Wheels first or last??

[db]

Had a right ding dong debate at work today about when you should wash your wheels...
Before or after the bodywork?

I personally do mine first (but apparently thats just plain stupid!)

When does everyone do theirs?

 

[Craig]

i do them last

 

[Keano]

why does it matter? as long as u dont contaminate the water/sponge/mitt

 

[maximinimus]

Before of course, why would you want to get brake dust all over the bodywork after you have cleaned it?

I normally do them whilst some wash&wax foam is soaking on the bodywork

 

[db]

It doesn't matter, just curious. I use seperate water/products to the body anyway.

 

[Jonff]

I do my bodywork 1st, then my wheels. Always done it it that way, no particular reason, could be a touch of O.C.D.

 

[db]

Before of course, why would you want to get brake dust all over the bodywork after you have cleaned it?

I normally do them whilst some wash&wax foam is soaking on the bodywork

Exactly! How do those who do them last not get nasty water spots all over the bodywork from it drying? Keep spraying water to keep it wet?

 

[Jordi17]

Do my wheels first, get them out of the way like. If not, i end up getting water/suds on the polished paintwork...

 

[DrR]

First

 

[Henry]

this is the kind of thing that turns into an epic multi-page discussion on DW S). how can it matter whether you wash your car's wheels before or after the bodywork? use a different bucket and don't pour it over the car after you've done the wheels?

 

[db]

I feel a poll coming on!

 

[alex-avfc]

Forget having dirt from scrubbing the wheels splashing up your clean paint lol, stick with doing it the way you are!

 

[maximinimus]

this is the kind of thing that turns into an epic multi-page discussion on DW S). how can it matter whether you wash your car's wheels before or after the bodywork? use a different bucket and don't poor it over the car after you've done the wheels?

Because if you clean your wheels properly with a brush s**t goes everywhere

 

[db]

Forget having dirt from scrubbing the wheels splashing up your clean paint lol, stick with doing it the way you are!

I am dude! Had the whole office against me like I was some sort of weird freak today!

 

[rbolton]

bodywork first the wheels.

 

[Keano]

sorry db. i wasn't having a go.

i always jet wash over the whole car + wheels when im done so i guess thats gets rid of all the dirt being flung around. so doesnt matter either way

 

[Vish]

I was the bodywork then the wheels.

Soak the wheels with brake dust remover for a few minutes whilst I start washing the bodywork, rinse the wheels then continue washing the bodywork. Rinse car, wash wheels with a sponge (wool mitt for the bodywork) and then dry the car. Any polishing/waxing etc happens after this.

Don't know if this is "right" but it works for me.

 

[Fletcher]

Last normally.

 

[Paul.]

always last. Why clean them and then let the dirty water from the bodywork drip all over them?:S

 

[Andyman]

I usually wash the body first then tip the left over water from that into a different bucket and do the wheels.

 

[The Boosh!]

First. Then its not an arse cleaning/jet washing arch linings trying to avoid a polished car. Seal them last.

 

[Inferno]

I'm no cleaning expert, but the Auto Gylm guide that came with a washing kits says do them first. Don't care why.

 

[Tay]

Do mine first then wash car from top down, always have done.

I use different kit to do wheels so makes no odds.

 

[RussZS]

I always do mine first, to avoid water drying on paint on warmer days, and splashing from the wheels/arches onto clean paintwork.

Totally separate brushes, buckets etc too.

EZ Brush, Swissvax Brush and some Bilberry and you're sorted, with some Megs Super Degreaser for your tyres and arches (or Surfex HD)

 

[Nick_P]

First, then i rub all the grit over the paint with a massive sponge.

 

[DrR]

always last. Why clean them and then let the dirty water from the bodywork drip all over them?:S

Because i'd rather have the dirty water from my paintwork drip onto the wheels (which i'd hose off anyway after) than have the nasty brake dust etc from my wheels go onto my just cleaned unprotected paintwork.

 

[Daniel]

If I'm at work with all the kit, then I do them first.

If Im at home with a bucket and sponge, the last.

I'm a bit OCD though.

 

[jimbo666]

first for me too with seperate bucket and water. i usually use a cheap shampoo on them and a sponge.

the body is a whole different story though

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

Dont think it makes a difference. I tend to do them last, just out of habit.

 

[adamlewis01]

i do mine last. Dont want to be rubbing s**t all over my paintwork off my wheels.

 

[Reyes]

Last.

 

[Ali]

I do them last...But pro's do them first...Different buckets so it doesn't really matter.

 

[clio_luke]

i always do the wheels first. otherwise all the crap from the dirty wheels will go all over the car i have just cleaned.
and by the time the wheels are clean, spots of dried water will apear on the paintwork.

 

[JD]

i use separate products and procedures. so i do them when i want to tbh. if i snow foam (which recently i do pretty much everytime) i will wash the wheels while the snow foam is doing its job. then spray off wheels at the same time as the snow foam.

jamie

 

[Iceberg_172]

i wash my car from top to bottom so the wheels will come last with a seperate sponge. then i rinse the whole thing in a oner

 

[pinky]

last..as they gather the most crap.

 

[dajones]

i do the wheels last while the bodywork is trying so once ive done the wheels i can move onto trim dressing polish wax whatever

 

[theduck]

I do mine last. I clean and dry the body work first then wash the wheels.

 

[maximinimus]

You can tell who is and who isn't a detailer on this thread

 

[theduck]

i use separate products and procedures. so i do them when i want to tbh. if i snow foam (which recently i do pretty much everytime) i will wash the wheels while the snow foam is doing its job. then spray off wheels at the same time as the snow foam.

jamie

Tis a good shout that actually... Might do that if I do them at the weekend