Knowledge Base / Maintenance & Warranty
How to Care for Brushed Machined Wheels
Brushed metal is the easiest finish to live with and the easiest to ruin with the wrong bottle.
Brushed metal is the easiest finish to live with and the easiest to ruin with the wrong bottle.
A directional grain cut into bare aluminium, then usually sealed with a clear coat. The grain is why it looks like metal rather than paint — and why abrasive products leave marks along the light.
Wash with a pH-neutral wheel cleaner and a soft brush. Brake dust left wet on the surface etches into the coat, and once it does, no amount of washing brings the sheen back.
Avoid acid-based cleaners entirely. They strip the clear coat and leave a chalky surface that cannot be polished back on a brushed finish.
A ceramic or wax sealant applied twice a year makes the next wash easier and keeps dust from bonding.
Do not use a cutting compound: it changes the grain and the repaired area will never match.
Light scuffs can be re-brushed locally. Send a photo — we will tell you whether it is a touch-up or a refinish.