Must Have Tools for Wheel Cleaning

[DFB5.0]

My quest to find the best wheel cleaning brushes and tools really took off when I had to contend with the nightmare-to-clean Mustang Performance Pack wheels. As such, I have a large drawer full of different brushes and wheel cleaning specific tools, allowing me to tailor my approach to a variety of different wheel designs.

Some wheels have plenty of space to gain access to the inner barrel, others offer limited clearance due to the spoke design and/or brake system. Gloss black wheels show wash-induced swirls more than silver, meaning a softer brush is desirable. Some wheels have specific shapes that need special treatment to get or keep clean. For example, these Volvo wheels look seemingly easy to deal with, however, they have a rather strange secondary ledge that runs behind the back of the wheel face, making it very hard to clean around.

The following are the tools I think you need in your arsenal, no matter what wheel you are attempting to clean.

EZ-Detail GO –

I term this item the “Toilet Brush”, probably not what EZ-Detail had in mind. Truth be told, I don’t really use this to clean wheels, although you can on open spoke designs. However, I have found this to be the best brush for cleaning wheel arches. Having tried various other options, I find the GO to be the most ergonomic and effective at cleaning plastic, and even fabric, wheel arch liners.

EZ Detail Go EZ Speed Master Wheel Brush (autobuff.com.au)
EZ Brushes | Car Supplies Warehouse – Car Supplies Warehouse

EZ-Detail Brush –

Available in small and large, I think you want both, even if not used on wheels. These brushes are ideal for wheels with limited access to the inner barrel, be that from narrow openings or large brake rotors and calipers. Having tried a couple of different brushes like this, paying extra for the EZ-Detail versions is the way to go, offering superior quality and a softer feel.

These brushes have nylon bristle, meaning they are not the softest option. This may or may not bother you, from my perspective I see these brushes as a necessary evil. I would rather have some minor marring on the barrels rather than allowing brake dust and road grime to accumulate. I also find these brushes excellent for cleaning exhaust tips and getting access to tight spots in an engine bay.

EZ Detail little EZ Speed Master Wheel Brush (autobuff.com.au)
EZ Detail BIG EZ Speed Master Wheel Brush (autobuff.com.au)
EZ Brushes | Car Supplies Warehouse – Car Supplies Warehouse

Microfiber Wheel Brush -

This style of brush replaced traditional Wheel Woolies in my routine. Over time, I noticed that the wool/synthetic wool wheel brushes become quite “crunchy” and lacking in softness. A microfiber version remains soft while offering superior longevity and the ability to release contamination easier.

My choices here would be the Microfiber Madness IncrediBrush Flat and the Detail Factory Wheel Brush. Both are a flat brush, meaning they will fit most wheel designs and brake systems. In both cases, the microfiber sock can be replaced or removed for cleaning. Yes, both are expensive, but that is balanced by the superb quality and excellent longevity. My IncrediBrush is over 2 years old now and still as soft as when I took it out of the box.

Microfiber Madness Incredibrush FLAT – Prime Finish Car Care
Detail Factory Wheel Brush Kit with Scrubbing Microfibre Cover (detailingshed.com.au)

Microfiber Madness Incredibrush Flat - Skys The Limit Car Care (carpro-us.com)
Detail Factory - Wheel Brush Kit | The Rag Company

Microfiber Wash Mitt –

I hate wash mitts, be that for wheels or paint. However, a smaller finger mitt is ideal for cleaning the wheel face and behind the spokes. I find these offer superior ergonomics compared to a larger wash pad or mitt.

Maxshine and The Rag Company offer suitable options here, at the moment I’m favoring the TRC version.

Maxshine Microfiber Finger Wheel and Rims Wash Mitt (2x Pack) (detailingshed.com.au)
The Rag Company Cyclone Ultra Wheel Mitt 15 x 18cm (2pck) (detailingshed.com.au)

Cyclone Ultra Wheel Mitt | The Rag Company

Synthetic or Boar’s Hair Brush –

These brushes are typically used to clean around the lug nuts, calipers and wheel face. For well-maintained or black wheels, the softer synthetic brush is what you need. For neglected wheels, you will need the extra “bite” offered by the boar's hair bristle.

Again, there are countless options here. Personally, I can’t go past the Detail Factory versions in long handle spec. Carpro’s brush pack is worth looking at too.

