To keep your wheels clean for a long time

Daily maintenance

　Aluminum alloys used for light alloy wheels are of high corrosion resistance. And yet, if left with dirt directly on them containing chemical substances for a long time, their beautiful gloss unique to aluminum may be lost or become uneven. To prevent this from happening, it is strongly recommended that dirt be cleaned off the wheels to keep their surface always clean.
　In snowfall regions, potassium chlorides may be scattered to prevent the road icing. These anti-icing agents with potassium chlorides included are harmful substances to light alloy wheels. Likewise, it is not preferable either and to be avoided to expose the wheels for long to seawater or salt breezes.
　When the wheels are exposed for long to harmful substances like potassium chlorides, they may corrode to a state where white powder-like substances can be seen on their surfaces. If this corrosion goes into the inside of the wheels, their strength is also likely to compromise. Please keep this in mind. If you go skiing and drive on roads where anti-road icing agents are used or park your car for long near the sea, it is recommended that your car be washed with fresh water after use so that the salt attached onto the wheels can be removed. When using a wheel cleaning agent and the like available in the market, make sure to read through its instruction before use. As acidic cleaning agents may lead to a change of the color of the wheels’ surface, neutral ones are more suitable. There likely to be cleaning kit specifically designed for those wheels of a special shape such as wire-spoke wheels.
　The dirt on the surface of light alloy wheels shall be basically removed with a soft horse-hair brush if possible or a sponge manually. Usage of a car-washing brush or car- washing machine may lead, in combination with fine sands and other substances attached on the wheel surfaces, to detachment of the coating layer of the surface or scratches. Use a wheel cleaning agent with a brush to better clean gaps between bolts/holes or those between spokes.　Do not apply a cleaning agent to the surface of hot wheels right after driving and the like as it may make the dirt adhere to the surface. Do the wheel cleaning after the wheels have been cooled down well.
　The most annoying thing is a smudge of powder-like substances coming from the worn brake pads, iron powders from brake rotors, and the like. These things are highly likely, if left uncleaned, to adhere along with oil dirt and very difficult to get removed once fixated. Attention should be paid to them. These pollutants may, if left unremoved, lead to oxidation or other chemical reactions that may corrode and damage the surface of the wheels.
　There is no alternative but to frequently clean when it comes to this sort of dirt. Once cleaned, you may want to apply solid wax to the surface of light alloy wheels for protection while preventing adherence of dirt as well. Before storing unused wheels, wash them clean and dry well. This way, the gloss on the surface will not be lost while preventing them from rusting and the wheels can be installed to your car for safe use when the time has come.