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Yet another wheel cleaning level, KABOOM bathroom cleaner!!!

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Old Apr 22, 2003 | 08:49 PM
  #1  
'Bahn Burner's Avatar
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Default Yet another wheel cleaning level, KABOOM bathroom cleaner!!!

**UPDATE**
Before reading on, please note that KABOOM is intended to clean winter wheels that have been subjected to severe winter conditions experienced in places where salting & sanding is used daily during the winter months. These conditions cause a staining/yellowing to painted alloy wheels & many other types that is less than pleasant to look at after winter has come and gone. The wheel staining is a combination of the corrosive road grime mixed with brake dust/residue. If you are from these areas of North America, and own winter wheels that have been subjected to this level of filth, than you will want to read on as KABOOM will become an invaluable part of your spring cleaning for winter wheels. IMO, KABOOM is not intended to be a replacement for your normal dirty wheels/summer wheels that can be cleaned perfectly fine with products such as P21S Wheel Cleaner & Wheel Wax, which are both excellent products. Kaboom is an acid (although a very unique one that does not harm painted wheels at all), and reacts with certain metals, and imo, should not be applied on your vehicle.

**Second Update**
I have done some extreme testing with Kaboom to assure you that it is harmless to painted wheels. <a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/detail/msgs/18921.phtml">Click here</a> for more info.

This past winter has left 'Bahn Burners A4 wheels with the worst staining/yellowing I have ever seen! The A4's "Tango" 6 spoke wheels, which I picked up 2+ years ago for winter use have seen 3 NH winters and about 23K miles. They came off the A4 yesterday for Summer, and I wanted to get them stored away with a quickness. Last year they were almost as bad in the Spring and I would rather forget about how much elbow grease it took to get the filth off! I am not talking about brake dust filth either, I'm talking about glued to the clearcoat-rust like stained on filth.

I don't have a before shot of this years devistation on the Tango's (I did a test run with <b>Kaboom</b>, and just got carried away with the cleaning when I realized it was working), but here is a current shot of my S4 Avus wheels.
<img src="http://lh6.google.com/bahnburner/R9F2Synhz2I/AAAAAAAAAVc/zI1-Gc2ZCFY/s800/DSC04191.JPG">
You can kind of get an idea of the staining/yellowing I'm talking about, but these are NOWHERE near the level of filth that the Tangos succumbed to.

I know some of you are laughing...how could such a cheap Wally World product work so well? This is no joke so no flames. I had been brain storming all day on what to use. I know there are many other wonderful products out there that are specifically made for wheel cleaning &amp; probably work just as well for twice the $$, but I'm always looking for the alternative method to the solution...an improviser of many many things.

I decided to check out the bathroom cleaner aisle at Wally World. The staining on the wheels resembled very much the same staining I see in my toilet (the rust stains! :P), so you can see where my improvised reasoning started. There were many good bathroom cleaner products, but I was looking for something without those nasty acid fumes that I'm used to. I picked up a bottle of <b>"KABOOM"</b> Shower, Tub &amp; Tile Cleaner. That's right folks, this aggressive cleaner is from the makers of OXI CLEAN! Here is a description of the product:

<i>Kaboom is a natural, 100% biodegradeable, multi-purpose cleaner that combines the cleaning performance of acids while providing an unprecedented level of safety for users and surfaces. Its foaming cleaning formula clings to horizontal and vertical surfaces, removing hard-to-clean deposits on contact. Yet, its patented technology won't produce toxic fumes or cause burns. Plus it won't pit, streak or blacken metals such as aluminum, making it an attractive alternative to hydrochloric and phosphoric acids.</i>

A note: I used this product with the knowledge that my winter Tango wheels aren't anything special, EVEN THOUGH they turned out perfectly clean. This, like any other chemical can be hazardous to your body, so heed the warnings on the label, and wear dishwashing gloves and goggles. If you use this product on your wheels, you do so through your own volition, and will not hold me liable for any damage to you, or your wheels. Take the wheels off the car when using this product and do a small test run with KABOOM so it doesn't come in contact with brakes, suspension, etc. &amp; do not apply to hot wheels or let KABOOM dry on your paint/clearcoat.

