quattroboy Posted September 10, 2004 Report Share Posted September 10, 2004 Might sound a bit odd but I wondered if tooth paste might work as a good cleaner, applied with an old electric tooth brush might be effective on removing stubborn brake dust and tar spots. Would it be too abrasive and remove the lacquer/cause scratching? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russellfray Posted September 10, 2004 Report Share Posted September 10, 2004 Not sure, but it would smell lovely and minty and would help prevent decay and gum disease. Make sure you do it twice a day though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve2 Posted September 10, 2004 Report Share Posted September 10, 2004 [ QUOTE ] Not sure, but it would smell lovely and minty and would help prevent decay and gum disease. Make sure you do it twice a day though. [/ QUOTE ] and wash off with mouthwash for a complete finish, not sure what you would use the dental floss for though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted September 10, 2004 Report Share Posted September 10, 2004 Have you not heard of wheel cleaner? Not sure the alloy would take too kindly to fluoride! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleanimage Posted September 11, 2004 Report Share Posted September 11, 2004 I know I have slagged off the use of peanut butter in the past, but certain household products do work. You can use white vinigar, baking soda, lemon juice... and yes, toothpaste does work on metalwear in certain circumstances. For painted alloy wheels however, I would use an alloy wheel cleaner. And for metalwear, there are metal pastes which are far more effective the tooth pastes. ...still, I believe there might be a tube of colgate in a cupboard somewhere at Clean Image. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleanimage Posted September 11, 2004 Report Share Posted September 11, 2004 btw. I know that many detailers in America use electric toothbrushes. Being American, they have to deal with a lot more chrome than we do, and with their dryer climate, there are a lot more vintage cars on the road. An electric toothbrush is a great aid for cleaning all the little crivices on a chrome grill... which lets face it, on an American car is gonna be the size of a british family saloon! Not a job I would want to undertake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russellfray Posted September 11, 2004 Report Share Posted September 11, 2004 You sound like those two women on "how clean is your house" or whatever it's called. You know the program - where they go in to a dirty house and clean it using lemon juice, vinegar, toothpaste etc instead of using "proper" cleaning products. Buy some alloy wheel cleaner For stubborn stains, buy some "stubbon stain alloy wheel cleaner" or equivalent product. Don't go sticking toothpaste/peanut butter or whatever on your car, if they worked better than the commercial cleaning products, then the cleaning companies would be selling them as cleaning products wouldn't they Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markpaq Posted September 11, 2004 Report Share Posted September 11, 2004 FWIW sugar soap is brilliant at cleaning alloys, it goes through brake dust residue like you wouldn't believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russellfray Posted September 11, 2004 Report Share Posted September 11, 2004 I will get my fluffy pink marigold's out and give it a try, when I run out of alloy wheel cleaner, which works pretty well too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rommel Posted September 12, 2004 Report Share Posted September 12, 2004 blimey, I already get funny looks from the neighbours using wax that smells like banana's - it'd be funny as to see their faces when I'm on me hands and knees by the side of me car with a tube of colgate and a toothbrush! Wouldn't you have to use loads of it to do each wheel as well?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emm3 Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 I put my wheels in the dishwasher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 LOL I'll suggest that one to GF. BTW, not knowing 'sugar soap' I looked it up, and came acrosse this: "Not suitable for use on aluminium and brass surfaces" So you may want to be careful wit that on unpainted wheels... linky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quattroboy Posted September 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 The reason I'm looking for a more 'domestic' alternative is that I've been disappointed by 'proper' cleaners in the past. I might give the sugar soap a try; using it on an area that isn't easy to see first. Finding alternative uses for household objects/cleaners is what made this country great! Oh, and not reading the manual Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markpaq Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 Sugar Soap = Tetra Potassium Pyrophosphate, Fatty Alcohol Ethoxylate Sven, It's normally used here in the UK in a neat or diluted form to wash and prepare painted surfaces prior to re-painting. I appreciate what you've said about using it on Aluminium and Brass but when I've used it in the past it's usually been a quick spray and rub with a brush then rinsed off immediately with water. I'd never leave it on the wheels (or rubber) for any length of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drpellypo Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 I just use the Megs all purpose cleaner. Found it much better than the actual wheel cleaner (which ran out really really quickly) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gren Posted September 17, 2004 Report Share Posted September 17, 2004 drpelly, Try the Wheel Brightener from Megs. Comes in gallon bottles and you dilute it. All for around £25 from Bushy. Had mine for a year and am about 1/4 of the way through it. I'd have gone through 6 lots of Hot Rims by now - £40 worth! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 apparently WD40 is the business for cleaning off tar!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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