So you have got your brand spanking new alloy wheels and they look just great but like with the rest of your car they will require some care to remain looking that way, especially as the wheels are probably the dirtiest part.

The wheels are going to be exposed to a variety of things throughout the year such as brake dust, road salt, stones and even tar and other new road surfaces and so regular cleaning is essential. Use a mild soap and water solution to avoid damage to any protective coating that is likely to be on the alloy wheels and consider a tar and bug remover to prevent staining.

Always use a soft sponge or cleaning cloth and avoid anything even remotely abrasive such as steel wool pads or polishing compounds. Also steer clear of automatic car washes that will often use an acidic cleaner at some point during the process to remove dirt and grime. These types of cleaners can permanently damage alloy wheels.

Never ever allow your alloys to be steamed cleaned as this will likely dull the paint and any clearcoat finish on the wheels.

Try not to clean hot alloy wheels straight after use, instead let them cool to prevent the soap drying to quickly and leaving streaks.

It is advisable to clean the tyres and alloy wheels of a car first so any build up of dirt and muck can be cleared away from the vicinity and will not splash or spray on nice clean bodywork.

Use a hosepipe on full to loosen and remove any dirt or grime that may have built up. Then wash and rinse each tyre and alloy wheel individually to avoid soap marks and once in a while you should add a coat of wax to give the alloys some added protection from the elements.