Cleaning a wheel brush?

Tips, tricks, and recommendations for keeping your vehicle looking new
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Rayven01
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Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:07 pm

Cleaning a wheel brush?

Post by Rayven01 »

I used a wheel brush on my wheels this weekend when I detailed and it obviously hadn't been done in awhile as the thing came away almost totally black when I was done. I tried hosing it down along with the leftover soap/water but the thing is still grimy looking. Anyone have a trick for cleaning the brush, or should I not worry about it? Just don't want to be putting the brake dust and grime back on the wheels next time I clean them!
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Chiadog
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Re: Cleaning a wheel brush?

Post by Chiadog »

Not sure about that, but be sure to wear mask and gloves when handling carcinogenic materials (brake dust).
ParknVibe
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Re: Cleaning a wheel brush?

Post by ParknVibe »

Rayven01 wrote:I used a wheel brush on my wheels this weekend when I detailed and it obviously hadn't been done in awhile as the thing came away almost totally black when I was done. I tried hosing it down along with the leftover soap/water but the thing is still grimy looking. Anyone have a trick for cleaning the brush, or should I not worry about it? Just don't want to be putting the brake dust and grime back on the wheels next time I clean them!
I just use a wet paper towel and hand clean the alum. wheels. Don't even use soap, just water. With a motorized brush, your just blowing the dust off and back into the air.
I like to use a wet (damp) paper towel to collect all my house whole surface dust.
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Rayven01
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Re: Cleaning a wheel brush?

Post by Rayven01 »

This is just a regular bristled, plastic-handled wheel brush I'm talking about, like this:
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And I hosed down the wheels first so I wasn't raising the dust everywhere. It's the brush bristles that are covered in black now that I'm wondering how to clean. Soap and water is not doing the trick.
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star_deceiver
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Re: Cleaning a wheel brush?

Post by star_deceiver »

Use brake cleaner on the brush.
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vibolista
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Re: Cleaning a wheel brush?

Post by vibolista »

Stained brush bristles won't spread the brake dust/dirt next time you use it on the wheels. Rinse the brush well after each use and it should be fine.
'08 Manual, Sun&Sound, 17" Borbet Type CA wheels, 215/50 Summer Tires... 16" OE steel, 215/55 Snow Tires
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Rayven01
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Re: Cleaning a wheel brush?

Post by Rayven01 »

vibolista wrote:Stained brush bristles won't spread the brake dust/dirt next time you use it on the wheels. Rinse the brush well after each use and it should be fine.
Sweet, this is what I was hoping was the case. Thanks!
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vibenvy
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Re: Cleaning a wheel brush?

Post by vibenvy »

Yep, just make sure to rinse the brush really well after each use and it will be fine.

I personally use a small sponge on the wheels. A brush is going to scratch the heck out of the wheels after a short time.
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