Chrome wheels are a nice touch to upgrade the appearance of any vehicle but without proper care, over time, these rims will rust. The longer the rust is left to sit on the chrome, the more damage it causes and the closer you are to needing to rechrome the rims, which can be a costly endeavor. The sooner you take care of the rust, the easier it will be to remove and the less likely the process will be to cause damage to the surface chrome. Abrasive techniques although effective, are a last resort in order to protect the finish from scratching and further surface damage.
- Skill level:
- Moderate
Instructions
Things you need
- Microfiber Cloth
- Mild Soap
- Water
- Auto Wax
- Chrome Polish
- Fine Steel Wool Pad
- Fine Jewelry Polish
- Soft Towels
-
1
Wash the wheel with mild soap and dry completely. Make sure to remove any brake dust or dirt so that you can see the rust clearly. You should also clean the wheels themselves at this point to ensure that the chrome stays clean throughout the rust removal process.
-
2
Read the instructions on your brand of automotive wax and apply it to the rim as directed. Use a soft cloth to apply the wax over the rust and rub hard in those areas. This should help remove some of the surface rust, polish off the wax, and then dry the rim.
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3
Inspect the remaining rust; waxing the rim should have removed most, if not all, of it if you have been keeping the rims in good condition. If the rims have not been tended to in a while, there may still be some left behind.
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4
Use a chrome or fine jewelry polish applied with a fine cloth to remove the next layer of rust making sure to follow the application directions for your brand exactly. If the polish takes care of the problem, rewax the chrome and you are done. If it appears that the polish isn't working or that it isn't getting all of the rust off, then you will need a more abrasive method.
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5
Apply chrome polish to a steel wool pad and gently rub at the rusted areas. Take special care to try not to rub the wool across areas not affected by the rust, as it can scratch and damage the finish in other areas. Let the polish dry on the wheel after the rust is removed and wipe it off with a soft cloth.
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6
Buff out minor nicks or scratches that you may have caused when using the wool pad and rewax the rims. The rust should be gone and the rims should appear restored.
Tips and warnings
- Use the steel wool as a last resort to protect the chrome finish. Mistakes with this method could leave you needing new rims or rechroming.
