What happens if you don’t wash your car’s wheel? Rim starts to get corroded until it breaks into pieces while driving on uneven roads after brake dust layers start to appear on rim metal.
So, how do you expect them to eliminate? I don’t think there is any better way than using the best brake dust wheel cleaner while cleaning your tires every weekend.
But what are the actual wheel cleaners for brake dust in the market? Not sure what to buy? Then go through the reviews below to find the best one for your car.
| # | Preview | Product |
|---|---|---|
1 |
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CAR GUYS Wheel Cleaner – Rim and Tire Cleaner for Brake Dust and Grime – Safe for Alloy, Chrome, Aluminum, and More – 18 Oz |
2 |
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Adam’s Wheel Cleaner Gallon – Tough Wheel Cleaning Spray for Car Wash Detailing | Rim Cleaner & Brake Dust Remover | Safe On Chrome Clear Coated & Plasti Dipped Wheels| Use w/Wheel Brush |
3 |
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Dura-Coating Iron Off Wheel Cleaner, 1 Gallon – Breaks Down Iron & Brake Dust |
4 |
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Armor All Car Brake Dust Repellent, Cleaner for Tires, Wheels, and Rims, Outlast, 11 Fl Oz, 18191B |
5 |
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P&S Detailing Products N26 – Brake Buster Non-Acid Total Wheel Cleaner (1 Gallon) |
6 |
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Shine Society deKON Wheel Cleaner, Heavy Duty Strength for Removing Tough Brake Dust and Road Grime from Chrome, Alloy, and Painted Wheels, Ready to Use (18 oz) |
7 |
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Carfidant Wheel Cleaner Spray Premium Rim & Tire Cleaner – Safe for All Wheels and Rims! – Removes Brake Dust! – Safe for Aluminum, Alloy, Mag, Chrome, Painted, Clearcoated, Polished, Plast |
8 |
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DipYourCar Brake Dust Pro 32oz – Touchless Wheel Cleaner, Safe On All Wheels! Quickly Removes Brake Dust and Grime – Spray On and Rinse Off! |
9 |
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HydroSilex Wheel Cleaner Spray & Iron Remover (16oz) | Remove Stubborn Brake Dust & Road Grime | Recharge Your Wheels | Safe on Chrome, Clear Coated & Plasti Dipped Wheels |
10 |
|
303 Heavy Duty Wheel Cleaner – Eliminates Dirt and Brake Dust – All Wheel Safe – Iron Indicating Formula – Non Corrosive Formula, 15.5 fl. oz. (30597CSR) |
1. CAR GUYS Wheel Cleaner – Rim and Tire Cleaner for Brake Dust and Grime – Safe for Alloy, Chrome, Aluminum, and More – 18 Oz
CAR GUYS wheel cleaner is number 1 on our list ranking the best brake dust cleaners on the market – and for good reason. When we talk about the best brake dust cleaners, we expect features like compatibility with different wheel types, ease of use, effectiveness, fast action etc. CAR GUYS Wheel Cleaner – Rim and Tire for Brake Dust and Grime has all these features and more.
CAR GUYS wheel cleaner works on almost every tire surface and is a safe and effective cleaner. It is available in two sizes: 18 ounces and 128 ounces. It is a highly concentrated cleaning gel which is acid free and pH neutral. This keeps all your surfaces safe when cleaning them thoroughly. It’ll clean stubborn brakes, stained white wall tires, grease and road grime.
CAR GUYS wheel cleaner cleans up all these car parts:
- Wheels/rims
- Tires
- High end braking systems
- Calipers
- Exhaust tips
- White wall tires
As CAR GUYS wheel cleaner is a highly concentrated gel, you can use it by diluting it with water as well. This makes the product last longer.
Feel free to use CAR GUYS wheel cleaner on any wheels, rims, tires. If the product doesn’t give you the results they promised, you can come over to CAR GUYS anytime after purchase, even if you’ve used up the whole bottle and they’ll give you a refund. They guarantee 100% customer satisfaction. This is one of the many reasons they are number 1 on our list.
