Unless you want a hefty bill from a mobile wheel refinisher, it pays to keep your alloys clean. Only a few weeks of normal driving can leave hard-to-shift, burned-in brake dust and road grime. Regularly using a specialist cleaner is essential for avoiding the repainting bill, or losing hundreds of pounds at trade-in time.

Our test put 20 cleaners to work on a wheel that had been left untouched for 20,000 miles. We kept brushing and hosing to a minimum to determine the most effective product. Price played a part in our verdict, as did the addition of extras such as brushes or protective gloves.