My Epic Wheel Detailing Adventure with Fiona the Forester

I've been dying to give my wheels some tender loving care for some time now. You know how it is, every other time you step back from your ride, and those poor wheels just seem like they have been through a season of "Survivor." Mud, brake dust, and what I can only assume is a mixture of tar and bad decisions caked all over them. So, with a free weekend and an undying love for my 2011 Subaru Forester-the ol' gal deserves it, I chose to spend a day smothering some serious love on wheel detailing.

Man, oh man, I went all out this time! If wheels could scream "thank you!" my wheels would be screaming now.

The Pre-Detail Pep Talk

Okay, first, let's set the scene. I had all my favorite tunes going-because detailing without tunes is just wrong-a fresh cup of coffee, and a couple of new products that I've been dying to try out. Okay, so I gotta admit, I was kinda optimistic; I thought it would be one of those quick 30-minute jobs. Spoiler alert: it wasn't. But I was determined to make those wheels shine brighter than a disco ball at a '70s party.

Tools & Products I Used

Before I get into the process, here is the gear I had lined up:

Meguiar's Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner – A solid choice for breaking up all that nastiness on the wheels.

Chemical Guys Diablo Wheel Gel – Yeah, I wanted two cleaners because, why not? Plus, I wanted to go that extra mile.

Dedicated wheel brush – Soft bristles, coz' I'm not a savage, and I didn't want to scratch the alloys.

Microfiber towels – You can never have too many of these

Power washer – As elbow grease only can carry you so far.

Tire gel – To top it all off with some nice, deep-black tires.

Step 1: The Pre-Rinse (Or "Wake up, wheels!")

First things first, I power-washed my wheels; that got off the loose dirt, some of the brake dust, and what appeared to be a full-on ecosystem on the inside of my rims. Hit all the nooks and crannies-a side note, my neighbors totally judged me for how long I spent on that.

Expection: A good rinse should do half the job. Reality: Spoiler alert-nope. This just exposed how much more work was ahead of me.

Step 2: Applying Meguiar's Hot Rims

Next, I sprayed generous amounts of Meguiar's Hot Rims cleaner on. It foamed up right away and looked promising. You're supposed to let it sit for a couple of minutes, so I took this time to sip my coffee and reflect if anyone else names their cars-my Forester is called "Fiona," by the way. Having let it dwell, I grabbed my brush and started scrubbing. It really is an amazing cleaner; it breaks up the grime like a pro. It went brown, all foamy and gross-but in that satisfying kind of way.

Expectation: A few squirts on and grime just magically wipes right off, right? Reality: Work darn hard, especially for those little spots. That brake dust is like cement.

Step 3: Chemical Guys Diablo Wheel Gel

I was pretty close to calling it at that point, but nah, I'm not one to do that. I wanted to top it all off with some Chemical Guys Diablo Wheel Gel. I'm not saying I was overcompensating, but maybe half of the bottle hit one wheel alone. The gel has this crazy red hue, so my wheels are like they're bleeding, I guess-dramatic but effective.

I let that sit for a bit longer, then went back in with the wheel brush. The gel's a lot thicker than Meguiar's spray, so it clings better to vertical surfaces. Went all out - back of the spokes, around the valve stem, in the lug holes (yes, I cleaned the lug holes). Fiona was probably getting emotional by this point,.

Expectation: This gel is gonna be the miracle cure for brake dust. Reality: Pretty close! This stuff really works for the deep clean, but man, it takes dedication. Felt like I was scrubbing away at medieval armor.

Step 4: The Rinse-Off

Then, with the final rinse, I picked up the power washer again and just sprayed the cleaner and the gunk off. OK, so what were the results? Honestly, I was impressed. My wheels looked like they'd just come off a showroom floor. The brake dust? Gone. The dirt? History. And finally, I could see the reflective surfaces; I'd forgotten my wheels could shine like that.

Anticipation: Shining, new look. Reality: Nailed it. I may or may not have spent the next 10 minutes just looking at them.

Step 5: Tire Gel for That Finishing Touch

Last but not least, it was time for the tire gel. Slathered on with a sponge applicator onto the rubber, giving those tires that deep rich black look. Honestly, nothing sets off clean wheels like shiny tires. The gel went on easy, didn't fling off when I drove later-which is always a plus. My Forester was looking sharp, like she was ready for a photoshoot.

Expectation: That would just be the cherry on top. Reality: I couldn't help but keep staring at them. It is now official: my wheels are now the crowning glory of my car.

I probably spent more time on this than what I initially thought, but man, was it all worth it. My wheels have never looked this good, and I am not exaggerating it. And now, every time I pass my car, I slow down just to admire them a little bit more. If it's been too long since you last gave your wheels a deep detail, do it. It's one of those insignificant things that make a huge difference, trust me, and your car will thank you.

Would I do it again? Of course. But next time, maybe not half a bottle of Diablo Gel on one wheel. You live and learn, right?

To anyone thinking about this, fair warning: plan on an epic time over what you anticipate, but at the same time, anticipate your wheels looking like they were shot out of a Subaru commercial. You'll even get to the point of receiving compliments at the gas station much like I get compliments, but that's for another story.

Alright, it is time to kick back and relax. Wheels are clean, my coffee is cold, and I got this feeling that my weekend just peaked. Until next time-keep those wheels rollin'!