Pros:
- Environmentally friendly as it is acid free and pH balanced
- Can be used on almost all wheel/rim types
- Doesn’t have bad, lingering odor
Cons:
- Sometimes may turn unprotected wheel parts black or cloudy
Is the product acid based?
No, the product is acid free and pH balanced.
Can the product be used on Aluminum wheels?
Yes, the product is safe for alloy, aluminum, anodized, chrome, painted, polished, clear-coated, plasti-dipped rims and more.
Does the product leave a protective coat after use?
No, the product doesn’t leave any protective coating or shine after use. It’s for cleaning purposes only.
2. Armor All Car Brake Dust Repellent, Cleaner for Tires, Wheels, and Rims, Outlast, 11 Fl Oz, 18191B
Next on our list is Armor All’s Car Brake Dust Repellent Cleaner. Armor All is an old, trusted brand in the world of automobile parts and its cleaner still holds a promise of good service for users. Armor All cleaner works best on dry, clean wheels and leaves your wheels coated with a protective, shiny layer which repels brake dust, road grime and dirt.
When applied, the cleaner is activated on contact with the wheels, floats dirt away without scrubbing and leaves a deep, black look. The protective shiny barrier that the wheel cleaner forms lasts well up to 4 weeks in normal conditions. Its fast drying formula lets the product dry within an hour from application.
For best results, apply the spray on clean, dry tires. Clean your tires properly and then let them dry. Use a thin coating of the cleaning spray to ensure there’s no extra product on the wheel. When the product dires, you’ll start seeing a liquorice black shine.
Pros:
- Leaves behind a shiny, protective coating
- Fast drying formula
- Easy to use and clean
Cons:
- Over long usage periods, the residue left by the product might create a hard to remove film
- Might leave bluish streaks on black wheels
How do I apply this product to my car?
The product comes with a sponge that you can use for application. Other than that, even a cloth wipe can be used for application. But be sure to apply evenly.
Does the product work on chromium wheels?
Yes, it works on most surfaces like chromium, alloy, aluminum but is not recommended for carbon ceramic surfaces.
3. Adam’s Wheel Cleaner Gallon – Tough Wheel Cleaning Spray for Car Wash Detailing | Rim Cleaner & Brake Dust Remover | Safe On Chrome Clear Coated & Plasti Dipped Wheels| Use w/Wheel Brush
Adam’s wheel cleaner is another well known name in the world of car care. Adam’s wheel cleaner is a strong, viscous liquid focused on washing away most of the grime and dirt on your wheel. It will even clean inside the rims. The cleaner is available in three different sizes: 16 ounces, 128 ounces and 640 ounces.
This wheel cleaner targets and eliminates heavy brake dust to leave your wheels spotless. It works fast to dissolve metallic contamination. It is safe for most wheel finishes like factory clear-coated, factory powder coated, factory painted wheels and high performance brakes. However, it may not be safe for anodized raw aluminum, polished aluminum wheels and aftermarket bare metallic wheels.
The spray works in a simple spray and agitate formula. This thicker, more viscous formula clings to your wheel surfaces, allowing it to dissolve the harsh brake contamination for an easy rinse and streak-free finish. Equipped with a unique raw material that targets surfactants and the color-changing formula that targets brake dust, Adam’s Wheel Cleaner lets you know its active by turning to a deep shade of purple. The purple liquid falls off, taking down brake dust and iron contamination along with it.
The spray is acid free and pH neutral, which makes it friendly for most wheels and rims. Adam’s wheel cleaner is developed to clean the most baked-on brake dust left by modern high performance braking systems. Adam’s wheel guarantees 100% customer satisfaction with their product. It is better if you use the product with a combination of different car care tools:
i) An effective tire cleaner
ii) Tire shine to finish up
It is better to not spray this on hot wheels. Wait for the wheels to cool down before application and test the spray on a small area first. This spray even cleans inside the rims.
