I am a girl and I like things to look pretty. When I first got my Easton wheels, they were a nice shiny silver (alloy?) and now they have finger prints, dirt, grease, etc on them from everyday use. Is there a way to clean them? I am afraid to use anything like Fantastic or something similar for fear that I’ll do some damage. Simple soap and water doesn’t seem to do the trick - the dirt, etc. still remains. Anyone have these wheels? I just want them to look new again.
Here is what they look like (except they are the new Eastons, not Velomax - same wheel, different label).
Take 'em outside. First, spray down the rims, hubs (careful!) and cassette with Simple Green. It comes concentrated- dilute it 2:1 water:Simple Green. Let the wheels sit for a minute. Now rinse them off with a hose. Again, be careful about the hubs. Don’t use high pressure or you risk getting water into your bearings. Now use soap and water to clean the wheels. I use a car sponge, a brush for the cassette, and a rag. First I go over the rims/tires/braking surfaces with the sponge. Get in between the spokes. Pay special attention to the braking surfaces. Next I use the cog brush on the cassette to make it shiny. Lastly, I go over each individual spoke/nipple with the rag. The rear drive-side spokes get especially dirty because of chain lube and grime. Once you’re done scrubbing, rinse the wheels off and let 'em dry.
citrus degreaser from the autoparts store works well and is less toxic than mineral spirits. don’t buy the aluminum wheel cleaner as that has caustic chemical that can cause corrosion if left on aluminum parts too long. I bought a big jug and a couple of spray bottles. undiluted it will clean your chain and drivetrain and diluted 5:1 or 10:1 will clean the rest of your bike. It’s the same stuff that you get at the bike shop on a fraction of the price.
