Along with your other car cleaning products, you'll need one of the many alloy wheel cleaners available to give your rims a deep clean. Wheels can be a defining feature of a car. From Alfa Romeo Teledials to Ford Pepperpots, some alloy wheels are icons in their own right. More than any other component, they also define the look of a car: imagine a Clio Williams without gold Speedlines or a 911 2.7 RS without painted Fuchs. Clean wheels are vital to keeping your car looking its smartest.
Ideally, you don't want to be cleaning the bodywork and the wheels with the same wash mitt and bucket. The wheels are almost certainly the dirtiest part of your car and require their own time and patience. They're attacked relentlessly by road grime from below and brake dust from within.
Unless you have a costly set of carbon-ceramic stoppers, this dust is mostly made up of iron – and the static charge it receives when heated makes it cling to wheels like chewing gum to a school desk. Baked-on brake dust can be difficult to remove, that's why you need a dedicated fallout remover to dissolve the iron particles so they can be washed away.
The best alloy wheel cleaners at a glance:
Editor's pick: Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel Cleaner - Buy from Amazon.
Best budget wheel cleaner: Halfords Reactive Wheel Cleaner - Buy from Halfords.
Best fallout remover: Gtechniq Iron and Fallout Remover - buy from eBay.
But that's not all, other contaminants that won't be tackled by a fallout spray need to be removed too, like grease and road film. That's where a good car cleaning kit comes in. We've put some of the newest and most popular alloy wheel cleaners to the test on a number of different vehicles. Read on to see our favourites from both the wheel cleaner and fallout remover genres.
The best alloy wheel cleaners tested 2024
One of our top picks undoubtedly goes to Bilt Hamber’s Auto Wheel. It’s a PH neutral cleaner which is compatible with all wheel types, brakes, and materials. The product reacts with the oxidising surface of the metallic particles, releases them from the surface which makes agitation and rinsing a lot easier and more effective at removing the detritus that builds up on your wheels overtime. Things like brake dust, dirt, and road salt is a distant memory once a dash of Auto-Wheel has been applied.
It was tested on the multi-spoke rims of an F90 BMW 5-Series, Seat Ateca Cupra, and even the aerodynamic covers of a new VW I.D Buzz. We agitated it in with Bilt Hamber's own wheel brush which soaked in well with the product and dug well into the wheel crevices and corners. The end result was a clear level above the other competitors. The appearance and feel of the alloy was incredibly smooth and spotless after the full detail. A run of the finger didn't pick up any extra dirt either It’s priced above the others on test, but very quickly after testing, it's easy to see why.
Pros
- Incredible cleaning result
- Dirt lifts up well with the brush
- pH-balanced formula
Cons
- Not for the budget-conscious
- The difference between others is very minor
Autoglym’s brand new wheel cleaner promises to excel over its predecessor and be one of the top picks for wheel cleaners on the marketplace. And it very much did. We tested the Autoglym cleaner and the Bilt Hamber cleaner side-by-side on the two front wheels of a Seat Ateca Cupra. The results were so similar, it was considered a tie. Given that Autoglym’s wheel cleaner undercuts the Bilt Hamber cleaner on price, that's a mightily impressive feat and easily makes the Advanced Wheel Cleaner better value.
With enough agitation with barrel brushes and wheel brush, all of the brake dust, grime and other detritus that was on your wheels was easily lifted and the shine returned to the black and bronze alloys. A quick spray with the Worx battery-powered pressure washer later, and the wheel had a showroom finish. You can opt for Autoglym's new Easy Sprayer to provide a consistent, efficient spray onto your wheels, but it costs around £20 extra.
Pros
- pH neutral
- Works on a number of surfaces
- Showroom cleaning result
Cons
- Easy sprayer is an extra
- Has to be regularly used for the best results
With a pH neutral formula suitable for all wheel types and materials, a clear bleed when brake dust has been dissolved, and a competitive price, the Sonax Wheel Cleaner was our biggest surprise of our group wheel cleaning test. When you consider it was being tested on the same car as the Autoglym and Bilt Hamber products, the fact it managed to clean up as well is impressive.