Pros:
- Easy to use and clean up
- Cleans the wheel surface as well as inside the wheel’s rims
- Turns a bright purple color when agitated which is an easy indicator that the spray is working
Cons:
- Can leave behind a slight odor after use
Can this be used on painted surfaces directly?
You can use it on painted surfaces by diluting the solution by 50/50. If you want to use it directly on the paint, it’s better to use a pump spray.
4. P&S Detailing Products N26 – Brake Buster Non-Acid Total Wheel Cleaner (1 Gallon)
P&S professional brings you a non acid brake dust removing spray in thick foam form. This foamy spray cleans both your tires and rims and brightens your wheels. This spray is safe, effective and non-acidic.
The spray is safe to use on painted and powder coated wheels and is super easy to use. It dries up quickly, leaving behind a thin layer of corrosion inhibitor on the wheels. This feature stops dust from accumulating again and keeps the wheels clean for longer. The spray removes brake dust, oil, dirt, stains and light corrosion.
This cleaner comes in a variable quantity. If you are a professional and need a bigger stock then you can go for a 5 gallon pack or 1 gallon. Personal users can go for 1 pint or quart.
Pros:
- The product is non acidic and pH neutral
- Environment friendly
- Starts cleaning right after application and saves time
Cons:
- May cause damage to matte painted rims
Does this product remove ceramic coating?
No, the product is acid free and pH neutral so it doesn’t cause any significant damage to any coating.
5. Carfidant Wheel Cleaner Spray Premium Rim & Tire Cleaner – Safe for All Wheels and Rims! – Removes Brake Dust! – Safe for Aluminum, Alloy, Mag, Chrome, Painted, Clearcoated, Polished, Plast
Carfidant wheel cleaner spray is also one of the highly recommended products on our list. It is designed to be easy to use, safe for all surfaces and easy to clean off. The spray is specially formulated to attack brake dust particles.
Carfidant spray is easy to use. All you need to do is spray it on your wheels, let it soak for a while and then rinse it off with a wheel brush or a towel. It attacks brake dust particles and removes brake dust, road grime, and iron accumulation. It is super easy and fast to use. The cleaner works best with a tire shine kit to leave your wheels looking glossy and new.
The spray works on almost all wheels including: aluminum, alloy, mag, chrome, painted, clear-coated, polished and plastidipped. Along with being non-acidic, the spray also doesn’t use any special dyes or scents which can harm or irritate your wheels or the environment. Which means you and your wheels are gonna be absolutely safe.
Carfidant is so confident in their product’s quality that they’re ready to offer you a 100% refund if your user experience isn’t satisfactory. So try out Carfidant’s super effective cleaning spray with zero inhibitions and see for yourself if the product is worth purchasing.
Pros:
- Environment friendly
- Easy to use and clean off
- Doesn’t leave any lingering bad smells
- Works on almost all surfaces
- No negative effects on wheels or rims
Cons:
- Doesn’t create a protective layer
Does this product work as a wheel shiner?
No, the Carfidant wheel cleaner spray only works as a cleaner to keep your wheels and rims clean and get rid of grime or brake dust.
Does the product need to be rubbed into the wheels to work?
No, the spray follows a simple spray, soak and wash procedure. Just spray it on, let the wheel soak and then wash it off with a pressure washer or a hose.
6. HydroSilex Wheel Cleaner Spray & Iron Remover (16oz) | Remove Stubborn Brake Dust & Road Grime | Recharge Your Wheels | Safe on Chrome, Clear Coated & Plasti Dipped Wheels
HydroSilex is one of the best wheel cleaners and brake dust removers at a super reasonable price. Its safe and effective formula works for almost every surface- factory clear, coated, factory painted wheels and high performance brakes. Don’t use it on carbon ceramic brakes though.