Detail Factory Ultra-Soft Detailing Brush Long Handle 24cm (detailingshed.com.au)
DETAIL FACTORY PREMIUM BOAR'S HAIR DETAILING BRUSHES Long Handle (Grey (detailingshed.com.au)
CarPro Detailing Brush Set | Waxit – Waxit Car Care

Detail Factory - Ultra-Soft Detailing Brushes | The Rag Company
Detail Factory - Boar Hair Detailing Brushes | The Rag Company
CARPRO Detailing Brush Set (carpro-us.com)

Tire Cleaning Brush –

These brushes typically feature a stiff bristle, allowing for a deeper and more thorough cleaning. However, Detail Factory went in the opposite direction by offering a slightly softer bristle, allowing the brush to better conform to the tire without compromising its ability. The DF Tire Brush is arguably one of my favorite detailing tools!

Detail Factory Tyre Cleaning Brush (detailingshed.com.au)

Detail Factory - Tire Scrub Brush | The Rag Company

Dedicated Wheel Bucket –

Seemingly overkill, however having a separate bucket for wheels will eliminate possible contamination with the tools used on the rest of the car. I typically use this bucket filled with water and soap, but in some cases I simply use the bucket to carry my tools around the car, using the pressure washer to rinse the tools as I go.

Dedicated Wheel Towel –

In this case, I love the TRC Gauntlet 30x30, ideally sized for the task. The TRC Spectrum is also worth looking at.

The Rag Company - The Gauntlet Microfiber Drying Towel (detailingshed.com.au)

The Gauntlet Microfiber Drying Towel | The Rag Company

Luxury Items –

Bucket Dolly and Detailing Seat –

A luxury I think you need. In both cases, this allows you to move from wheel to wheel with ease, meaning you don’t need to crouch (I have bad knees) or cart the bucket around. I used to hate cleaning wheels, however, doing so while seated is one of the pure joys of detailing. In my case.

Shop PROFESSIONAL BUCKET DOLLY Online - CarCareCo
Economax Detailing Creeper Seat Online | Waxit – Waxit Car Care

Search Results (autogeek.net)
Compact Sit-On Creeper II - Griot's Garage (griotsgarage.com)

Foam Cannon or Foam Sprayer –

Either helps deliver soap or wheel cleaner in a format that allows for a longer dwell/working period. I’m doing this with either P&S Brake Buster or car soap.

MTM Foam Cannon Kit with NV Snow 1L – Waxit Car Care
IK Foam Pro 2+ Spray with Air Valve (detailingshed.com.au)

MTM Hydro - PF22.2 Foam Cannon Kit | The Rag Company
iK Foam Pro 2+ Sprayer | The Rag Company

Foam Cannon Bucket Bracket –

A simple extravagance, this item allows you to bring your foam cannon along for the ride.

Maxshine Foam Cannon Bucket Holder Mount (detailingshed.com.au)
MTM Veloci Ventuno Bracket - Spray Foam Gun Holder (detailingshed.com.au)

Veloci Ventuno Bracket - MTM Hydro (mtmhydroparts.com)

Hose Guides -

A simple solution to a frustrating problem, these things prevent your hose from snagging under/around the tyres.

DETAIL GUARDZ HOSE GUIDE (2PK) Made in Canada (detailingshed.com.au)

Detail Guardz - Car Wash Insert (4 pack) - The Detail Guardz – Detail Guardz | Premium Car Care Products USA

Happy Wheel Cleaning!

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[Pistol_91]

Holy long post. I am just going to say I am so glad I got rid of my pp1 wheels. But on the same note if I ever had to have wheels tough to clean again, I would immediately change the brake pads to ones that give off less brake dust. I changed mine when I got new wheels and the brake pads I have now give off virtually zero brake dust

 

[kilobravo]

Another master tome from down under! <BIG smile> (You never cease to amaze me, D.)

This is a subject in which I am very interested thanks to the big, front brakes. Granted, there IS no "brush" to get behind the calipers. Even the "flat" versions still need more clearance than available so that's a non-starter. The only answer is to clean them all, roll the car a few feet, then clean the missed area. Major PITA but there's just no other solution.

However, I hadn't seen the EZ DETAIL | "Go EZ" Detail Brush before and it looked like it would do a better job on wheel wells so I ordered one, thanks.

I already have the Big and Little EZ's from OG and find I only use the large version.

