Steamed up

I'm not big into car cleaning. In so far as I'm not at all precious about it being a bit grubby on the outside. I do like the inside to be spotless though, but that's mainly because I spend too much time in there and I like it clean and tidy.

Anyway, I took a notion to wash it this afternoon, and as on all the relatively rare occasions I do, I like to try to do it properly. So, it got a proper wash and chamois down but the alloys were stubbornly dirty with brake dust and whatever else has welded itself to them this summer, despite my best efforts with hot soapy water and a sponge. I don't like those chemical wheel cleaning fluids which seem to attack the surface of the wheels, and can leave a dull finish. 

Then my wife reminded me that she has a steam mop. Now, if you don't know what that is, don't beat yourself up too much, because I certainly didn't until she got one. But it is just exactly what it sounds like, a mop that can send steam to the cleaning head and she uses it to clean the tiled floors. She had remembered that it has some clever little attachments including the facility to remove the steam producing bit from the handle and attach a little round brush for cleaning alloy wheels. 

This is now my latest favourite thing. Effortless. Mostly. Nice shiny wheels now. Get one.