This is my routine…I think I’ll start by saying im NOT the official sponsor for Autoglym!
I tend to start with a bucket of soapy water and a sponge, to get the light traffic film and dirt off, and start to loosen the oil and tar.
I prefer to sit on a stool or kneel on knee cushion to help give my back a break
Id then spray on some AutoGlym clean wheels and leave it for a while, (but not too long!)
Id maybe use the ‘Intensive tar remover ‘ instead if its really bad..
As I have weak girl wrist id always favor a hand tool to make the job easy and quick
Id then use a brush to scrub the stubborn bits, I used those crappy brushes with the plastic handle and the loop of bristles that you can usually get for a couple of quid from somewhere like Halfords/ the bristle are a bit soft and tend to get flattened over time though. An old brush on a stick that’s used for cleaning dishes (and my BBQ grills) is a lot more effective as the bristles are a lot stiffer.
Also a loofa type back scrubbing brush that you would use in the shower is good for getting at the spokes without too much effort! But bristles do flatten over time
Id then rinse off with clean water, push the bike forward a couple of feet to do the other section of the wheel and repeat.
I would then dry with a cloth
If I have lots of time to spare after drying id apply some kind of polish tadaa!
Id never really thought about using strong solvents, id probably would only use them if I had lots and lots of grease
