How to Polish Alloy Wheels
The wheels are often the filthiest part of your car, so it helps to have a simple and inexpensive way to maintain the shine on alloy wheels at home in between costly detailing trips at the auto shop. Pick up some wet/dry sandpaper from a home improvement store and some wheel polish compounds from an auto supply shop, and you can do a fine polishing job on a sunny afternoon.
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Things You'll Need
- Sponge
- Car wash soap
- 1500-grit wet/dry sandpaper
- 2000-grit wet/dry sandpaper
- Clean cotton rags
- Warm water
- Polishing compound
- Mothers Wheel Polish
Instructions
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1
Wash the dirt and grime from the wheels with a clean sponge soaked in hot water and car wash soap.
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2
Wet a piece of 1500-grit wet/dry sandpaper and sand the surface of the wheels in a circular motion as if you were sanding wood. Sand any scratches until they are as smooth as the rest of the wheel. Keep the sandpaper wet throughout the process.
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3
Wet a piece of 2000-grit wet/dry sandpaper and sand the wheel in the same manner as in Step 2 to refine the scratched areas.
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4
Apply two large drops of polishing compound to a dampened cotton rag. Rub the wheel in a circular, buffing motion until the compound disappears, starting on a flat part of the wheel. Add more compound to the rag as needed. Wipe down the wheel with a clean rag once you have polished the entire wheel.
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5
Apply a few drops of Mothers Wheel Polish to a clean rag and rub it onto the wheel until the polish disappears, as in Step 4. Apply more Mothers, as needed, as you polish the wheel.
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6
Polish your car's wheels with Mothers once a month to maintain their sheen.
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Tips & Warnings
Be sure to keep the wheels and the sandpaper wet throughout the sanding process.
This polishing process takes a few hours, so plan accordingly.