Onto the results...After a small test run, which immediately showed great results, I sprayed <b>KABOOM</b> onto all of the rim surfaces and let it soak on for a good 15 minutes in the cool calm misty night here in NH. I then took my wheel sponge and wiped away the staining quite easily. The nooks &amp; crannys were a little tough, but I just re-applied more <b>KABOOM</B> and the filth melted away. I then rinsed off the wheels with hardly any suds forming. The product description was right on the money, absolutely no residue left after rinsing with water. Here are some pics after wiping them down only, no polishing or waxing applied. The clearcoat is still intact and feels smooooth! ;-)
<img src="http://lh5.google.com/bahnburner/R9F2Sinhz1I/AAAAAAAAAVU/gdpVLna6rKM/s800/DSC04190.JPG">
The Tango wheel pictured was the worst of the batch (from the front right on the car), so you can imagine how delighted I am with the results. =)
<img src="http://lh3.google.com/bahnburner/R9F2SCnhz0I/AAAAAAAAAVM/cw7umWSKerM/s800/DSC04188.JPG">
I'll be heading back to Wally World in the morning to raid them of their supplies of <b>KABOOM</b>!
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Old Apr 22, 2003 | 08:54 PM
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JohnLZ7W's Avatar
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Damn, that's pretty impressive stuff
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Old Apr 22, 2003 | 10:00 PM
  #3  
A4 in SC's Avatar
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Default Any scrubbing involved or was it spray and rinse? Just curious.

I use Simple Green to clean my wheels on a regular basis. I also tend to wax my wheels as often as I wax my car. They're part of the car, right?!?!
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Old Apr 22, 2003 | 10:06 PM
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Default Interesting, roughly as acidic as stomach acid but smells like grapefruit? MSDS sheet link.

I guess you found a good substitute for acid based wheel cleaners ?<ul><li><a href="http://www.greatcleaners.com/ogi_retail/images/products/M17506.pdf">MSDS For Kaboom Tub and Tile Cleaner</a></li></ul>
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Old Apr 22, 2003 | 11:24 PM
  #5  
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Default WTF.. I spent about 1 hour clay baring the face of my wheels and you use KABOOM??

thats cheating.. no fair.. =) lol..

Im going to this Wally World place that you speak of and picking up some <b>KABOOM</b> .. Stupid ****ing clay bar.. <b>KABOOM</b> owns AlL..

Now.. back to if you won't use it on your paint, you shouldn't use it on the wheels modo.. Wanna be our test person?
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Old Apr 22, 2003 | 11:28 PM
  #6  
Lightweight-USPowah's Avatar
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Default Those "other products" that you speak of.. don't work

I had the same yellowish staining on my wheels.. and went with the long and painful method of clay baring them.. Yes.. while you were <b> KABOOMING </B> your wheels I was sitting there clay baring the crap out of my wheels because the PS21 wheel cleaner + brush did not do a darn thing..

Nice find though.. Now I know what I will be using on my wheels.. Non acidic ehh.. good find bro.. good find..
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Old Apr 22, 2003 | 11:28 PM
  #7  
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definitely beats clay baring the wheels..
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Old Apr 23, 2003 | 03:49 AM
  #8  
Inigo Montoya's Avatar
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is this stuff safe to get on your tires? sounds scary
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Old Apr 23, 2003 | 04:17 AM
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RKA's Avatar
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Default As a side note, you'll probably find this is excellent stuff for cleaning your windshield.

I used to use bathroom cleaners on the windshield of my old car...kept it squeaky clean! I don't know about the paint though....
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Old Apr 23, 2003 | 04:23 AM
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an where kind I find this?
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