Is brake dust harmful to wheels?

Yes. Iron particles bond to the surface and cause pitting if not cleaned regularly.

How do you clean oxidized alloy wheels?

Use aluminum wheel polish and a microfiber pad. Oxidation needs polishing to remove.

Yes. Wheel sealant prevents brake dust from bonding, making future cleaning much easier.

It works but strips protective sealant. Use a proper degreaser instead.

Automotive

Keeping your alloy wheels clean protects your investment and improves both appearance and performance. Here's the right way.

1
Rinse the wheels
Spray wheels with a strong water stream to remove loose brake dust, road grime, and mud.
2
Apply degreaser
Spray Turbo Clean Degreaser on each wheel. Let it sit for 3-5 minutes to dissolve brake dust and road film.
3
Scrub with a wheel brush
Scrub every surface including spokes, barrel, and lug nut holes with a dedicated wheel brush.
4
Rinse and dry
Rinse thoroughly with water and dry with a microfiber cloth to prevent water spots.

TIPClean wheels BEFORE washing the car body. Brake dust and grime splash during wheel cleaning.
TIPClean wheels when cool. Hot wheels cause products to dry too quickly and can stain the finish.
TIPApply wheel sealant after cleaning to make future cleaning much easier.

XUsing acidic wheel cleaners on clear-coated wheels, which strips the finish.
XCleaning hot wheels fresh from driving, which causes cleaners to etch the surface.
XUsing the same brush and bucket for wheels and body paint, which transfers brake dust.

Every time you wash the car. Brake dust is corrosive and damages finishes if left too long.