Wheel Cleaner....smells bad?

[Pointcover]

Yes, I'm new.  No, I'm not a troll or just some jerk looking to bad mouth this company or its products.  If fact, I've never been happier with the products and the customer service.

 

I do have to ask...

 

Has anyone experienced the Adam's wheel cleaner to smell really bad?  So bad that you can smell it outside the bottle?  So bad, that the smell creeped into house from the garage?

 

I notified Adam's customer service and told them the issue.  I thought it was the bottle, a defect in the plastic maybe?  So they sent me a new 32 oz bottle free of charge (thank you).  Well....guess what?

 

Once I put the cleaner in the new bottle, the same thing happened.  Its a horrible "burnt" smell,  its in-between a musty and burnt hair smell.  It must be the wheel cleaner itself.

 

Anyone else experience this?

 

Thank you

[Bryce]

I don't usually try to smell the chemicals while cleaning, as I'm sure you don't as well.

With that being said, I have never noticed anything out of the ordinary while using the wheel cleaner.  Certainly no strong odor like you describe.

[Beemer]

Wheel Cleaner is the worst smelling product Adam's offers, however it's actually not as bad as some others on the market.

 

Can't argue with its effectiveness, though.

[chops1sc]

Yes, it stinks.

[wely324]

The odor is more than likely from the wheel cleaner. Most wheel cleaners that react with brake dust etc. tend to have this horrid smell. I actually still have some of the deep wheel cleaner, which has a nice smell to it imo.

[Feets31]

Good wheel cleaners smell.  Adam's smells less, works great. 

[Ls1transam]

It works awesome. Smells horrible, actually made s customer of mine cough a little and they moved farther away while I was using it lolol. Everything else of Adams smells really good.

[Gen9Rolla]

The smell certainly isn't pleasant but it doesn't smell when I'm not using it for me. Maybe there's something in it that you're sensitive to?

[Dwhite0960]

It most definitely smells rancid. I had a gallon in a room I have for my detailing supplies it made the hallway stink after 2 days it now has a new home in the barn. You can't argue the performance and as others stated all good wheel cleaners smell just as bad if not worse.

[Pointcover]

Thank you for the responses.

 

No question - it works great.  Very happy with their product.

 

Confirmed - Smells like feet and butt.

 

Ok, to the shed you go.  

 

Thank you. 

 

Mod Edit: Sorry, Adam likes to keep the forum a family friendly place. Easy on the swear words. Thanks.

[Beemer]

Dude. If your feet smell like Deep Wheel Cleaner you need to see a doctor.

[Rich]

Yep.  Smells like a skunk.  I've said that from the first day. 

[1911A1]

Yeah I thought it smelled like a dead skunk dipped in grape kool aid.Awesome stuff though.

[marquez93]

Yep, definitely smells. But at least you can still work with it. With heavy wheel cleaners and acids, you can't and shouldn't even breathe around them. So they're much harder to work with.

[rrmccabe]

Yea nasty stuff.  I have a wash bay in garage and cant use it or the wife blows a gasket. The smell lingers for days.  I dont use it on wheels but do paint decontamination with it. Did a Silverado yesterday and the garage still stinks. I would have done it outside yesterday but it was terribly windy.

[DREWBUSH]

Ive used it in my driveway. The next week when I only washed the cars, the water reactivated the smell the was in the concrete. Not as bad, but still noticeable. 

[Pointcover]

Glad I'm not crazy.  

 

I think the R&D people at Adam's should test their new and improve wheel cleaner with me.  Call it "Wheel Cleaner now with Odor Control."

[stripesace]

Problem is, the chemical that makes sit so darn effective is the source of the odor. 

[Dan@Adams]

Correct. If we don't mask the real chemical smell with the strong Cherry Vanilla cough syrup scent, then it smells like completely rotten eggs, and I really don't think customers want that. The previous Deep Wheel Cleaner had an even stronger cough syrup smell to it.

 

Sorry the second bottle still smells for you Vic, like I mentioned on the phone that day, it's a strong smell and I didn't think it was the bottle but wanted to send another just to be sure.  

[Ls1transam]

Wheel cleaner isn't something that needs to be used all the time anyway. I only use it for heavy brake dust that won't come off with regular washing. Or maybe a twice a year decon on the wheels. It does smell horrible. But I'll continue to put up with the smell since it works so well.

[stripesace]

Wheel cleaner isn't something that needs to be used all the time anyway. I only use it for heavy brake dust that won't come off with regular washing. Or maybe a twice a year decon on the wheels. It does smell horrible. But I'll continue to put up with the smell since it works so well.

 

I use it diluted 1:1 for maintenance cleaning... It just makes the wheels pop after use in a way soap & water can't seem to clean the wheel. That being said I got a gallon in a mystery box, 9 months ago? and I've still got a bit left. 

[Ls1transam]

Hmmm never thought about diluting like that. I may try that

[ExpressThis13]

yeah. I recently recieved a gallon. was storing it in my apartment. came home after work and my whole apartment stunk. Had no idea what it was at first. ordered both the new tire cleaner and wheel cleaner. still have the gallon in here. will be removing that tomorrow for sure. nice to know im not the only one.

[gabhart]

Smells like a woman's hair perm. Works like no other so I will deal with that! And yes, I have noticed when the driveway becomes wet several days later the cleaner gets reactivated and stinks all over again!

[GXPaycheck]

I've learned to spray down the driveway before use to help the product drain away. Cuts down on the smell and any discoloration that may occur.