many products on the market that claim they'll make your rims look the best; however, few deliver what they promise. Find out what other people use for their rims if you like the way they look. Or ask someone knowledgeable at an auto care center or car show. Bargain-priced polishes usually yield bargain-priced results. Don't skimp.

4. Polish your rims. Using a soft, polishing cloth, apply the rim polish with a restricted circular motion. Concentrate polishing one section of at a time. Cover the entire surface area of the rim with a thin, even coat of polish.

5. Finish the job. With a clean, separate cloth, remove the polish using the same circular motion with which you applied it. Remove all the polish from the rim. Excess polish will diminish the visual aspect of your work. Immediately after the polish is removed, the rim should glisten and sparkle like brand new.

Tips & Warnings

• Never polish your rims in direct sunlight, or the polish may chemically embed itself into the rim.

[dereklmiller]

on 4/14/2009 I agree with what you have said about using harmful chemicals that will mess up the look. That's why I only use Sheen Genie's Rim Polish!http://www.sheengenie.com/rimpolish.html