Keeping Your Rims Clean: The Right Way to Tackle Brake Dust

Seriously, don't do it. If you've just come back from a spirited drive or you've been sitting in traffic, let the car sit. If you spray cold water or chemicals onto a hot rotor, you risk warping it, or worse, the cleaner will flash-dry and leave permanent streaks on your nice alloys. I always touch the tyre (not the rim!) to check the temp first. If it's warm, wait ten minutes and grab a cold one instead.

Use a dedicated iron remover. I'm a big fan of Bowden’s Own Wheely Clean or Meguiar's Ultimate Wheel Cleaner. These products react with the iron and turn purple (it looks like the wheel is bleeding). It's satisfying as anything, but more importantly, it dissolves the metal particles so you aren't scratching the paint while you scrub. Honestly, I wouldn't even bother with soapy water alone for heavy dust, you'll just be there all day.

The chemical does 80% of the work, but you still need a soft-bristle brush to get into the nooks and crannies. I've found that those cheap 'wheel trees' from the servo actually scratch the finish. Spend the extra twenty bucks on a decent microfibre wheel wand or a soft boar's hair brush. It makes getting behind the spokes way easier, and your knuckles will thank you.

Once they're clean, chuck a bit of sealant or a ceramic spray on them. I started doing this on my missus' car because she hates washing it, and now the dust just hoses off with a pressure washer. It won't stop the dust from landing, but it stops it from sticking. It's a lifesaver if you live out bush where that red dust mixes with the brake grime to create a sort of outback concrete.