It lifted the detritus just as well as the Autoglym cleaner and after thorough agitation (you do need to employ a bit more of it) left a greatly shiny finish by the time the wheel was rinsed. As ever, you have to leave it to set in for around 5 minutes before agitating with the wheel brush and barrel brushes, and seeing the end results in was truly comparable to the top-end manufacturers.
Pros
- Incredibly effective cleaner
- Left a shiny finish
- You don't need to spray too much product on
Cons
- Needs greater agitation than others from brushes to achieve a great result
- Finish not quite as on-par as the top two
One of our left-field choices comes from Belgian manufacturer, Kenotek. Its Pro alloy wheel cleaner is a pH neutral cleaner that that isn't widely known on the market. It bled heavily during our test, indicating that it was one of the strongest wheel cleaners at dealing with brake dust. It comes in a chunky 1 litre bottle and has a safety catch to prevent you from spraying accidently.
We tried it on two different cars and found that even without agitation, just a spray from the hosepipe or Worx pressure washer, it was able to clear off the road dirt and grime like it was dust settled on ice. Once you add in a couple of barrel brushes and the Bilt Hamber soft wheel brush, the result is reassuringly shiny. It wasn’t our best performer as little freckles of dirt was still visible, but for a quick rinse to get rid of road salt after a winter drive, or to get rid of brake dust after a track day, it's a great contender.
Pros
- Very effective for iron fallout and brake dust
- pH neutral
- Great for a quick clean
Cons
- Little freckles still remained
- Availability can be an issue
One other contender on the lower end of the spectrum comes from Halfords. Its 500ml Reactive Wheel Cleaner gave us a false sense of impression at first. After spraying to the wheel and letting it set for a few minutes, it didn’t have the same bleeding effect as the others and left a stain. After agitating and rinsing though, the end result was just as effective at a glance as all the others. The front wheel of a Jaguar XF was just as clean and presentable as the rest of the wheels, so it does deserve a little hats-off.
Close up, you notice some tiny bits of dirt hadn’t been picked up as well as some of the higher-end cleaners, but you expect this for the price. And on its own, it proves to be very good for what most people need for quick and regular washes.
Pros
- Nice smell
- pH neutral
- Good value
Cons
- It's not as powerful when you look up close
- Capacity is quite small (500ml)
Fallout remover works differently to regular wheel cleaner, whereby it tackles fallout and brake dust specifically at a higher concentration than regular wheel cleaner. It's because of this, whereby we can't judge fallout removers in quite the same realm as all purpose wheel cleaners like the above. Either way, Gtechniq's fallout remover made lifting dirt and road grime look silky smooth after the agitation and rinsing process. It also represents excellent value for money, too.
There was something almost ceramic-like about the way the wheels felt after applying a brush to the rims. It was a similar feel to ceramic shampoo where by it felt a bit stickier and more gel-like than normal, but the end result was something to truly write home about. The Jaguar alloy felt smooth and spotlessly clean, but we must remember fallout remover is stronger than purpose-built wheel cleaners.
Pros
- Fantastic at clearing brake dust
- Spotless finish
- Great for quick touch-ups
Cons
- Isn't suited as an all purpose wheel cleaner
- Some may not like the ceramic-like feel
Another left-field choice in the form of a iron fallout remover. Duel Autocare's Toxin product was tested on two wheels instead of just one. It had a very short bleeding time before we agitated the wheel with our brushes, and it generated a lot of soap and pink foam. If you desire that kind of thing, it can make your wheels look very Instagram-able and photogenic, should you be a fan of... well, soap.
Once rinsed off with the Worx pressure washer, it left a great finish. But at the price point, a few of the other products tested are undoubtedly the more effective options. However, as a fallout remover alone, it performed very well indeed and left the test car’s wheels detritus-free. We would say however, that considering the price point of the Gtechniq fallout remover, that is the best option for this genre of wheel cleaner.