HydroSilex wheel cleaner and iron remover breaks down iron as well as the metallic buildup on wheels and dissolves brake dust. HydroSilex has a color changing formula so you’ll know it’s actually working. It’ll change from its regular color to a cool purple color and that’s when you know to rinse off the solution. It’ll clear up heavy build up in just a couple of minutes!
Here’s how you use it:
i) Spray evenly on the wheel.
ii) Leave it on for 3-4 minutes to agitate the iron dust. It’ll start turning purple and that’s when you know it’s working.
iii) When the solution has turned purple and the brake dust starts falling along with the solution, rinse it off with a cloth or a scrubber. And voila! Just like that, clean wheels!
The best thing about this spray is that it’s fast acting, easy to use and easier to clean up. Save time and money with HydroSilex.
Pros:
- Easy to use spray on nozzle which allows even application
- Fast acting
- Easy to clean up
- Cleans up heavy buildup effortlessly
- Affordable price
Cons:
- Cannot be applied to cars with carbon ceramic brakes
- May leave bad smell
Is the product safe to use on carbon ceramic brakes?
No, the cleaner cannot be used on carbon ceramic brakes as the main chemical used in the cleaner reacts with brake dust and creates a product that is harmful to carbon ceramic brakes.
How will I know when the cleaner is ready to remove?
The cleaner is developed with a color changing formula so it turns to purple when it reacts with the iron dust and other accumulations on the wheel’s surface. That’s when you remove the cleaner. You can also use a timer and remove the liquid after 4 minutes from application.
7. Dura-Coating Iron Off Wheel Cleaner, 1 Gallon – Breaks Down Iron & Brake Dust
- Iron Off Wheel Cleaner eats brakes dust! Changes from clear to purple as it breaks down iron and brake dust
- ery effective. Cleans fast without the over powering smell like other Iron Decontamination products have
- Ph balanced. Works on painted surfaces as well. Made in USA
Dura-Coating Iron Off wheel cleaner is here to make your car maintenance a lot easier. Iron off cleaner actually “eats” brake dust. It takes away all the collected rust and dust to leave your car wheels clean and new looking.
With Iron Off you can actually see the cleaning process as it happens! It changes to purple color from clear when it is breaking down iron and brake dust. Unlike many wheel cleaners, Iron Off doesn’t give off any strong smells when it is cleaning.
Iron Off is made to be a pH balanced solution. So this doesn’t negatively affect or damage most surfaces. It works great on painted surfaces as well.
Pros:
Effective on most surfaces
Does not leave any overpowering, lingering smell
pH balanced and easy on most surfaces
Cons:
- May cause damage to clear coated wheels and rims
Can this remover be used on Chromium wheels?
Iron Off is pH neutral so it’s safe to use on all surfaces.
Why do you need a wheel cleaner for brake dust?
Do you know that the brake dust can damage your wheel? It causes safety concerns too? So, you can’t overlook it anyway as there is a risk. Whether you have a monthly car cleaning option or not, you need to take care of your car on a regular basis.
Especially, if you want to keep your wheel and other parts well-functioning and clean, you need to remove all the dirt & debris from your car wheel, rim, and wheel brake. That’s why you need to have an effective brake dust cleaner.
Here are some of the reasons for buying a brake dust cleaner are pointed below…
Get rid of any brake dust and derbies: No doubt that the wheels are the closest to the road grime. They are likely to get dirty faster than any part of your automotive device. If you enjoy cleaning your wheel, rim, and wheel brake with your own hands, then you should try a decent wheel brake dust cleaner. By using it, you will be able to keep your wheel brake clean. So it will increase the overall lifespan of your car.
Budget-friendly car cleaning option: Surely, you spent a handsome amount of money to buy your car no matter if it is expensive or cheap. Cleaning your car regularly is an effective way to keep it clean and well-functioning. You should clean your wheel brake on a regular basis even if you have a monthly car washing system. In this case, an excellent brake dust cleaner is really a budget-friendly option to get the cleaning job done.
