Recently, many car models have started to come standard with black wheels as a factory option. For instance, even the Sorento has mostly adopted black-colored wheels as its default option following its facelift.
Due to the nature of black wheels, if you don't maintain them properly, various contaminants can accumulate and become stuck, leading to fine scratches like swirl marks that can make them look cloudy.
Many new car owners seem to worry about how to maintain their black wheels. In this post, I will share some methods for taking care of my vehicle's black wheels. :)
I will present an easy-to-follow method, so please feel free to read on. Haha
The essentials for cleaning!
Martiga car cleaning products
Purple Rain iron remover - for wheel cleaning
Skin Brown discoloration remover - for tire cleaning
When washing your car, the easiest and safest way to clean is to use chemicals.
You chemically break down the contaminants and then wipe them away using various tools.
I used Martiga's Purple Rain iron remover , and Martiga's Skin Brown discoloration remover .
Many brands sell car cleaning products that serve the same purpose, but personally, I find that these are the ones I am most satisfied with lately.
The reason is that the chemical reaction speed is very fast, and they minimize the characteristic chemical smell, making this brand appealing to someone like me who is sensitive to odors.
It’s great to have these tools on hand!
Tools
Wheel bucket (10L)
Car shampoo - Martiga cleansing car shampoo
Bi-Kan brush
Paintbrush
Tire cleaning brush
Wheel-specific mitt
It’s also good to gather a few additional tools. Brushes for cleaning the corners of the wheels or a wheel-specific mitt can make the cleaning process easier.
In my case, I use a 10L wheel bucket to mix the car shampoo and rinse the dirty brushes and wheel-specific mitts.
Black wheels are generally similar to black cars. If you think, "Who looks closely at the wheels?" you might have a point, but...
Comparing a vehicle that receives minimal care to one that gets a little more attention will clearly show a difference in shine over time.
First, to remove tire discoloration, I evenly spray Martiga's Skin Brown discoloration remover on the tires.
Tire discoloration gives the surface a brownish hue, creating a visual effect that resembles dirt. This is due to the chemical properties of the materials in the tires, which is unavoidable.
However, if you apply a tire coating while discoloration remains, it can actually worsen the discoloration and reduce the effectiveness of the coating. Therefore, I personally recommend periodically removing tire discoloration.
Using Martiga's Skin Brown discoloration remover is simple. Just spray it directly onto the tire's surface.
Some of you may wonder if you should rinse with high-pressure water before cleaning the wheels and tires. In my case, I usually do a preliminary rinse with high-pressure water.
The reason is simple. It's safer to wash away contaminants that can be easily removed with high-pressure water before applying physical pressure to clean them, which helps prevent scratches.
You can think of it as similar to managing the car's paint surface. ~
After spraying Martiga's Skin Brown discoloration remover , you will notice a brownish hue on the tire surface as the discoloration begins to dissolve.
Use a tire cleaning brush to gently scrub the surface. You can use a brush with a stiffness similar to that of a shoe brush, but if that feels too harsh, a slightly flexible paintbrush will also work well.
Afterward, you will see that the brown discoloration has been cleaned off the tire surface. However, I don't think it's necessary to remove it completely.
As mentioned earlier, tire discoloration is a natural occurrence due to the chemical properties within the tire. It will happen again as you drive the vehicle. Regular maintenance is key, so there's no need to overdo the cleaning.
Also, I believe cleaning every two weeks or once a month is sufficient. ^^
After that, focus on cleaning the wheel surface primarily with Martiga's Purple Rain iron remover
. Usually, when you use the brakes while driving, the brake pads and discs create friction, causing iron particles to detach and stick to the car's wheels.
Therefore, you can think of using an iron remover to dissolve the iron and metal particles that stick due to braking. Although domestic cars tend to have less iron, using an iron remover makes maintenance easier. :)
You can simply spray Martiga's Purple Rain iron remover
all over the wheel surface. Since all Martiga products use an Epoca trigger, they have a wide spray pattern, which is very satisfying.
Moreover, if you've used iron removers from other brands, you'll appreciate that Martiga minimizes the characteristic perm solution smell and adds a fruity scent, making it pleasant for those sensitive to odors.
The reaction speed with iron is also impressively fast. If my car had silver wheels, I would easily see the purple reaction when the iron remover is applied. Since I have black wheels, it's less noticeable, so I intentionally sprayed it directly onto the brake disc.
After that, use a brush to clean every nook and cranny of the wheel surface. While simply spraying and rinsing will remove a lot of contaminants, aiming for perfection will leave you wanting more.
If you want to achieve a completely clean state, it's best to use physical touch to clean.
Personally, I find it more convenient to use a wheel-specific mitt that quickly cleans larger areas rather than a brush. However, there are times when a brush is necessary for cleaning narrow gaps.
Therefore, I recommend keeping both a brush and a wheel-specific mitt on hand. If you have to choose one, I suggest purchasing a brush.
After finishing the cleaning, it’s essential to thoroughly rinse off any chemicals and contaminants from the surface. If this process isn't done properly, there’s a risk of leaving stains and getting dirty again.
After I clean one wheel tire, I usually use a beaker to rinse it lightly, but it's best to choose according to your personal situation. ^^
The essentials for tire coating!Martiga car cleaning products
Black Pearl tire coating -
for wheels and tires
