Imagine a cleaner that cuts through the toughest dirt without any elbow grease
Not washing your wheels will cost you. Over time, brake dust, road grime, and other contaminants build up and become corrosive, eating away at the finish and causing rust or pitting on the wheels.
The right wheel cleaner should do the heavy lifting for you—just spray, wait a bit, and rinse it off. Moreover, the CAR GUYS Wheel Cleaner tackles the toughest dirt. Its formula penetrates and lifts away even the most stubborn grime, leaving your wheels spotless and gleaming, almost like new. It’s that simple. We ranked it best overall out of four popular wheel cleaners. Want options? Find out who took our runner-up spot below!
Sometimes, choosing the right wheel cleaner comes down to the little things that resonate with you personally. You might find two cleaners that do an excellent job, but you prefer one simply because you like how it sprays or enjoy the scent more. If your wheels are heavily soiled and you need a meticulous clean, the CAR GUYS Wheel Cleaner ranks top. It offers a superior clean for tires, calipers, rotors, and even exhaust tips. Its formula works on all wheels—alloy, chrome, aluminum rims, white wall tires, and more. Moreover, its gel formula clings well to surfaces, minimizing runoff. This makes it especially effective for deep cleaning.
Compared to the runner-up, you get a few more ounces of cleaner at a slightly cheaper price with this brand. We voted it best overall for its effective gel formula and affordable price. Ultimately, if you’re cleaning heavily soiled wheels, this formula’s high concentration does a thorough job. A happy customer shared the following review: “I love this stuff! Spray it on, move it around with a brush, if you want, and rinse it off. It can’t be easier. Doesn’t matter how dirty your rims are. It makes them sparkle!” —JessB
It’s all about finding what works best for your wheels and your routine. While your friend might swear by the best overall, you might lean toward the runner-up because you appreciate the way the sprayer distributes the solution. At the end of the day, it’s about finding a cleaner that fits your needs perfectly. The Sonax Wheel Cleaner is your choice if you like to see results in action. What do I mean? The unique color-changing formula shows you when the cleaner is working. It starts as a fluorescent yellow and turns deep red or purple as it dissolves brake dust and grime, making it clear when your wheels are ready for a rinse. Just spray it on, watch the magic happen, and rinse it off.
Compared to the best overall, this brand is slightly more expensive. But the brand has a strong following, and 70 percent of customers give this wheel cleaner a 5-star rating.
The Adam’s Polishes Wheel Cleaner is the go-to pick if you need different-size bottles—16 fluid ounces (the bottle above), 128 fluid ounces, or a five-gallon container. So, it’s the best choice if you want to save money and buy in bulk. Likewise, they also offer cleaning kits with brushes.
Moreover, like our best overall and runner-up, this cleaner tackles heavy brake dust, dirt, and that annoying brown residue on your tires. The high-sudsing action of this cleaner is what makes it special. It lifts and breaks down stubborn dirt, leaving your wheels and tires looking like new. Most noteworthy, it has a 4.6-star rating and a 110% satisfaction guarantee!
The Chemical Guys Wheel Cleaner is a premium cleaner. It uses an oxygen-infused, foaming gel that lifts dirt and grime off your wheels quickly and easily. Moreover, it has a 4.6-star rating, and the brand has a large following. Here’s what a happy customer shared about their experience with the wheel cleaner:
“I’ve purchased Diablo so many times! I love how it degreases, removes brake dust, and leaves your rims looking brand new! It has always proved effective and cost-efficient. This product is amazing and won’t leave you disappointed.” —Ashton Harrington
Imagine this: you’ve got a car that turns heads as you drive by. The wheels? Sparkling, of course. But you didn’t spend hours achieving that shine. In fact, it didn’t even take five minutes. That’s because you chose CAR GUYS Wheel Cleaner. No more scrubbing, no more struggling. Ultimately, your weekends are too short to spend them working hard when you don’t have to.
Best Overall Wheel Cleaner for Meticulously Cleaned Wheels
Why Choose It?
