Chrome Spoke Wheels

So after getting some new tread on the bike I was unloading the tires and they were just nasty. My fingers were black from where I had been holding them and as much as I wanted to ride I also wanted to have that New Bike Shine. I have tried in the previous year or two to clean these chrome rims with not much luck. The front one I had good access to and using anything and everything I could find tried to clean them. After all the fancy sprays and chemicals it came down to a polishing dremel head and hours of time. I got the front one looking fairly decent with minor damage from the dremel. The back one however was very difficult to access and didn't get much attention. So before I put the tires on and look at the dirty bike during this rain filled April week I decided to try again. 

I got the spray

And a brush and after these two I was looking like this. Better but now the chrome draws in you attention and the black just looks awful. At least before it was all black. 

 

So back to the Internet. Found a couple of posts about using aluminum foil and water to remove rust, but I have been fortunate enough to not have rust. The next recommendation was soft steel wool, looking around the house I found the following. 

Not sure what if any effect the degreasing agent will have but they did a number on the hands but it's starting to look like a chrome rim again!

I wish I had truly gotten a good before picture for you to see what 2-3 hours of work has gotten me. I will be sure to take some before and after of the front. I am also planning on using some of the aluminum foil on the handle bars due to some small rust places.