Volkswagen Golf Owners Manual: Cleaning wheels

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings 

Cleaning steel wheels

Accumulated brake dust can only be removed with an industrial cleaner. Steel wheels should therefore be cleaned regularly with a separate sponge.

Any damage to the paint on steel wheels should be touched up before the metal starts to rust.

Caring for and cleaning alloy wheels

Wash grit and brake dust from alloy wheels approximately every 2 weeks. Then use an acid-free detergent to clean the wheels. Volkswagen recommends applying a hard wax compound to the wheels approximately every 3 months.

It is important to remove road salt and brake dust by washing the wheels at regular intervals, to deter corrosion to the alloy.

Always use an acid-free detergent for alloy wheels. Car polish or other abrasive agents should not be used on the wheels.

If the protective coating is damaged, e.g. by stone impact, the damaged area should be repaired immediately.