Keep the brakes shiny and nice-looking: If you want to sell your used car, then you must clean both the interior and exterior of your car. You should also provide special concentration on the wheel and the brake of your car. It will create the first impression on the buyers. So you should clean your wheel brake with the brake dust cleaner before selling it.
Can be a perfect and useful gift for your friend or family: The wheel cleaner may seem like a weird gift in general. But if you present it to someone who has a fascination with cars, then s/he will be outstandingly happy for sure. It even can be an adorable gift for your friend or family.
Types of Brake Dust Cleaners are Available in the Market
There are different types of wheel cleaners for brake dust out there in the market. Here are the most popular types below.
Non-toxic
When it comes to comparing toxicity, there is an extensive difference between bleach and hot soapy water. It is not an efficient idea to clean your wheel with toxic material. So you should use a non-toxic material for cleaning your wheel to protect skin and other components from harm.
PH-Neutral
Like non-toxic formulas, pH-neutral brake dust cleaners are not harmful. These cleaners do not contain any acidic elements and bad odors. Although PH-Neutral brake dust cleaners can’t remove accumulated debris, these are perfect to keep your wheel clean.
Spray-on
This type of brake dust remover is an aerosol product that uses aerosol cans. Basically, most retail sellers offer this product in the arsenal can. Some industrial or commercial brands may offer it in a large-sized bottle.
Color-changing
Like many cleaning ingredients, the brake dust cleaner can often change its color. Most of the time, it looks like one color inside the bottle or can, but when you spray, and the activation process begins, the color may change. It’s fun to work with color-changing cleaning items, but certainly, it’s not so good compared to the rest.
Foaming
Foaming products are typically sprayed on like color-changing brake dust dissolves and then foamed as part of the activation and a cleaning process. This type of brake dust cleaner still needs to be stirred if brake dust adheres to the wheel’s surface. However, there is nothing that distinguishes foam brake dust cleaner from the rest. Only the usage is the fact.
If you have any queries that we didn’t cover in this article, comment down below. We’ll provide you with the most effective solutions.
Which Wheel Cleaner Is Right For You? – An In-Depth Buying Guide
Purchasing a wheel cleaner helps you prevent your wheels from damage caused by excessive brake dust and iron accumulation. So when buying this cleaner, you’ll need to consider some points and then get the one that works best for you.
Low Toxicity
Cleaners need to have many chemical elements if they’re going to successfully get rid of any tough stains. But to achieve this, sometimes companies may use harsh chemicals that’ll be bad for your car’s wheels as well as your hands. Go for pH neutral, acid free solutions when selecting a spray. This will be gentle on your rims and also your hands. CAR GUYS wheel cleaner and Iron Off are acid free, low scented cleaners which will clean your wheels without scraping off the coating.
Compatibility with Wheels
Wheels can have copper, chromium, alloy or aluminum rims. They may even be clear-coated, plastic dipped or painted. There are some cleaners which will scrape off these coatings. To avoid this, purchase a wheel cleaner that is smooth on almost all surfaces. Carfudant and Iron Off can be applied on almost every surface.
Ease of Usage
Cleaners are mostly available in spray-on bottles. Some of these are too concentrated to be sprayed on smoothly and some are foamy sprays. Buy one that sprays out quickly and can be cleaned off easily, without leaving behind any mess. CAR GUYS and Iron Off sprays are easy to apply and clean off with a pressure washer or water hose.
Affordability
Wheel cleaners are available at a large range of prices. Usually you can get a single 18 ounce bottle for around $15-$20 depending on the brand. The products reviewed on our list vary from affordable to reasonable prices. You won’t regret buying any of these wheel cleaners.
Conclusion
Purchase a brake dust cleaning kit so you can take complete care of your wheels. Regular cleaning and maintenance of your car’s wheels will keep them fit for long term use and prevent cracks and discoloration.
Greetings from James Milan. I am an Automotive enthusiast and car repairing expert for over 12 years. Blogging is one of my hobbies. According to my interest, I’ve started this blog to share my thoughts about the Automotive sectors and hope you’ll love it.