What is Polyglaze Wheel Cleaner, and where should you use it?
Polyglaze Wheel Cleaner is a spray-on cleaner that removes heavy brake dust and road grime from wheel surfaces. It comes in 500mL bottles, works on a spray on and wipe off basis, and is stated as suitable for use on all wheel types.
The specification that matters most is that it is a non acid formula. That is what underwrites the "all wheel types" claim — and it is the reason this product can be used on alloys and painted wheels where an acid-based wheel cleaner would need much more care.
There are two conditions on using it, and both are about timing: do not apply it to hot surfaces, and immediately hose it off with water after wiping.
Technical specification
| Property | Typical result |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Water white liquid |
| Specific gravity | 1.0 – 1.03 |
| Formulation | Non acid |
| Pack size | 500mL bottle |
| Application | Suitable for use on all wheel types |
| Shipping / dangerous goods | Not restricted |
These figures are indicative data from the product's technical data sheet and are not intended for the preparation of specifications.
Why "do not apply to hot surfaces" is the first direction
It is listed first in the directions for use, ahead of spraying anything, and that ordering is deliberate. Wheels get hot — they sit directly against the brakes, and after any sustained braking a rim can be well above ambient temperature.
A cleaner sprayed onto a hot wheel behaves differently from one sprayed onto a cool wheel. It evaporates faster, which concentrates whatever is left on the surface and cuts short the contact time the product needs to lift the brake dust. That combination gives you a poorer clean and a product drying in place on a finish you care about.
The practical rule is to do the wheels first, before a drive, or to let the car stand until the wheels are cool to the touch. If you have just arrived home, wait.
Why the rinse has to be immediate
The final direction is to immediately hose off with water. This is not a general tidiness instruction — it is the boundary on how long the product is intended to be in contact with the wheel.
A non-acid cleaner is milder than an acid one, but it still works by chemistry, and the way to keep a mild product mild is to remove it once it has done its job. Spray, wipe, rinse — as a continuous sequence rather than three steps with pauses. Doing one wheel at a time is the simplest way to hold to that, particularly on a warm day.
A specific gravity of 1.0 to 1.03 puts the product at essentially the density of water, and it is a water white liquid — a thin, clear cleaner that sprays and rinses readily rather than a gel that clings.
Where to use it
The stated application is all wheel types. The non-acid formulation is what makes that a broad claim rather than a narrow one.
How to apply it
- Check the wheel is not hot. Do not apply to hot surfaces.
- Spray the product onto the wheels.
- Wipe the wheel over with a sponge to remove excess grime build-up.
- Immediately hose off with water.
For the recesses a sponge cannot reach — behind spokes, around lug nut wells — a wheel brush does the mechanical part of step 3 far better. The Polyglaze Universal Wheel Brush is the one in this range, with flexible bristles for that job.
Limitations
- Do not apply to hot surfaces.
- Do not leave it on the wheel — hose off immediately with water after wiping.
Safety and storage
- Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
- Use in a well ventilated area.
- Wash your hands after use, and before eating, drinking or smoking.
- Keep out of reach of children.
For storage, protect the product from freezing, store the container out of sunlight, and keep it tightly closed. It is not restricted for shipping and dangerous goods purposes.
Hazard classification
Classified as hazardous under Safe Work Australia GHS 7, with the signal word Danger.
- Eye damage/irritation — Category 1. H318: causes serious eye damage.
- Skin corrosion/irritation — Category 2. H315: causes skin irritation.
Not classified as Dangerous Goods by the criteria of the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail or the New Zealand NZS5433 — which is the "not restricted" line in the specification above. Those are two different questions. Transport classification asks whether a load of it is a risk in a crash; GHS classification asks what it does to you. This product answers no to the first and Danger to the second.
What is in it
| Chemical entity | CAS number | Proportion (w/w) |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohols, C12-15, ethoxylated | 68131-39-5 | 1–10% |
| Sodium hydroxide | 1310-73-2 | <1% |
| Sodium tripolyphosphate | 7758-29-4 | <1% |
| Ingredients determined to be non-hazardous or below reporting limits | — | Balance |
This is the composition behind the non acid line in the specification, and it is worth reading carefully, because non-acid is often heard as mild. It is not what non-acid means. The cleaning is done by an ethoxylated alcohol surfactant working in an alkaline system, with sodium hydroxide — caustic soda — as the alkali and sodium tripolyphosphate softening the water so the surfactant is not wasted on it. Non-acid describes which end of the pH scale the product sits at, not how far along it.
Eye damage Category 1 is the most severe of the eye classifications, and the distinction from Category 2A irritation is not a matter of degree. Category 2A means an effect that reverses within 21 days. Category 1 means damage that is not assumed to reverse. That is why the first aid below is 15 minutes of irrigation and a trip to hospital rather than a rinse and a wait, and it is why eye protection belongs on the list of things you get out before you start, not after something happens.
