Want to restore your aluminum rims and wheels? Let’s face it, between winter roads, salty slush, brake dust, and everyday grime, your wheels and rims see a lot. Some might say they’re the hardest-working part of your vehicle.

Can you really get a mirror finish and restore your rims to “brand new” shine? You can! That showroom sparkle is possible with Flitz favorites by your side. Here’s how to get professional-level wheel shine with easy-to-use products designed for DIYers. Let’s get those wheels gleaming!

Before You Polish: Let’s Assess Your Wheels and Rims

Before you reach for the cleaning kit, let’s first take a good look at what you’re working with. Are your wheels clear-coated, anodized, or bare aluminum?

• Clear-coated wheels: Clear coat protects, but you’ll need to remove the coating before polishing. Oxygen gets trapped beneath the old clear coat, causing cloudy spots that polishing alone can’t fix. If you see cloudiness, you may need to use a manufacturer-recommended chemical stripper first (always wear gloves and a mask and work with plenty of ventilation).
• Anodized wheels: Anodizing is a hardening process that adds extra durability. Can you remove it? It's not easy. It's a labor-intensive, chemical-heavy, best-left-to-pros process. For anodized surfaces, stick to gently cleaning with Flitz Metal Pre-Clean.
• Bare aluminum: Perfect! Aluminum is the ideal surface to clean, polish, and seal for a deep, lasting shine.

How to Polish Aluminum Rims

Now that you know the “what” of your wheels, it’s time to get to the “how.” Polishing your aluminum wheels and rims is quite satisfying. You’ll see all those miles of dust, grime, and muck melt away, and you'll get gleaming wheels that are ready to show off! This works on any ride, too—cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs…if it has aluminum wheels or rims, you can make it shine!

Flitz Products You Need to Polish Aluminum Rims:

• Flitz Metal Pre-Clean
• Flitz Paste Polish
• Flitz BuffBall
• Flitz Ceramic Sealant
• Microfiber Cloths and a soft wheel brush
• Hose with spray nozzle
• Quick Gleam Car Wash Soap
• Optional: Gloves and safety glasses

Or, skip the guesswork with the Flitz Detailers Choice Kit, which includes everything you need to clean, polish, and protect your whole vehicle, including wheels and trim.

Step 1: Wash Away Grime

It’s always best to start with a clean surface. Rinse each wheel thoroughly to remove loose dirt and brake dust. Mix Quick Gleam Car Wash Soap with water and scrub with a soft wheel brush to really get a next-level clean.

Pro Tip: Clean one wheel at a time. This makes sure the soap and cleaner won’t dry on the surface, making it harder to rinse off.

Rinse your wheel thoroughly and move on to the heavy-duty work.

Step 2: Deep Clean with Flitz Metal Pre-Clean

Brake dust, salt, road grime, and dirt bond to aluminum and eat away at your shiny finish. That’s when you need Flitz Metal Pre-Clean. It tackles the grime safely and effectively, with an organic salt formula. There are no harsh acids or abrasives that may damage your metal.

Spray the Flitz Metal Pre-Clean on the wheel and rim. Let it sit for 1-2 minutes, and then agitate the area with your brush. For stubborn spots, you can use fine #0000 steel wool to make them disappear. Rinse your wheels and rims with water to neutralize the formula.

The Flitz metal pre-clean gets rid of oxidation and other residue. You’re left with clean metal that’s ready to polish to a shine.

Step 3: Repair and Smooth (If Needed)

Do your rims have a few scratches or some curb rash? Hey, it happens, even to the most careful of us. If you have rough areas, you can repair and smooth them.

Start with a flat file to gently level any deep scrapes. Follow it up with 400-grit sandpaper. Move to finer grits (800-1500) until the scratch is smooth. Rinse away the debris, then dry with a microfiber cloth.

Sanding and repairing aren’t always required, but if you have some nicks and scratches on your wheels and rims, it will help smooth the metal to achieve a true mirror finish.

Step 4: It’s Polishin’ Time

Now for the satisfying part: the polish!

Apply a small amount of Flitz Paste Polish to a clean microfiber cloth or directly on the wheel. With Flitz, a little goes a long way, so just a bit is needed. Then rub the metal of your wheels and rims in circular motions. You’ll begin seeing black oxidation appear, which is a great sign. That’s all the old tarnish coming off.

Arm up with your Flitz BuffBall. Attach it to a standard 3/8" drill for larger areas and stubborn spots. The BuffBall lets you buff at a lightning-fast 2,500 RPM; the material is self-cooling, washable, and won’t burn your finish. Save your arms and use the BuffBall.

Continue working until you get the depth of shine you want. For a satin look, stop early; for a chrome-like mirror, buff a little longer. When you’re done buffing, wipe down the wheel with a clean microfiber cloth until it comes away clean.

Pro Tip: Work in small sections. Aluminum in particular oxidizes quite quickly. You’ll get more even results if you buff and polish one small area at a time.

Step 5: Lock in the Shine

Polishing removes the oxidation, but sealing is what keeps it from coming back. Flitz Ceramic Sealant is a crucial part of the process.

Spray the Ceramic Sealant directly onto your shiny, polished surface. Then buff it with a microfiber towel. The sealant leaves behind a hydrophobic, ceramic-like shell that repels water, salt, brake dust, and UV damage for months.

The Flitz Ceramic Sealant also works on chrome, paint, and even glass. It’s the final step to lock in your hard work and keep your wheels ultra-protected.

Maintenance Tips for Long-Lasting Vehicle Wheels & Rims

Now you’ve achieved shine level 10! Keep it going strong with a few simple habits.

• Rinse weekly to remove dust and grime before it has a chance to stick.
• Use Flitz Metal Pre-Clean monthly during the winter or heavy driving seasons.
• Reapply Flitz Ceramic Sealant every 6-8 months for maximum durability.
• Dry your wheels and rims thoroughly before storing, especially if you remove them for winter. Moisture brings on oxidation.

These small steps help nip corrosion in the bud. Save yourself hours of restoration later by starting a few routines today. Here are a couple of common questions that come up for folks after polishing their wheels and rims.

Q: My wheels look cloudy after polishing. Why?

A: Cloudiness can be caused by a layer of clear coat or oxidation. For a stronger shine, you may want to strip away the remaining clear coat and then repolish and protect.

Q: Can I use abrasive sandpaper or heavy compounds?

A: Only if necessary. Flitz Paste Polish is gentle. It uses micro-abrasives to create the tiniest amount of friction, allowing it to shine without scratching or harming your finish.

Q: Can I use these same steps to polish motorcycles or boats?

A: Absolutely. Our Clean, Polish, Protect process applies to any of your “grown-up toys.” Use it on ATVs, 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, boats, and any aluminum surface.

Q: Why should I choose Flitz Products?

Flitz has been perfecting metal care for over 40 years. We make gentle, non-acidic, non-abrasive polishes and products right here in the USA. We have a reputation among pros and DIYers alike. From classic car clubs and dealerships to everyday drivers, people trust Flitz to make their aluminum wheels—and everything else that shines—look great and stay that way.

Trust Flitz products to give you back that showroom shine and protect your investment. Metal surfaces—especially aluminum wheels—take a beating, but with the right processes and products, they'll gleam like brand new once again.