Pros
- Soapy aspect is quite satisfying
- Safe on all vehicle surfaces
- It generated a nice scent
Cons
- Gtechniq's fallout remover offers better value for money
Unfortunately, there was a wheel cleaner that lets the side down slightly. The Sticky Citrus has a lovely, fruity scent to it, but in terms of lifting up enough dirt and making the wheels squeaky clean, it simply didn't perform as well. It's an acid-free wheel cleaner that is said to be safe to use on all wheel types, and the spray itself is lovely and direct, whereas the others can have a short range and blow sideways in the wind.
However, despite multiple sprays, it couldn't agitate or lift enough dirt off. We tried everything, but it didn't bleed as well like the others, nor did it feel easy to agitate or clean off - which can be a bit of a deal-breaker for a lot of consumers.
Pros
- A very nice fruity smell
- Generous enough 473ml bottle capacity
- Should be okay for hubcaps
Cons
- It didn't lift up as much dirt as the others
- You have to spray multiple times for any effect
What to consider when choosing a car alloy wheel cleaner:
What makes your wheels dirty?
Anywhere on your car will get dirty over time, but wheels, in particular, can quickly start to look filthy. The road dirt on your alloys should wash away with standard car shampoo or wash/wax. Brake dust, however, is more tenacious and requires a dedicated wheel cleaner to dislodge it. These products work by oxidising iron particles (the majority component of brake dust, along with some particles of carbon) to make them dissolve. After that, they can easily be rinsed or wiped away.
More basic cleaners dissolve brake dust on the wheel surface, while more powerful products (known as 'fallout removers') can also remove tiny particles embedded into the wheel surface. These are especially effective on heavily soiled wheels – e.g. for winter use.
How do I clean my alloys?
Make sure your alloys have cooled down before cleaning them, and rinse them with water first. Then spray on a generous amount of whichever product you have chosen, covering the whole wheel surface, and leave it for five minutes. Many cleaners will change colour to red or purple to show the oxidation process is working.
If needed, agitate the surface with a soft wheel brush before rinsing the formula away with water (or wiping it away if using a waterless cleaner). The result should be sparkling alloys you can be proud of. Now you just need to clean the rest of the car.
Which alloy wheel cleaner should you buy?
There's a frankly bewildering choice of alloy wheel cleaning products available. And that's before you get to wheel wax, sealant, tyre shine, the very useful barrel brushes, and more. Here, we've focused on straightforward, spray-on cleaners to be used as part of your usual car wash routine.
Picking the right product partly depends on your budget, but our reviews – based on user feedback and real-world testing – prove you needn't spend big bucks. We've also handed out Gold, Silver and Bronze awards, so you can choose a winner to suit your needs.
Will acid-based cleaners be ok for my wheels?
If your wheels have a chrome or anodised finish, steer clear of acidic cleaners and go for products with a pH-neutral or alkaline formula. In all cases, avoid spraying wheel cleaner on the car's bodywork or your hands. If it gets into your eyes, rinse them thoroughly with water and seek medical treatment immediately. If however, you're cleaning a car with carbon ceramic brakes, pH neutral wheel cleaners are essential. And remember to rinse immediately after agitation to avoid potential damage to the sensitive material.
How we tested alloy wheel cleaners
A number of press vehicles run by the editorial team were left for us to give a good wash. They included anything from a VW I.D Buzz to a Jaguar XF, and we tested the cleaning products wheel-by-wheel.
We then took a Bilt Hamber wheel detailing brush and a set of eBay barrel brushes and agitated in the products after leaving them to set for at least a few minutes, following each manufacturer's instructions accordingly. A Worx battery-powered pressure washer was then employed to rinse the wheels before judging each result. Each alloy wheel cleaner was measured in the same way and cleaned with the same equipment.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
For verdicts, scoops, news and analysis from the team, delivered direct to your inbox, subscribe to the CAR newsletter.
You can enjoy CAR in its traditional print format, or one of the swelling number of digital editions, optimised for Apple iPhones, Android devices, iPads, tablets and desktop computers.
J_ust so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections -_ read why you should trust us.