CHROME CLEANING & MAINTENANCE GUIDE
To ensure you get many years of enjoyment from your wheels or parts, there are a few common concerns that we wish to address. Cleaning and maintenance are important when maintaining your chrome finish.
How do I maintain Chrome?
In order to maintain your chrome-plated wheels wash them on a weekly basis with mild soap and water. To prevent spotting make sure that the wheels are cool. It is also important to remember that absolutely no ammonia-based or acid cleaning solutions on the wheels or the tires.
You might want to try using a light coat of car wax on the wheels to decrease the number of surface contaminants sticking to the wheel. Better yet, a quality wheel wax with a sealant may be applied about once every two or three months.
What not to use to clean Chrome finishes
Under no circumstance should you ever use steel wool to clean chrome wheels or any other of our finishes. Failure to do so will result in damage to your wheels or parts.
How often do I need to polish and clean my Chrome Wheels?
Periodically polish your wheels with a non-abrasive chrome polish (available at most retail parts locations), extra work will be necessary to bring your wheels back to its original luster if you allow them to dull too far. The number of times you polish your wheels will also depend on certain circumstances.
- Very little polishing will be required for chrome wheels as long as you wash them regularly.
- Weather conditions
- How often you wash the wheels with soap and water.
- How often you use your vehicle.
- How close you are to the ocean
Can I run my Chrome Wheels in the snow?
It is strongly recommended that the wheels not be used on roads where salt is used. Salt and deicers will surface pit the wheel. If you have to use the wheels under these conditions, immediately wash them. If the wheels pit due to neglect, there is no warranty. We recommend if you live in an area where you will need to run your wheels through the snow, that you consider CalChrome Clear as your finish of choice.
Are there any special care needs because I live near the ocean?
See all above instructions plus you’ll need to take extra care to wash more frequently to remove salts that are in the air from the onshore flow near the ocean. Any build up of brake dust along with residue from coastal climate can damage the finish. We recommend a quality wheel wax with sealant, applied once per month when living near the ocean.
Rule of thumb
If unsure of how to clean and maintain your wheels or parts, use only cleaning products and waxes you would use on the hood of the vehicle to clean and maintain its painted surface.
Black Chrome Maintenance
Just like a clear coat on your vehicles paint, proper care must be taken to maintain the clear coat on CalChrome Clear and Black Chrome finished wheels. Just as you would wash a clear-coated vehicle with a constant supply of clean fresh water, CalChrome Clear and Black Chrome finished wheels must be washed with plenty of fresh, flowing water. Contaminants such as brake dust or dirt may scratch the wheel if they are wiped from the clear coat without the presence of fresh water. Clean, unused, high-quality micro-fiber towels are recommended for any wiping down of the wheels surface finish.
Read more about Black Chrome.
Fusion Powder Coating Maintenance
Just like the paint on the hood of your vehicle, fusion coat has a clear top coat applied, and proper care must be taken during normal cleaning. Just as you would wash a clear-coated vehicle with a constant supply of clean fresh water, Fusion Coated wheels must be washed with plenty of fresh, flowing water. Contaminants such as brake dust or dirt may scratch the wheel if they are wiped from the clear-coat without the presence of fresh water. Clean, unused, high-quality micro-fiber towels are recommended for any wiping down of the wheels surface finish.
Read more about how care for a Powder Coat Finish here.
After Cleaning
After cleaning, a coat of protective wax that is “Clear Coat Safe” will help to preserve the finish. If minor scratches do occur, they may be removed by using a high-quality surface scratch remover that is “Clear Coat Safe”.
- NEVER use chrome polish or any metal polishes that have abrasives.
- NEVER spray cold water on hot or warm wheels, this can result in damaging the appearance permanently.
Use caution around automatic car washes, due to their use of bristle brushes or acidic preparations that are used to remove wheel soils.