Also have the Incredibrush Flat but found I never use it. Pretty sure it's OG too.

And, I have the little mits that I thought I picked up at OG but I don't see them at their site now. Use those every time.

BUT, I by accident clicked on one of your .AU sites and needless to say, I was shocked by the prices! Now I know what you're dealing with being out of the US sphere of economical influence.

I was most interested in the Veloci Ventuno bucket bracket but geeze, even here's it's 35 bones. Granted it looks stainless or even titanium (unlikely) but still, that's a crazy price for a small piece of stamped metal. I'll just keep setting the foam cannon in the bucket. <grin>

As always, thank you SO much for your time and effort to help us with our OCD and, keeping our vehicles immaculate. You ARE "The Man," my friend.

 

[DFB5.0]

Holy long post. I am just going to say I am so glad I got rid of my pp1 wheels. But on the same note if I ever had to have wheels tough to clean again, I would immediately change the brake pads to ones that give off less brake dust. I changed mine when I got new wheels and the brake pads I have now give off virtually zero brake dust

You must be new here?

 

[Pistol_91]

Are you a bot? LOL

 

[larr12]

Like always, great info!!

 

[skinnyb]

Man I concur with all the above, I have many of the same tools and they work great. I still lack the detail stool, I just use medium to large mat on the driveway to kneel on right now. The microfiber barrel brush is wonderful, I invested in the one with the removable cover that snaps on, it works great for me and I just rinse and wash in the washing machine with my "dirty" towel load when done. And TRC wash mit too, I have 2 of them and they work fantastic.

 

[Hoofer]

"hose guide" - lol.

 

[CBETPTA]

I like my Wheel Woolies

 

[DFB5.0]

Another master tome from down under! <BIG smile> (You never cease to amaze me, D.)

This is a subject in which I am very interested thanks to the big, front brakes. Granted, there IS no "brush" to get behind the calipers. Even the "flat" versions still need more clearance than available so that's a non-starter. The only answer is to clean them all, roll the car a few feet, then clean the missed area. Major PITA but there's just no other solution.

However, I hadn't seen the EZ DETAIL | "Go EZ" Detail Brush before and it looked like it would do a better job on wheel wells so I ordered one, thanks.

I already have the Big and Little EZ's from OG and find I only use the large version.

Also have the Incredibrush Flat but found I never use it. Pretty sure it's OG too.

And, I have the little mits that I thought I picked up at OG but I don't see them at their site now. Use those every time.

BUT, I by accident clicked on one of your .AU sites and needless to say, I was shocked by the prices! Now I know what you're dealing with being out of the US sphere of economical influence.

I was most interested in the Veloci Ventuno bucket bracket but geeze, even here's it's 35 bones. Granted it looks stainless or even titanium (unlikely) but still, that's a crazy price for a small piece of stamped metal. I'll just keep setting the foam cannon in the bucket. <grin>

As always, thank you SO much for your time and effort to help us with our OCD and, keeping our vehicles immaculate. You ARE "The Man," my friend.

I was going to link the FlexiPad wool mitts from OG but I prefer the microfiber ones from TRC. Having said that, the FlexiPad's are ideally sized.

Lambskin Wheel Mitt | Merino Wool Cleaning Pads | Obsessed Garage

From memory, you don't use water in the wheel bucket, which negates the need for the bucket bracket for the foam cannon. I will say, the stainless steel MTM version is beautifully finished and also doubles as a wall/cart mounting point.

I chased that bracket for months! Typically, when I discover something, its only available in the US and not financially viable to ship to Australia. If you think that price is too much, that $35 bracket turned into $135 by the time shipping was added. I wanted one, but not THAT much. One of my suppliers let me know of that a Maxshine version was coming, so I waited and ordered one when it finally arrived. This item is folded steel and painted. The quality is only just "fine", but it did the job.

Maxshine Foam Cannon Bucket Mount | Easy Use for Buckets (maxshineusa.com)
Maxshine Foam Cannon Bucket Holder Mount (detailingshed.com.au)

Annoyingly, the MTM version arrived a few months later. I ended up ordering one. It won't change your life, but I justify the price knowing that this is what makes me happy, I see no point scrimping on something that contributes to that.

The Australian dollar at the moment is very weak against the USD, so that makes everything US made very expensive. And guess where most of the detailing innovation and products comes from?

