Chrome techs driving me nuts!

[Jason E]

Ok, I had posted awhile back that when I put the chrome techs away for the winter, they were dirty. As it turned out, all of them were stained when I put them back on. So I used chrome polish (against my better judgement, because these are plastic after all), and they came out perfect. Now, we had some snow last week, and the sand and salt was sitting on them for a few days...now they're stained again!!! Wtf? I thought chrome techs were supposed to be easy to keep clean? Under normal circumstances, they're fine...but I can't believe they stained again after one snowstorm!

Is it ok to polish these with chrome polish again, and pray we get no more snow? Next year, I'll leave the snows on until May for sure! Would waxing them help? Thanks for any thoughts/opinions.

[Not2OLD]

I have the same issue with mine....when they are clean, they can almost blind you....but they get a weird kind of dirty and they look like doo-doo !

I would be careful of the chrome polish, unless is states on the product that it's safe for plated plastics, it can contain some abrasive agents that wouldn't hurt the plating on metal, but might damage the plastic plating.

[Nikki]

I never had any problems with mine.

Besides normal "all wheel type" cleaner, I used Windex...and believe it or not, it worked better than any other wheel cleaner!

[SilverEcstasy]

Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish. Apply, let sit for a minute, buff off and you're good to go.

[The Old Guy]

Originally posted by Nikki
I never had any problems with mine.

Besides normal "all wheel type" cleaner, I used Windex...and believe it or not, it worked better than any other wheel cleaner!

Another Windex user!!! Works great!!! Also works for poison ivy, bee stings, rashes, mosquito bites.........

I also use the Mothers.....the wheels are blinding after it!!! For a quickie over the whole car, including the wheels, you can't beat Mequir's Quik Detailer.....I've tried 'em all.....the other ones streak

[koolZ71]

i have used turtle wax chrome polish for almost 2 years now no problems yet

[Jagey]

All the stains on mine comes off easy with only a dry towel. I have never used a cleaning product on them and they still constantly blind me with shine

[Jason E]

Well, I have the Turtle Wax chrome polish at home somewhere...this should be ok I take it?

I thought the ammonia in Windex was bad for them? I used Glass Plus on them before the first time I polished them, and it didn't make a damn bit of difference...

[The Old Guy]

Originally posted by Jason E
Well, I have the Turtle Wax chrome polish at home somewhere...this should be ok I take it?

I thought the ammonia in Windex was bad for them? I used Glass Plus on them before the first time I polished them, and it didn't make a damn bit of difference...

I actually never gave the ammonia much thought....you're probably right.

Mine looked great when they were new, but after the winter we had here in Ohio they looked pretty dull between the spokes. I used Mother's on them and they look like new. I usually hit them with the Mequir's Quik Detailer after I wash the car and they look great.

[Nikki]

Originally posted by Jason E
I thought the ammonia in Windex was bad for them?

The whole time I had my chrometechs on, I NEVER had any problems with Windex, I dunno whether it was ammonia free or what, just the regular Windex, I thought...and after all, its just a plastic cover piece.

[SteveGT1]

I have a bit of brake dust on mine from the winter and lack of cleaning. I will run a small bit of autosol on them, takes the dirt right off. Guys does your chrome techs make noise when the tire rotates??? I think I'm gonna pitch them in the trash!

[The Old Guy]

Originally posted by SteveGT1
Guys does your chrome techs make noise when the tire rotates??? I think I'm gonna pitch them in the trash!

No noise from mine....but they're not a year old yet. That could change....

[zegoldfish]

I sit down with some Windex and some shop towels and give 'em a good once-over. It's like having mirrors on my tires.

[GTFrenzied]

I use Meguiar's Hot Rims(z)? to clean my Chromtechs and they come out great and clean great with just a spray and a little elbow grease.

[Panacea]

Just use windex to clean, then put on some wax or zaino. Problem solved

[intrepidtek]

I have the PERFECT cleaning solution to get the stains off--it took mine off perfectly last week--I wouldn't recommend anything else, and it isn't any work.

Go to Wal-Mart and get NEVER-DULL. It is sold in the automotive and it comes in a stainless steel, shiny container. It is like cotton and you apply it, the can will last forever and its only like 4 bucks.

I am telling you, there are so many cleaning agents, polishes, whatever, but this one has worked best by far.

Let me know how it works for you.

[Gimli]

I just tried Windex (I'm a Turtle Wax chrome polish user) and I must say I was very impressed.

It doesn't clean quite as well as chrome polish but for a quick fix just before hitting the road it works great.

When I want a thorough clean I still use the TW chrome polish and a coat of NU Finish after that.

I have the Chrome Techs on my car too and I have never had any trouble with mine at all but I guess mine has only been through 1 winter and its been stored for the other 2 but... that 1 winter was a pretty harsh one (it's Iowa, what do you expect?)!!!

Originally posted by Gimli
When I want a thorough clean I still use the TW chrome polish and a coat of NU Finish after that.

Well... I dont know how well your wheels look because I guess I have never tried the polishing and then the waxing because usually most people say that you are supposed to wax before you polish and thats what I do with mine and mine are spotless! I wish that I could find where I was reading about the waxing/polishing steps but I cant remember where I saw that but every professional that I've ever talked to has said to wax then polish because the wax is a protective coating and then the polish is just something that is supposed to make them shine. Another thing is that you shouldnt have to wax them everytime you want to polish them. I usually only wax mine about once every 6-8 months but I polish them quite often (about once every 2 weeks) Im sure that most of you are thinking that I'm crazy for spending that much time on my wheels but I have a really quick way of doing it and thats with a Dremel tool and the little polishing pads, it works really smooth and really fast too.

Well... thats what I do with my Chrome Techs and as I said I've never had any problems and they are still brand new looking (maybe even a little better looking than brand new looking )!!!

If anyone has any further questions feel free to email me.

Jayson

[XMBlackGT1]

Originally posted by Nikki
I never had any problems with mine.

Besides normal "all wheel type" cleaner, I used Windex...and believe it or not, it worked better than any other wheel cleaner!

I second that- Windex has done wonders for my chrome techs and my chrome exhaust tips. I go out every weekend and atack the wheels and tips with windex- when I am done, they will blind you. I have never tried wheel cleaners on the chrome techs. I was told when i bought my first grand am, many years ago, that the wheel cleaners were not good for the chrome tech rims. later- shawn

[MaceDew]

Never Dull and Maquires after, rims stay clean, brright clean, for almost 2 weeks. That includes rain and lots of road construction.