This weekend, I made an amazing discovery. The rims on my wife’s car looked terrible. The silver wheels had a rust coating over 30% of the surface. But, I discovered a way to make the rims look like new in about 15 minutes!
How to remove stubborn brake dust from wheels? Spray a fallout remover, such as Iron X, onto the rusty parts of the wheel. Leave the solution on the wheels for 5 minutes. Watch the rust particles turn purple. Then, wash the purple from the wheels using a damp cloth, pressure washer, or wet sponge. Then, stand back and be amazed. The secret to my discovery is listed below.
Fallout removers are designed to remove ferrous specs from your paint. These ferrous specs create orange spots on your paint. They also create those nasty brown stains on your rims. Scrubbing your rims with your favorite car wash soap and sponge will not make these stains fade. Before you become frustrated, try a fallout cleaner, such as Iron X.
In my experience, Iron X removed the stains from my rims in five minutes! Take a look at the before and after pictures. My rims look like brand new! The rust stains are gone! I can’t believe it! I scrubbed the stains with a sponge. I used a 2500 psi pressure washer. Neither removed the stains. However, five minutes of Iron X and the rims shined like new! I’m stunned….
I’ve used name brand wheel cleaners in the past. I’ve even used aluminum cleaners that I bought from reputable auto parts stores. However, neither of these cleaners actually removed the brake dust stains from my rims. At best, the cleaners faded the stains. I’ve never actually had the material be fully removed until I tried Iron X today.
What causes brake dust stains on wheels?
Brake dust stains are caused by tiny ferrous (iron) particles that originate from the use of your brakes. These tiny ferrous particles will bond to your wheel surfaces. Certain parts of your rims will attract these tiny particles due to proximity to the brake pads and aerodynamics on and around the wheel features.
The stains that you see on your wheels are actually iron oxide, aka rust. The iron specs will react with oxygen and appear as rust stains on your wheels. These rust stains appear as though they have physically changed the surface of the wheel. Fortunately, these stains can be removed.
When you slow your car by applying the brakes, the brake pads will squeeze against the steel brake rotor or drum. Both brake drums and brake rotors are made of cast iron. Also, brake pads are made of mostly ferrous components. So, both the rotors/discs and the brake pads are generating these tiny iron particles that float through the air. Some of these particles stick to your wheels. Other particles will stick to your paint. If you have a white or light color car, you’ve probably noticed tiny orange spots on your paint.
How to use Iron X to remove rust stains from wheels?
The steps to apply Iron X are pretty simple. It’s basically a process of “spray it on and wash it off”. However, the directions state:
Directions:
Washing the surface of the vehicle first is a good way to identify all of the stubborn orange spots and rust specs. Not only will you help the Iron X concentrate on only the remaining particles on the surface (rust particles) but it will also increase your WOW factor as you become as amazed as I was after applying Iron X to my wheels!
Shake the bottle and spray evenly across the surface of the vehicle. Spray an even layer. Then spray a second layer. It doesn’t’ take much to remove the orange spots or the rust stains. But, you’ll want to be sure that an adequate amount of Iron X has been applied to remove all rust stains and ferrous specs.
Wait 3-5 minutes. You’ll notice that the Iron X is reacting with the iron oxide and ferrous particles. The solution turns purple. The purple color intensifies as you approach five minutes.
After five minutes, remove the iron X you applied to your wheels or paint. The directions state” Rub in with damp soft sponge.” I’ve used a 2500 psi pressure washer to remove Iron X. I’ve also used a car washing sponge and a damp towel. My favorite method is to use a soaking wet car washing sponge to do a quick rinse/wash of the material from the paint or wheels. Then, use the pressure washer to rinse any remaining purple liquid from creases and corners of the paint or wheels. Then, finally, a damp or wet towel to remove all remaining material. This method has resulted in a great removal of orange spots or stained wheels.
Is it safe to use Iron X on your wheels?
Yes. Iron X is designed to remove orange spots from your paint. The paint on your car is softer and more sensitive than the wheels or rims on your car. Follow the directions on the bottle of Iron X and you’ll be fine.
Where can I get Iron X?
There are a half a dozen distributors for Iron X in North America. Maybe more. Specialized detailing stores will carry Iron X. But, honestly, it’s just easier for me to buy Iron X on Amazon. Here’s a link to the bottle I bought on Amazon.
Which fallout remover is my favorite?
There are several fall out cleaners available. I researched this before I bought Iron X. After watching countless YouTube videos and reading dozens of product reviews, I decided to buy Iron X. Perhaps I’ll try other fall out removers in the future, but, at this point…..why bother. This stuff works.
Will Iron X damage my wheels?
Iron X is not on your vehicle long enough to damage the wheels or paint. Although the Safety Data Sheet for Iron X explains that Iron X is “corrosive to metals”, it is not likely to cause any damage if it is used as explained in the directions.
What else might I need to apply Iron X safely?
Safety glasses, nitrile gloves, and a damp sponge are the essential items according to the Iron X label and Safety Data Sheet. You don’t want to get any type of fallout remover in your eyes. The active ingredient in fallout removers (ammonium mercaptoacetate) can cause serious damage to your eyes. Nitrile rubber gloves protect your skin from the sensitizer ingredients. The damp sponge is necessary to remove the Iron X after the five minute treatment is complete.
There are a few optional items that I use when applying Iron X. These are not essential, but, I think they make the job easier and make the work look better. I added Amazon links to my Resource Page for convenience:
2500 psi pressure washer, spare towels, and spongy car washing mitt.
The 2500 psi pressure washer helps to force the loosened iron particles from the surface of the paint. I like to use the pressure washer before the sponge because I’m concerned that the tiny iron particles could scratch my paint when I run the damp sponge across the painted surface of the car. Also, the volume of water from the pressure washer will remove any purple liquid that has seeped into cracks and crevices on the surface of the car, such as behind logo’s or door handles. This is an Amazon link to the pressure washer that I use.
Spongy car washing mitts are a great alternative to “a damp sponge” listed in the Iron X directions. These mits will hold a lot of water, which helps to flush away any particles that may have been loosened by the Iron X treatment. I like this spongy car washing mitt. Not sure where my wife bought it, but I found one like it on Amazon.
Spare towels are helpful as well. I like to towel dry my car or truck after washing. So, I have a few of these old towels lying around for this purpose. You can get these cheap at a department store if you happen to catch a sale. The towels dampen from the water left as the car dries. The towels provide some mechanical means to remove any stubborn spots left behind. In my experience, I’ve found that Iron X does all the “heavy lifting” of spot removal. But, I feel better if I use the towel for one last rub to be sure all orange spots have been removed!