Meguiar's G9524 Hot Rims Wheel Cleaner Review
Why is it important to clean the wheels?
Wheels are generally covered by gray dust called brake dust. This is caused by the grinding of your car's brake system. Researches say that this does not indicate a malfunctioning system however the more you use your brakes, the more brake dusts you will create.
brake dust is a problem, not only because it looks dirty on your wheels but it can also etch into the finish of your wheels if not cleaned.
Some people are considering dust shields to minimize brake dust however we don't recommended it as it will prevent the heat from freely coming out of the braking system. You would want to prevent your braking system from overheating.
Most people use detergents to wash the wheels however sometimes brake dust are hard to remove even after you've used a brush. To make matters worst, brake dusts comes back quickly after you wash your wheels. This is why wheel cleaners are useful.
What you should consider when choosing a wheel cleaner
First and foremost, wheels are not the same. It is important to know the type of material and coatings your wheels are made of before you choose a wheel cleaner, because some wheel cleaners are made only for a specific type of wheel.
The materials and coatings commonly used on wheel surfaces are the following: chrome, alloy, steel, clear coated, anodized coating, powder coated, painted, aluminum and more.
Using the wrong product can potentially damage the surface of your wheels, tires and other car components. If unsure, I would recommend doing a research of the product or contacting the manufacturer for more details about your wheels.
Meguiar's Three Wheel Cleaner Products
Meguiar's, one of the most effective wheel cleaners today, have three wheel cleaner products to choose from:
- Meguiar's Hot Rims Aluminum Wheel Cleaner - safe for uncoated or polished aluminum, anodized and power coated wheels. This is the safest Mequiar's wheel cleaner so it is highly recommended if wheel type cannot be determined.
- Meguiar's Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner and Tire Cleaner - safe for all factor coated wheels
- Meguiar's Hot Rims Chrome Wheel Cleaner - specifically designed for all chrome plated wheels
You might want to utilize Meguiar's Product Advisor tool to help you decide which product would be best for your wheel.
What makes the Meguiar's wheel cleaner effective?
This product uses a foam solution called Xtreme Cling, a foam that sticks to vertical surfaces and dissolves brake dust, grime, road residue from both metal and rubber on all sides. You will visually see the foam turn to brown as it cleans away brake dust, road residue, dirt and grime off the wheel and tire.
Watch the Meguiar's G9524 Hot Rims Wheel Cleaner in action
Basic steps on how to use the product
The product is too aggressive and could damage your wheels if not used properly. Please follow the instructions on the label carefully. Most users get the best results by following the steps below:
Reminder: We highly recommend that you use gloves to avoid hand contact or disposable mask to avoid breathing the fumes because the product is pretty strong and toxic.
- The wheels should be cooled off and parked in shade or well ventilated area.
- Rinse off with water.
- Spray one wheel at a time with wheel cleaner and soak for at least 15 seconds. Do not leave the wheel cleaner on for too long.
- Scrub the surface and corners with soft brush. Very dirty wheels may require more scrubbing.
- Rinse off the wheel cleaner with strong stream of water and dry wheel with towel.
Advantages and disadvantages
- The product is safe on factory painted and clear coated rims and tires.
- It leaves rims with shine while effectively cleaning wheels and tire sidewalls as well.
- It is easy to use spray and hose off with water.
- The price is reasonable and gets the job done.
- We usually spend over 10 minutes on a wheel and use different tools to clean a wheel. With this product, a couple of spraying and rinsing will essentially wash away some of the brake dust and a minimal amount of brushing with a fair amount of pressure on hard stains will get the wheels really clean. Simple, clean and fast.
- It will also clean up the tire sidewalls and crevices because the foam sticks even on vertical surfaces.
- The fumes are not severe.
- It can also be used on stainless steel sinks, oven, air vent cover and related surfaces.
- The sprayer has a wide angle and covers a lot of rim.
- It could cut through the crud and debris more successfully than other products but would still require scrubbing.
- It's for both wheels and tires which saves you even more money since you don't have to buy a separate product for your tires.
- It may leave a stain or white-looking spot if you don't clean it all off.
- When there is little left, the tube doesn't extend to the edge of the bottle to get a good spray. We suggest keeping a new bottle on hand and just pour the remainder from the old bottle into the new one.
- The product is too aggressive, it doesn't seem like something you would want to leave on the surface for too long.
- Do not let it dry on your painted rims or it will etch the paint. Be sure to rinse it quickly.
- Wear disposable mask to avoid breathing the fumes.
- Use gloves and avoid body contact as it is pretty toxic.
- You have to use it in shade otherwise it dries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to use dust shields to minimize the amount of brake dust that sticks unto the wheels?
How effective are wheel cleaners compared to detergents?
Is it safe?
What is the product made out of?
Can I use this everytime I wash my car?
Does it clean the back of the rim?
Editor Rating 4/5
Despite the disadvantages listed and reports of damages from a small percentage of consumers, the product is one of the top three most effective wheel cleaners in the market. Out of the top wheel cleaners in the market, Meguiar's is the most affordable.
Based on my research, it appears that this product is popular among car owners including professional car detailers.
The company has also been producing car care related products since 1901 and caters to customers in many countries around the world. It's a known and trusted company. Additionally, I've come across many devoted customers online who has been following this company for years and has continuously use their products old and new. When choosing a company to get your car needs, you would want to choose a stable company, a company that has been providing excellent service to customers for a long time.
Buy or not to buy? This is highly recommended to those who regularly use their cars, who constantly expose their cars to dirt, to those who hasn't cleaned their vehicles for a long time and to those who wants to keep their vehicles clean and look new.
It is alright to use detergent to clean your vehicle, but if you want to ensure the longevity of your car you would want to use this product.
There are many similar products out there, but based on recent researches, Meguiar's is the best at its price. You get this product at a reasonable price and obtain the results you want quickly and without too much scrubbing.