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If you’ve noticed your wheels are looking grimy and dirty, you’re likely not just seeing the dirt that’s collected during drives. Rather, you’re probably seeing the results of all of your braking on the road — black dust that’s tough to remove and tends to stick into the nooks and crannies around your rims. That dust, brake dust, is impossible to avoid as it’s created every time you slow or stop while you’re behind the wheel. And while it’s released in small amounts, over time all that dust can really build up. The best way to remove it? Employ the help of a brake dust cleaner, a cleaning solution that’s specifically formulated to fight those unsightly deposits and restore your shining, clean rims with a little elbow grease.
Summary List
Best Overall: Armor All Heavy Duty Wheel and Tire Cleaner Foam
Best Budget: Blaster Non-Chlorinated Brake Cleaner Spray
Honorable Mention: Eagle One All Wheel & Tire Triple Cleaning Foam Spray
Best pH-Balanced: Griot’s Garage Heavy-Duty Wheel Cleaner
Best Non-Acidic: Mothers Foaming Wheel & Tire Cleanser
Best Heavy-Duty: Armor All Extreme Wheel & Tire Cleaner
Our Methodology
I chose the best brake dust cleaners by searching for products that were tough on brake dust deposits and gentle on your car’s finishes and metal surfaces. I sought out cleaning products formulated to tackle iron, which changes color as they break down iron molecules. However, I also considered cleaning products that were labeled nontoxic and low-VOC, as well as safe for a variety of finishes, wheels, and paints. The products that became my top picks are those that user reviews mentioned worked effectively, efficiently, and without much difficulty. From foaming to spray-and-wipe, these cleaners include every variety you can shop.
Best Brake Dust Cleaner Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall
Armor All Heavy Duty Wheel and Tire Cleaner Foam
Best Value
Blaster Non-Chlorinated Brake Cleaner Spray
Honorable Mention
Eagle One All Wheel & Tire Triple Cleaning Foam Spray
Best pH-Balanced
Griot’s Garage Heavy-Duty Wheel Cleaner
Best Non-Acidic
Mothers Foaming Wheel & Tire Cleanser
Best Heavy-Duty
Armor All Extreme Wheel & Tire Cleaner
Our Verdict
When it comes to ease of use and effectiveness, even in the face of seriously stuck-on brake dust, a bottle of Armor All Heavy Duty Wheel and Tire Cleaner Foam is one of the best allies you can have. For even more value and the ability to clean brake dust as well as grease, oil, and other contaminants, Blaster Non-Chlorinated Brake Cleaner Spray is another great, value-rich pick.
Things to Consider Before Buying Brake Dust Cleaner
You can find a quality brake dust cleaning product easily, as long as you know what qualities make up the most effective picks. Here’s what to consider and take note of as you shop for a top-tier cleaner.
Types of Brake Dust Cleaners
Iron Removers
The most potent brake dust cleaners are those that are formulated to remove iron. They include ingredients that able to interact with the iron present in brake dust, changing the molecules – and the color of the stuck-on dust itself – so it can be completely broken down and wiped away. These cleaners, because they’re tough, may not be suitable for more delicate rims, like those with a finicky or extra-shiny finish.
Acid-Free and pH-Balanced Cleaners
If you are dealing with more delicate or carefully finished rims, you may want to enlist the help of an acid-free, pH-balanced cleaner. These gentler formulas can still be highly effective at tackling brake dust that’s built up on your rims, but they won’t be harsh enough to strip off your finish or wreck the appearance of your rims. These can also be more eco-friendly formulas; just check the labeling and ingredients if that’s something you want in your acid-free and pH-balanced brake dust cleaner.
Degreasers
Degreasers are often promoted as brake dust cleaners, but their effectiveness can vary based on a product’s exact formula. If a degreaser can’t handle iron, then it may not wholly remove brake dust. And if you are opting for a degreaser to eliminate grease as well as dirt and brake dust, make sure you’re sticking with a wheel and rim degreaser. Other degreasers may not be formulated properly or safely for your rim and wheel components.
Key Features of Brake Dust Cleaners
Applicator or Application Method
Most brake dust cleaning products are easy to apply. These solutions typically feature adjustable spray nozzles or aerosol spray nozzles, allowing you to target your spray and product application. However, you want to make sure you won’t be fighting with the nozzle as you try to get into the nooks and crannies of your rims. The applicator should make it easy to both keep the cleaning solution where it’s meant to go and stay free of issues like clogging and breaking.
Nontoxic and Low-VOC Formula
While some of the toughest brake dust cleaning formulas are, of course, filled with chemicals, it’s possible to find a cleaner that’s both effective and nontoxic. In fact, if you’re working with more delicate rims or a finish that requires special care, you’ll want to shop specifically for a cleaner that’s nontoxic and low-VOC in its formulation. You can find these cleaners pretty easily; they’re available in the same formats as any other brake dust cleaning solution. And overall, they’re safer for paint and other surfaces of your wheels or vehicle exterior that may not do well with harsh VOC-filled alternatives.
Wheel-, Metal-, and Paint-Safe
In addition to taking a look at the ingredients and formulation of any brake dust cleaner, make sure to check how it may affect your car exterior. When you’re spraying this cleaner, it can get everywhere. So, if you’re worried about potential damage or discoloration to your paint, your rim finish, or other car components, opt for one that’s wheel-safe, metal-safe, and paint-safe for all finishes. This can give you peace of mind and allow you to clean up stuck-on brake dust without worrying about where the spray solution winds up.
Brake Dust Cleaner Pricing
On average, you can expect to spend between $5 and $10 for a single bottle of brake dust cleaner. You’ll find spray nozzles, aerosol sprays, and every type under the sun within this affordable price range. If you don’t need a full-size bottle, you can find budget-friendly options for as little as $5 or less. If you want to buy brake dust cleaner in bulk, you can find quart or gallon bottles for $15 to $30, but these are really for those who perform regular cleanings (or are dealing with some seriously stubborn brake dust).
FAQs
You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.
A: In order to fully remove brake dust, you’re going to want to employ the help of a rim-safe, paint-safe iron remover. You want a cleaning formula that can interact with – and break down – iron molecules present in brake dust to completely get rid of it.
A: Vinegar and baking soda is a popular cleaning combo, but it isn’t the most powerful or effective option for eliminating brake dust. It can work on grease, so you can try applying vinegar if you’re seeing a lot of grease buildup on your rims, but you’re better off using a targeted cleaner for brake dust in particular.
A: WD-40 can get rid of oil, grease, and brake dust on your rims, but only if you choose a dedicated WD-40 brake dust cleaning product. Your regular ol’ container of WD-40 may damage components of your wheels, and it’s not the best
A: You shouldn’t use an engine degreaser to clean your brakes or any brake dust. It’s made for a totally different kind of grease, with ingredients that are suited for your engine and not your wheels or rims. Stick with a made-for-brake-dust cleaning solution.
