If you run a mobile valeting business, you may be wondering what’s best for cleaning wheels, a dedicated wheel cleaner or an all-purpose cleaner.
Wheels are usually one of the filthiest parts of a vehicle, so it’s important to use the right products and clean them properly.
In this article, we’ll compare wheel cleaner and all-purpose cleaner to see which is best for professional mobile valeters and why.
Quick Summary
A dedicated wheel cleaner is far better for cleaning wheels than an all-purpose cleaner. They’re specifically designed to tackle brake dust, iron fallout, road grime, and other stubborn contaminants on wheels.
All-purpose cleaners are safe to use on wheels and can do a good job of removing very light dirt. However, a dedicated wheel cleaner will give you a much deeper, more thorough clean.
This means a better finish, a happier customer and an easier job for you. You’ll also spend less time scrubbing and reapplying the cleaner.
So, if you want to offer a professional and more efficient service, a dedicated wheel cleaner is the clear winner.
Image from Webandi on Pixabay
All-purpose Cleaner
All-purpose cleaner is a versatile, easy-to-use and often low-cost cleaning solution. It’s suitable for cleaning almost every part of the car, including plastics, vinyl, rubber, carpets and seats. In some cases, you can even use it on exterior paintwork.
It usually comes as either a ready-to-use spray or a concentrated formula that you can dilute depending on how dirty the surface is.
For example, our All Purpose Cleaner can be used on dashboards, centre consoles, door panels, pedals, wheels, carpets, seats and pretty-much everything in-between.
It’s available in 5, 25 or 205 litre containers and can be diluted up to 30:1. This gives you excellent value per use and makes it a practical choice for running a mobile valeting business.
Wheel Cleaner
Wheel cleaner is a specialist product designed specifically for cleaning vehicle wheels. They come in different types, including pH-neutral, alkaline and acid-based formulas.
Most wheel cleaners are designed to be tough on brake dust, iron fallout, road grime and other stubborn dirt, while still being gentle on the wheel’s surface.
Like APC, wheel cleaners usually come either pre-diluted or as concentrate. For mobile valeters, concentrate is often the better option as it lasts much longer and works out cheaper per use.
With a 25-lite bottle or larger, you can clean a lot of cars without having to restock.
-
pH-neutral: The gentlest type of wheel cleaner. Ideal for regular maintenance cleaning.
-
Alkaline: A stronger option for heavier dirt, brake dust, road grime and grease.
-
Acid: A very strong and effective wheel cleaner for heavily soiled wheels and stubborn, baked-on contamination.
Image from Tookapic on Pixabay
For example, our Non-Acidic Wheel Cleaner is a powerful yet gentle wheel cleaner that can be used on most wheel types and effectively tackles typical dirt and grime.
Like our APC, it’s available in 5, 25 and 205 litre sizes and dilutes 20:1. This means you only need around 50ml of product in a 1-litre spray bottle, then simply top it up with water.
For dirtier wheels that need a little extra strength, we also sell an Acidic Wheel Cleaner. It’s designed to cut through heavy brake dust, road grime and iron fallout.
It’s powerful, fast-acting and can also be diluted 20:1, making it another great long-lasting option.
Which is Better for Wheels?
Dedicated wheel cleaner is far better than using APC for wheels. It’s stronger, more efficient and made specifically for the job.
All-purpose cleaners can struggle with very dirty wheels and may require more brushing and application. A good wheel cleaner makes the valet job much easier. Simply spray it on, leave it for a minute or two, then rinse it off with water.
Which is Cheaper for Valeters?
All purpose cleaner is typically cheaper than dedicated wheel cleaner. However, it depends on the brand and dilution ratio.
Some wheel cleaners can be diluted 20:1, while some APCs can be diluted up to 100:1. This means you may get more uses from an APC, even if the wheel cleaner costs less upfront.
As a mobile valeter, it’s important to spend your budget wisely. You’ll be using your products regularly, so it’s worth comparing prices, dilution ratios and reviews.
Look for a wheel cleaner that offers a good balance of cleaning power, value and longevity. This can help you manage business expenses and keep costs down.
How to Use Wheel Cleaner
To use a wheel cleaner, first make sure the wheels are cool to the touch. This helps prevent the cleaner from drying too quickly.
Spray the cleaner evenly over the wheel, making sure to get between the spokes and inside the barrel.
Leave it to dwell for 3-5 minutes, depending on the product. Then rinse thoroughly with water.
For very dirty wheels, you may need to agitate the cleaner with a detailing brush or a wheel brush before rinsing.
Image from Kaboompics on Pexels
-
Make sure the wheels are cool to the touch
-
Spray the cleaner evenly over the wheel, including inside the barrel
-
Leave the cleaner to dwell for a few minutes
-
Agitate with a brush or wash mitt if needed
-
Rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a clean microfibre cloth or towel
Conclusion
Whether you should use a specialist wheel cleaner or APC to clean wheels is a common debate in the valeting and detailing world. While you can use APC to clean wheels, a dedicated wheel cleaner is far better suited to the job.
That said, APC can be really useful for cleaning tyres. Not all wheel cleaners are suitable for tyres, so using a combination of wheel cleaner for the wheels and APC for the tyres can work really well.
This combination can give great results and leave your customers happy with the service. If you want to offer a more advanced service, charge a higher price and get more valeting clients, you could also add premium wheel cleaning products such as tyre dressing or wheel polish.
Leave a comment