So I had my car washed at work today. (hand wash) guy comes almost every other week, but since it has been raining on and off, its been about a month since my last wash... Well I did my once around, and noticed the center caps are completely stained! (2 on passenger side) are real bad, and the other (2) on the driver side arent as bad...

I took some windex and scrubbed the ish out of them. That didnt work!

Has any1 had any issues w/ this and what was used to take care of it?

TIA

 

Not knowing exactly what the stain looks like, the usual suspects include wheel cleaners or clay.

Edit: I just noticed that you don't have the stock wheels. Please post a pic of the stained caps.

 

Will do when I get home.

 

If he used acid on your wheels to clean them and left it on there too long, it could have ate away some of the finish on the plastic center caps. My father in law has a car wash business and we use acid to clean wheels, but you literally spray it on and then high pressure spray it right off. Easy clean, but could have done damage if he wasnt careful.

 

I wasn't going to let him use any product without telling him how to do it, as well as suggesting a product geared to the application.. Thanks for the warning about the acid. I had no idea.

BTW, I recommended a wheel cleaner when I thought his rims were stock. Hence, the need for pics. Regardless, all this is moot, as no pics have been posted and recommending a product/procedure is a shot in the dark.

 

The acid isnt bad. I love it to be honest. I can spray it on, then hit it with the pressure washer and it takes all the brake dust and dirt off with NO scrubbing. My wheels look brand new afterwards. The mixture is mostly water too. Like a cup of the acid in one of those garden sprayers and the rest filled with water.

 

he does use a pressurized water sprayer, but not sure what he uses... Doesnt speak too much english. Heres what they look like...

 

That does look like hydrofloric (sp?) acid burn. Not suppose to use it on plastic, had the same thing happen to me.

 

Having seen the pictures, I'd first try a chemical cleaner, Please post on the detailing forum for more info. So far, this thread is an example of the blind leading the blind. Don't be that guy.