It's funny, on a US-based detailing forum, the common comment is that stuff from Gyeon and Carpro is overpriced for what you get compared to a US-based company. As is in why pay twice the price for Carpro "name-the-product" when a Meguair's or P&S version does the same job. Except in Australia, Carpro or Gyeon are at or below comparative Meguiar's products. In most cases, those Korean products are nicer to work with.

I guess it all comes down to perspective and situational circumstance.

 

[kilobravo]

I knew that US products are your nemesis but I didn't realize it was topsy turvy! A hundred and thirty-five BONES! Now THAT is highway robbery.

So is the MTM version the same product as the Veloci? I do get weary of having to deal with the connected cannon while doing wheels on the stool and I DO "want one," but I'm gonna have to sit on that seventy bones for a minute to re-consider. <smile> It's perfect, really, but I have one question.

Does the clip regularly fall off when the weight is off the clip and you lift up on the cannon? I can see me knocking it off just about every time. <laughing> I'm guessing it doesn't or you would have long ago ditched it or given it a mod to stay put.

Yep, you found those woolies from OG, I knew that I got them from him. Why do you like the MF version more better? My beef with them is that you can almost never find "the finger pocket" once the woolie is in the bucket? I do keep a couple inches of water and wheel cleaner in the bucket though which, based on what I read, you don't. That could be why they don't say open but I like some lubricating liquid in the wheel bucket.

Thanks for the insights into this ultra-OCD product. :-)

 

[DFB5.0]

I knew that US products are your nemesis but I didn't realize it was topsy turvy! A hundred and thirty-five BONES! Now THAT is highway robbery.

So is the MTM version the same product as the Veloci? I do get weary of having to deal with the connected cannon while doing wheels on the stool and I DO "want one," but I'm gonna have to sit on that seventy bones for a minute to re-consider. <smile> It's perfect, really, but I have one question.

Does the clip regularly fall off when the weight is off the clip and you lift up on the cannon? I can see me knocking it off just about every time. <laughing> I'm guessing it doesn't or you would have long ago ditched it or given it a mod to stay put.

Yep, you found those woolies from OG, I knew that I got them from him. Why do you like the MF version more better? My beef with them is that you can almost never find "the finger pocket" once the woolie is in the bucket? I do keep a couple inches of water and wheel cleaner in the bucket though which, based on what I read, you don't. That could be why they don't say open but I like some lubricating liquid in the wheel bucket.

Thanks for the insights into this ultra-OCD product. :-)

Veloci is the company that distributes MTM products in the US, so yes, the same product.

I haven't had the bracket fall off the bucket. If you also have Gamma seal lids, the fit is a little tight but once it's on, it stays in place until removed.

For my wheel bucket, I always fill it with water and some soap, which allows the tools to release contaminants and drop to the bottom of the bucket, the grit guard separating the tools from the dirt. The extra heft of the water prevents the foam cannon hanging off the side from tipping the bucket over.

As for the wool FlexiPads, I found mine went ultra stiff and started to lose material after a period of time. They are lovely when new and aren't all that expensive to replace, but I also prefer the softer nature of the TRC microfiber mitts.

 

[amkr]

If you think that price is too much, that $35 bracket turned into $135 by the time shipping was added. I wanted one, but not THAT much

Those Veloci mounts are crazy expensive for what they are, let alone with the added cost of shipping it from the US.. Clearly there is a market for them though.

I reckon I could make one in ALU for <$10 and anodize it in all kinds of funky colours... I might have to look into that more.

 

[DFB5.0]

Those Veloci mounts are crazy expensive for what they are, let alone with the added cost of shipping it from the US.. Clearly there is a market for them though.

I reckon I could make one in ALU for <$10 and anodize it in all kinds of funky colours... I might have to look into that more.

I agree.

I actually made up a template to have a family friend cut and fold one up for me, but I didn't get there in the end.

 

[kilobravo]

Thanks, D. Yeah, the woolies get stiff but soften up as soon as they're wet but I'm gonna try some of the MF versions, thanks.

I have given up on dirt guards for two reasons. The main one is, when I walk to the street to empty the bucket, (we're on septic,) the guard departs the pattern on to the street. The other reason is, the wash pad (OG) floats so it never gets into the dirt.

10-4 on weight in the wheel/wash bucket, I do the same thing.

But I still have to sleep on the MTM hangar purchase. My brain says "yes" but my logic tells me, "you don't need it." :-)

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