Cleaning bike wheels

bikeit65

Normally use Muc off to clean the bicycle wheels, ( H Plus Son in black) but ran out of it so all i had in the garage was Autosmart alloy wheel cleaner, used it diluted 5/1 and the wheels are really clean, anyone know if this Autosmart cleaner will do the wheels any harm if i was to use it on a regular basis?

ANDYI86

I don't see why you would cause any damage using it. Clean bike happy rider.

bikeit65

Just got a message from Autosmart and they didn't advise using that cleaner on those rims, instead they recommended using a non caustic cleaner.

rumbataz

Was about to say that Smart Wheels is corrosive so I wouldn't use it on cycle wheels. In fact I wouldn't use it on my car's wheels! If you've got a car interior cleaner or an APC (all purpose cleaner) then I'd use that as those tend to be a lot milder.

Anonymous

I always used muc off to clean my bike wheels. (That and baby wipes) until I was offered WD40 bike cleaner from my LBS. It is actually better than muc off and cleaned all my bike off less the running gear brilliantly. This included my Fulcrum 5's I run in the winter which have lost the laminate off the rim decals and they still came up looking almost as new.

BTW, Car alloy wheel cleaner is a mild acid. I would not let that anywhere near your hubs or spoke nipples. It won't corrode an alloy wheel when it is sprayed on but its not meant to remain on too long and there are no moving parts on a car wheel. Its jsut a solid chunk of metal with a tyre and valve. Even the tyre valves should not be sprayed with it as it can corrode the seal inside in the cap is removed.