Chrome wheel upkeep
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 184
From: Ohio
Chrome wheel upkeep
Just curious...has anyone tried using the Flitz Powerball or the Mothers Powerball for cleaning and/or wax their chrome wheels? Done some checking and there is a lot of discussion about polishing, but sayes very little about chrome. Seems like a quick effective way to clean wheels.
Thanks,
The Big Dog
Thanks,
The Big Dog
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
I would Not use any powerball cleaner, or chrome polish on chrome wheels.
the best thing to use is windex...
Chrome is microns thin. Any chrome cleaner will over time wear off what little chrome is there. You can use chrome polish maybe once a year, but Windex will clean them and not remove any chrome in the process...
Ive had Chrome wheels for 20 years....
I have a set of chromies for my C5 that are six years old and look as good as the day i bought them...And I only use them in the winter....
the best thing to use is windex...
Chrome is microns thin. Any chrome cleaner will over time wear off what little chrome is there. You can use chrome polish maybe once a year, but Windex will clean them and not remove any chrome in the process...
Ive had Chrome wheels for 20 years....
I have a set of chromies for my C5 that are six years old and look as good as the day i bought them...And I only use them in the winter....
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
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From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I used to use Meguiars All-Metal polish on my chrome wagon wheels about once or twice a year. In between, I used Meguiars Final Inspection #34 Detailing spray. My wheels were on the car about 18 months, and they looked great right until I took them off.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 11,138
Likes: 11
From: Fremont CA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
I would Not use any powerball cleaner, or chrome polish on chrome wheels.
the best thing to use is windex...
Chrome is microns thin. Any chrome cleaner will over time wear off what little chrome is there. You can use chrome polish maybe once a year, but Windex will clean them and not remove any chrome in the process...
Ive had Chrome wheels for 20 years....
I have a set of chromies for my C5 that are six years old and look as good as the day i bought them...And I only use them in the winter....
the best thing to use is windex...
Chrome is microns thin. Any chrome cleaner will over time wear off what little chrome is there. You can use chrome polish maybe once a year, but Windex will clean them and not remove any chrome in the process...
Ive had Chrome wheels for 20 years....
I have a set of chromies for my C5 that are six years old and look as good as the day i bought them...And I only use them in the winter....
most glass cleaners (Windex included) will say in the fine print that they are actually for glass AND CHROME. That is the best way to go. 
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I just use car wash soap and water to clean them, and put a good coat of paste wax on them a couple of times a year for the protection. Never had a problem and the wheels look great.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 7,353
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From: Katy TX
CI 3-4-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'09-'12
Regularly wash with car wash. Also, I use Chrome polish about once every 6 months (Mothers). Every other month I wax them with carnuba wax...other than a couple of rock chips, my rims look brand new and have been on the car for over 40,xxx miles. 
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Downers Grove IL
St. Jude Donor '15
Originally Posted by eddie44
I just use windex too. Have had chromies on a number of vehicles back to the 1970's and never had a set look bad.
I used Windex on my old Crager S/S wheels and it worked great!
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 508
Likes: 0
From: boston ma
I have to agree with the Windex on the chrome...I have not only used it on my vet wheels but I have owned a completly chromed out Harley-Davidson bike for 10 years and use nothing but Windex on all the chrome it it shines as good today as it did when I bought it new !!! 
