If shoes make the man, then do tires and rims make the car? Detailing professionals think so! A car’s wheels are one of the central places potential customers and car show judges immediately look, but are often overlooked in cleaning. If you want to know how to add an extra edge and brighten up your career in the automotive industry, a good place to start is by learning how to really brighten up cars and wheels. Auto detailing is a trade that is incredibly important because a fully spotless and detailed car can raise its value substantially, and knowing how to make this happen can raise your value as an auto body specialist substantially as well.Keep reading to get three pro tips for how auto body specialists give wheels and tires that showroom finish!
What Tools Do Professional Automotive Detailing Grads Use on Wheels?
Cleaning wheels takes some scrubbing; there is no way around that. But the right type of brush can save you the headache of being stuck scrubbing your wheels with a toothbrush. Having a large brush to begin a general scrub of the rims is a good start. Smaller brushes are important for detail work, like a lug nut brush for those annoying bolt areas.
It is also important to have brushes with varying bristle softness. Those interested in professional automotive detailing want to have an arsenal of brushes that include both hard and soft bristles. Use soft bristles when the rim doesn’t have thick grime, and harder bristles for those hard-to-polish areas. Lastly, if you find your bristles are a tad too abrasive on a client’s rims, try soaking your brushes in your wash bucket for a few minutes prior to cleaning the rim in order to soften the bristles.
Auto Detailing Pros Always Give Their Wheel Cleaning Product Time to Soak In
When training in auto detailing, make sure when you spray car rims with cleaning product that you give them plenty of time to soak prior to scrubbing. This gives the product time to break down the grease, road grime, and break dust that is often found on car rims.
Brake dust comes from brake pads as they are squeezed together over your wheel’s rotors and emit fragments and particles that eventually work their way into all the little nooks and crannies of the rim. Brake dust takes some time and effort to remove, so let your cleaner sit for at least 3 minutes. To speed things up, why not scrub and wash the rubber tire while the cleaner soaks on the rims?
Students Completing Auto Detailing Training Know How to Wax Wheels Well
Generally, there are two types of waxes that can be used on rims during auto detailing; synthetic waxes and natural ones, like carnauba wax. Synthetic waxes will last longer than carnauba wax because synthetic waxes are manufactured specifically to withstand the heat and harsh conditions of heavy driving.
Waxes are used on rims to prevent brake dust from really invading the area. It provides a layer of extra protection that ultimately makes cleaning in the future much easier by not letting the brake dust really ‘sink in’ to the rim. Apply a light layer of wax after your rims are cleaned and dry to ensure an easy clean next time—and, more importantly, to ensure that your client’s eyes light up when they walk into the garage!
Think you can benefit from the best auto detailing training in the industry?
Contact an advisor at ATC now and begin to polish your skills!