Where this product is used makes that classification matter more than the numbers suggest. Wheels are cleaned crouched down, at arm's length, spraying a thin water-density liquid at a hard curved surface — which sends a fine back-spray straight up towards a face that is already low. The skin irritation classification is the one your hands will meet over a set of four wheels; the eye classification is the one that needs the glasses.
It also puts a second reason behind the page's first direction. Do not apply to hot surfaces is given above as a cleaning-performance instruction, and it is one. It is also a safety instruction: a thin alkaline liquid sprayed onto hot metal evaporates faster, which both concentrates what stays on the wheel and lifts more of it into the air you are breathing at close range. A cool wheel is a better clean and a lower exposure at the same time.
Protection
- Eye protection — safety glasses, and treat them as essential rather than advisable given the Category 1 classification.
- Gloves — nitrile rubber is suitable for intermittent contact. Glove construction and conditions vary, so make your own final assessment.
- Clothing — overalls and closed footwear. The SDS lists safety shoes.
- Ventilation — use in a well-ventilated area.
- Wash hands before smoking, eating, drinking or using the toilet, and wash contaminated clothing and protective equipment before storing or reusing it.
- Storage — protect from freezing, keep the container out of direct sunlight and tightly closed, and keep it out of reach of children.
First aid
| Exposure | What to do |
|---|---|
| Eyes | Immediately irrigate with copious quantities of water for 15 minutes, holding the eyelids open. Remove contaminated clothing and wash the skin. Urgently seek medical assistance and get to a hospital or medical centre. |
| Skin | Immediately remove contaminated clothing and flush the skin and hair with running water. Continue flushing until advised to stop by the Poisons Information Centre or a doctor, or for 15 minutes, then get to a doctor or hospital. |
| Inhalation | Remove the person from exposure without becoming a casualty yourself. Remove contaminated clothing and loosen the rest. Let them take the most comfortable position, keep them warm and at rest until fully recovered. Seek medical advice if effects persist. |
| Swallowed | Rinse the mouth with water. Do not induce vomiting. Give a glass of water to drink. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. If vomiting occurs, give further water. Seek medical advice. |
If poisoning occurs, contact a doctor or the Poisons Information Centre — 131 126 in Australia, 0800 764 766 in New Zealand — with the container to hand. Selleys emergency line: 1800 220 770 in Australia, 0800 220 770 in New Zealand.
Common questions about Polyglaze Wheel Cleaner
Is it safe on alloy wheels?
It is stated as suitable for use on all wheel types, and it is a non acid formula.
Does it contain acid?
No. It is specified as a non acid formula.
Can I spray it on straight after driving?
No. Do not apply to hot surfaces — let the wheels cool first, or do them before you drive.
Can I let it soak on heavy brake dust?
No. The direction is to wipe over with a sponge and then immediately hose off with water. If a wheel needs more work, repeat the cycle rather than extending the dwell time.
What size does it come in?
500mL bottles.
Do I need to rinse it off?
Yes, immediately, with water.
What should I agitate it with?
A sponge, per the directions. For spokes and tight crevices, a wheel brush reaches where a sponge cannot.
Can I use it on the paintwork?
This is a wheel product, stated for wheel surfaces. For paintwork use one of the vehicle washes in the Polyglaze range.
How should I store it?
Protect it from freezing, keep it out of sunlight and keep the bottle tightly closed.
Should I dress the tyres afterwards?
Polyglaze Tyre Shine is the tyre product in the same range. Read its exclusion list before using it — it is not for motorcycle tyres, vinyl seats, steering wheels or pedals.
Is it dangerous to transport?
It is classified as not restricted for shipping and dangerous goods purposes. The safety directions still apply in use.
What is Selleys Polyglaze Wheel Cleaner used for?
Selleys Polyglaze Wheel Cleaner is suitable for all wheel types and effortlessly removes brake dust, road grime and dirt from wheels.
What size does Selleys Polyglaze Wheel Cleaner come in?
Selleys Polyglaze Wheel Cleaner is sold in a 500ml bottle.
What is the appearance of Selleys Polyglaze Wheel Cleaner?
It is a water white liquid.
What is the specific gravity (SG) of Selleys Polyglaze Wheel Cleaner?
The specific gravity (SG) is 1.0 – 1.03.
How do you use Selleys Polyglaze Wheel Cleaner?
Spray it onto the wheels, wipe with a sponge, and hose off immediately with water.
Does Selleys Polyglaze Wheel Cleaner use an acid formula?
No, according to the knowledge-base context, it has a non-acid formula, which is safer for wheel surfaces compared to acid-based alternatives.
What safety precautions should be taken when using this product?
Avoid contact with skin and eyes when using Selleys Polyglaze Wheel Cleaner.
Are there any limitations on how or where Selleys Polyglaze Wheel Cleaner should be applied?
Yes, according to the product details, you should avoid contact with skin and eyes, protect the product from freezing, and not apply it to hot surfaces.
Who makes Selleys Polyglaze Wheel Cleaner?
It is made by Selleys, a division of DuluxGroup (Australia) Pty Ltd, according to the knowledge-base context.