Quick-N-Easy Way to Clean Your Nuts
 

Just take a connector for one-inch PVC pipe (1.1-inch inner diameter; 1.25" outer diameter, 2 inches long), drape a rag in front of the lug nut, push down on the connector and spin it around the nut, gripping the connector through the rag to keep the rag turning.

I may also try these connectors in a "T" or right-angle configuration to see which one grips the rag and turns most ergonomically.

(Sorry for the rusty rotors; always happens after a wash.)

Another photo. With this approach you can clean that one tricky set of spots in a few seconds per wheel.

Now thats what I'm talking about........a good informative post about stuff I like...!!

Nice idea.....simple works for me too.

very intuitive,..nice job...think i have some of those laying around the shop...i'll have to give it a whirl...i was using the butt end of a really old 80's style hospital toothbrush with a rag wrapped around it...i like your idea better

Thanks, guys! Yeah, maybe I'll get my own sticky on this one; it's so simple and handy (in my humble opinion). Please vote early and often.:D

I considered gluing some fabric to the PVC connector for a more permanent piece, but the current approach is probably better for ease of washing the material.

My new and improved, special deluxe model:

First this.......

Next thing I'll see is a banner add running at the top of the page

"Hard 8's super nut cleaner" (that sounded bad huh?)

great prototype......I'm going to copy it before patents and all that stuff.

I wonder if you could put a cordless drill attatchment on it....then it will be like.....zip zip zip .....done:D

another idea, use some waterproof glue and glue a thick piece of terry cloth on the outside. Use, wash and dry for next time.

And I could offer a variety of attachments for different ... um ... purposes.

It's a great I dea that I wish I had thought of. Can I suggest glueing a liner on the inside and outside with the stuff used on the trim PAD PAINTER - it's soft and washable see image below:

Good ideas, all. But I think I'm just gonna coat the outside of the business end with a few lengthwise ribs of clear silicone caulk and let it dry awhile; that might grip the rag well and make for easy cleaning of the rag, independently of the tool.

I have a million of these damn ideas. I keep thinking to turn one of them into a money-maker, but the investment cost always puts me off.

So, as my consolation and reward (everyone chime in now), STICKY, STICKY, STICKY. This is an idea that could form the basis of almost everyone's car cleaning ritual.

Great idea. I've been using Q-Tips. The Q-Tips also work great for cleaning in those little holes on the wheel spokes.

I was using Q-tips, but that's so 2003. :D

I like it! I was just getting the edge of the rag as far as possible. Time consuming and didn't work real well. Won't even have to go to Home Depot for the parts. Keep the ideas coming.

What was I thinking this weekend? Man, I wish I had a tool for cleaning around these damned lug nuts. Et volia! Hard 8 reads my mind and sends me a free one in the mail to alpha test. Oh wait a minute, I'm daydreaming about cleaning my RX-8 again. No, no! Not another Zaino application! ;)

Just when I thought no one could suprise me here! Great trick!

Simple, cheap and effective. A true hack (in the good sense).

I vote to sticky this also.

So, Hard8 is the pipe only the Stage 1 model and the pipe with the T-handle (or should I say downpipe and dual exhausts) the Stage 2?

Have you thought of adding a strip of Velcro in the tube to hold the rag?

Thanks, boyz. I considered Velcro but was afraid it might peep through and scratch the clearcoat. I'm going to try letting some clear silicone caulk dry on it, for friction, next time I'm anticipating whipping out my tool. Velcro might work, though.

Stage 1 will be only $50 for people on this Forum; $75 for everyone else. Stage 2 may not be street legal, but if you're going to use it off-road, drop me a p/m and I'll can hook you up for, say, $100.

This is one heck of an idea. I'm 120% sure that everyone in this forum will use this thing.
Hard8, got any idea of cleaning inside the wheel that people have hard time reaching in? That's another pain in the rear end.

Any chance for a Group Buy ?

Good thinking Hard 8.

I can see a prototype coming - five spokes with a 90 deg. elbow on each end to fit the bolt pattern. The you can shoot water through them to spind the built-in terry cloth in each well to clean them NASCAR style. Brrrp, brrp, brrp, brrp . . . viola, all four wheels clean!

Ahhh, my own sticky! I can die happy now.:D :cool: :D

Dude! Had my 8 (err, my wife's 8) only 5 days and I already have a cheap knock-off of your fabulous tool :p
Baptism by suds Saturday- might celebrate by buying a new hosehead :D
thanx Hard 8 -- congrats on the well deserved Sticky-

Great idea.
How about cutting a sawtooth pattern on the end. It would grip the rag better.
Cut up a couple 4"x4" terry cloth rags and then cut a small slit in the middle to fit over the lug nut.

OK, this was fun for awhile, but you guys are going to be hearing from my lawyers soon.

Love the sawtooth/slit idea.

:D

Anyone got a quick and easy way to clean the bottom of the tires?? everytime I clean the treads, then move the car up to clean the part that was on the ground.. then GUESS WHAT!!! THe bottom of the tire is still on the ground and dirty!! HOW can i get my treads 100% clean!?

With your tongue? (No charge for that one.) :p

I use my tounge to clean the tailpipes.. I dont want to get the treads sooty. ;)

Roger that. Time for plan B then ....

Here is what I use, and it is very effective. The next time you go to a supermarket buy the sponge on a stick they use to clean glasses. The end is a big sponge which you can clean the wheels quick, and in all the corners.
It works great.

Re: Quick-N-Easy Way to Clean Your Nuts
 

Thanks for this post. I always had a hard time getting the lugnuts spic and span.

Any time, Martha! And please, when you get out of the Big House, look me up. (I've always had a thing for you.)

Came to the boards today just for this problem, and viola, top post, heh.

I washed my RX-8 for the first time and I hate washing cars. I try to wash as fast as possible with minimum effort. I got pissed off wasting so much time cleaning all that brake dust around the front wheel lug nuts. I just gave up since it was taking too much time to clean the crannies. Your idea is great. Keep them coming. I will have well washed nuts. :)

Interesting idea. In the original picture though, you have the pipe around the nut. Is your idea though to push the rag over the nut with the pipe right?

The way I do it now is to use the T-handle I photographed, with notches dremeled into the business end for friction.

I drape the towel over that end loosely and use my finger to push a little bit of fabric into the open end of the pipe, to fit over the lug nuts, then go to "work," spinning the pipe around on each lug nut. The towel inside covers the top of the nut, so my first picture is not quite accurate.

The whole job takes less than a minute, I'm guessing.

Make sense?

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[To the moderator who un-sticky-ed this thread (or do stickies expire on their own?), I would humbly suggest putting the sticky back on for new members who might really appreciate this tip. Just a suggestion.]

<bump> for newbies

I've been using a "wheel brush" I picked up somewhere. It has about 3x3 inches of bristles on the face and they are long and really soft so they get into all the nooks and crannies when cleaning the wheels.

For some reasons stickys don't seem to last.

<bump>

I'm heading to Home Depot today to pick up these PVC parts :D I'll be incorporating the T-Handle mod as well.

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I wonder how come my attachments aren't showing up on my browser any more?

ANOTHER IDEA THAT WORKS WELL...

I too use Eagle One wheel cleaner to help dissolve dust first, then I use a cheap 1-inch paintbrush with a long handle to clean all around lugs...also works well for getting in around caliper and inside wheel around weights, etc.

If you don't feel like driving to Home Depot for the PVC idea, most people have a shop vac.....use the end of the long plastic attachment to do the same thing you would do with the pvc. It fits perfectly!