Step 1: Use soap and water to start
You will want to start by cleaning your exhaust tips with soap and water to remove any dirt, brake dust, or other substance that can be removed by soap and water alone.
It’s a good idea to use a bucket dedicated to cleaning wheels that you don’t also use for washing paint. Be sure to grab an old wash mitt or microfiber towel if you have one.
Throughout this process, just be careful that you don’t contact your vehicle’s paint with any rag or brush that contains any of this black soot.
This entire process is pretty messy, so you want to be careful not to stain your clothes, driveway, or hands.
Use a degreaser and tire brush if necessary
In the first step, the goal is really to remove as much dirt and grime as possible. You can even use a wheel cleaner or degreaser with a tire brush to clean inside your pipes to start.
After you’ve applied soap and degreaser, simply rinse with water, dry it with a towel, and move on to the next step.
Your pipes may look slightly hazy or cloudy due to oxidation, but a light metal polish can help to restore luster.
Step 2: Use automotive steel wool for heavy buildup
A popular way to safely clean chrome or stainless steel exhaust tips is by using a dedicated exhaust cleaner, followed by automotive-grade steel wool and a metal polish you can apply with a clean microfiber towel.
Use steel wool for very dirty exhaust tips
If you have a lot of carbon buildup or scratches, applying light pressure using automotive-grade 000 or 0000 steel wool after you spray your pipes with a degreaser or wheel cleaner is your best bet.
This can help to remove scratches that metal polish alone may not be able to remove.
Most polishes contain mild abrasives which can help remove light scratches or buildup, but if you’ve never polished your tips before and they are very dirty, starting with steel wool is a good idea.
Step 3: Apply metal polish to restore luster and shine
Anytime you use something more aggressive like steel wool, you should follow up with a metal polish to remove any faint scratches that the more abrasive steel wool may have left when removing scratches on your pipes (and carbon buildup).
If you have black or painted exhaust tips, you shouldn’t use abrasives or metal polish intended for chrome or stainless steel. Instead, just use soap, water, and a degreaser and avoid using brushes or anything that could scratch a matte or black finish.
Step 4: Protect your exhaust tips
Using a wheel sealant is an optional step that you may want to consider to keep your exhaust tips protected for as long as possible.
Polishing them will always be needed from time to time, but adding a layer of protection is never a bad idea.
Blackfire makes a dedicated sealant designed for metals that may help reduce the amount of buildup over time.
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