Most Innovative Wheel Cleaner
Why Choose It?
First things first: what type of wheels do you have? Are they alloy, chrome, aluminum, or maybe even custom-painted? The material and finish of your wheels impact which cleaner you should use. For example, the CAR GUYS Wheel Cleaner, which is our best overall, is safe for many finishes, including alloy, chrome, and aluminum rims.
The effectiveness of a wheel cleaner largely depends on its formula. Some cleaners are made to break down heavy brake dust and grime quickly, while others might require a bit more effort.
Of course, if you’re dealing with heavily soiled wheels, the CAR GUYS Wheel Cleaner offers a highly concentrated formula that can be diluted to suit the level of dirt.
Nobody wants to spend all day scrubbing wheels. So, look for cleaners that spray on and rinse off quickly. For example, the CAR GUYS Wheel Cleaner clings to surfaces, ensuring maximum cleaning power with minimal effort. You spray it on, let it work its magic, and rinse it off—no scrubbing required unless your wheels are extremely dirty.
Similarly, the Sonax Wheel Cleaner offers a visual cue with its color-changing formula, so you know exactly when to rinse.
Some wheel cleaners have strong chemical odors that can be unpleasant. The CAR GUYS Wheel Cleaner, however, has a pleasant lemon scent. Additionally, you want to choose a cleaner that doesn’t leave behind residue. A good cleaner should rinse off completely, leaving your wheels spotless without any streaks or sticky film.
Price is always a consideration, but it’s important to think about value rather than just the price. The best overall and runner-up wheel cleaners on our list are very affordable and offer professional results.
How often you clean your wheels and the quantity of cleaner you get in a bottle can also influence your decision. If you clean your wheels regularly, you might want to look for a brand that offers larger quantities, like the Adam’s Polishes Wheel Cleaner.
I always tell people that if you care about your car, there are three essentials you shouldn’t overlook: a quality wheel cleaner, a reliable GPS tracker, and a good car diagnostic tool. Each plays a crucial role. The wheel cleaner ensures your rims stay free of brake dust and grime, preserving their shine and preventing long-term damage. Meanwhile, a GPS tracker adds peace of mind, whether you’re navigating new routes or keeping an eye on your car’s location. And, of course, a car diagnostic tool is indispensable for catching potential issues before they become costly repairs.
Yes, vinegar can clean aluminum wheels, and I’ve done it before, but honestly, the clean just doesn’t compare to using a wheel cleaner like the CAR GUYS Wheel Cleaner. Vinegar gets the job done but with a lot of scrubbing!
To clean oxidation off rims, you can use the CAR GUYS Wheel Cleaner by spraying it on the affected areas and letting it sit for a few minutes. Gently scrub with a soft brush or cloth to help break down the oxidation.
The best wheel cleaner if you buy in bulk is Adam’s Polishes Wheel Cleaner. It offers different-size bottles, including 16 fluid ounces, 128 fluid ounces, or a five-gallon container, making it an excellent choice for saving money when purchasing in bulk. Plus, it has a solid 4.6-star rating and comes with a 110% satisfaction guarantee.
Yes, CAR GUYS is a reputable brand in the car care industry. They are recognized for their quality products. Their focus on customer satisfaction has helped establish them as a reliable choice for car care.
Here are three reviews from happy customers about the CAR GUYS Wheel Cleaner. (You can find more testimonials here!)
No Better Wheel Cleaner: "Marcy" Notes Its Magic
“I love this wheel cleaner. It works like magic and gets them really clean. Will always use this product; nothing else holds up to it.” —MarcyWorks Fast: "Justin M" Shares His Experience
“I am impressed with how quickly you can spray and clean your tires, even when they're caked with brake dust and road grime.” —Justin MImpressed by Its Powerful Formula: "Gina Teti" Highlights Convenience
“I'm on my third bottle of the tire cleaner. I'm absolutely impressed about how much dirt, grime, brake dust, and grease [the CAR GUYS Wheel Cleaner] removes.” —Gina Teti