Q for Detailing Gurus - Wheel cleaning

Hi all,

After years of being lazy, I decided to clean my wheels before putting them on (ya I know, I am running on winters right now, got way too lazy this year).

Low and behold, it is dirty as hell and I just spent the last hour and a half cleaning and rubbing them like hell (my fingers are hurting).

This is how I cleaned my wheels if it helps:

- Sprayed with water a couple of times.
- Sprayed with Meguiar's wheel cleaner and let it sit for around 30 seconds.
- Scrubbed the "tar" off with a cloth.
- Rinsed with water.
- Sprayed again with Meguiar's wheel cleaner and let it sit.
- Scrubbed again.
- Rinsed with water.
- Washed with a mix of Meguiar's gold class car cleaner soap mixed with water.
- Rinsed.
- Back pain and fingers hurting after doing all 4.

Anything I can do to make a better job? Any products that I could grab off a CT's shelf to clean this? Brushes suggestions?

Thanks!

P.s.: You reap what you sow, that'll teach my ass for being lazy.

I fail at resizing pics. So i'll just post links!

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/4660/wheel005.jpg
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/6327/wheel004.jpg
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2775/wheel003.jpg
http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/993/wheel002.jpg
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/787/wheel006.jpg
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/5885/wheel001.jpg

when nothing will do... you have to take the steel wool. start with 000 or even 0000 and see the result. But maybe you will have to scrub hard. so hard you will remove the paint and then just repaint the inside..

This can help but please do so with caution.

If you don't have a pressure washer, bring the wheels to a do it yourself wash bay with pressure washer, buy an acid base wheel cleaner, spray on the rear only and wash one by one right away.

You really need a pressure washer to do a better job.

btw.. tell your mechanic to put some grease next time he installs the wheels.

A clay bar could also help.