rim cleaner

[uforgot]

I'd like to know what everyone cleans their rims with. I can't seem to get them shiny and completely "black" free. I've used degreaser, chrome polish, and tons of other stuff and I'm just not satisfied.

[tulip]

Don't use greasy stuff, like WD40 or polish--your brakepads will not be able to grip and you will not be able to stop.

Have you tried soap and water? My rims on my Luna are black, so I don't have this problem. Or is it that they just seem black because I've never cleaned them ?? I'll have to go check.

Would Pedro's bike wash work? Or Simple Green? Rinse well and no polish or oily stuff!

[redrhodie]

I use denatured alcohol. Works great, the rims look new when I use it. I'm careful not to get it on the carbon fiber fork and stays, just because I don't know if will be damaging. Better safe than sorry.

[indysteel]

I use denatured alcohol. Works great, the rims look new when I use it. I'm careful not to get it on the carbon fiber fork and stays, just because I don't know if will be damaging. Better safe than sorry.

+1. It also doesn't leave any residue.

I put it in a spray bottle, which makes cleaning pretty easy.

[newfsmith]

Rubbing alcohol with a "magic eraser" pad followed by a clean rag moistened with more rubbing alcohol.

[Kalidurga]

I use rubbing alcohol. I'm not as concerned with getting off the black smudges as I am with keeping them squeal-free. Would denatured alcohol work better for that?

[OakLeaf]

+1 for rubbing alcohol. The higher concentration (90%?) leaves less residue.

I try to keep it off the tires though. I worry that it will degrade the tires. Don't know if it will, but it just seems like it might.

[Kalidurga]

+1 for rubbing alcohol. I try to keep it off the tires though. I worry that it will degrade the tires.

I've always made the same assumption. Since it has a drying effect, it seems it would dry out the rubber. When I have time, I remove the tires before cleaning the rims. Better safe (or anal? ) than sorry.

[uforgot]

I just want to post my thanks. These are the things I want to hear!

[tulip]

My rims are black, as are my spokes. Whew! I'll try the alcohol on my Bike Friday and my Jamis.

[MomOnBike]

You know, it just occured to me that alcohol prep pads, you know, what the nurse swabs your skin with before s/he pokes you would work just fine for this. I'd bet your local drug store would have them right beside the diabetes supplies.

[aicabsolut]

soap and water

if it's really bad, magic eraser followed by soap and water (the erasers leave a white residue)

[kt004]

Steel wool and SimpleGreen... they look brand new when you're done.

[Kalidurga]

Here's what Uncle Al has to say on this subject in RoadBikeRider.com's Current Newsletter (10/30/08):

Black marks can show up on anyone's rims. They're no problem unless you don't like the look. They're caused by the brake pad compound transferring to the rim surface.

Black marks can easily be removed with fine steel wool, the kind a furniture maker would use to smooth a wood surface. Wipe the rim and tire sidewall well after using steel wool. You don't want any particles getting into the brake pads.

Acetone works well too, but it's nasty stuff. Wear protective gloves and make sure the area is well ventilated. And don't get any on the brake pads, tires or any other rubber or plastic you don't want to melt.

He goes on to talk about rim scoring, so the full article is definitely worth reading. (I think the link above will only work until next week's newsletter comes out)

[OakLeaf]

ScotchBrite is softer than steel wool, doesn't leave the black residue, and any residue it does leave is less likely to become embedded in the brake pads or tires. It's what we use on the motorcycles for cleaning old gaskets off engine sealing surfaces, getting threadlocker off fasteners, etc. - never steel wool.