I've yet to see a DIY wheel refurb that turned out halfway decent. If you want good looking, long lasting results, then have the wheels professionally refinished. If you want them to look like a teenage shade tree mechanic painted them, then use Youtube and (gasp) plastidip.
The paint your local supply place recommended is aerosol latex paint. Latex is whats commonly used in and on houses. There isn't a wheel manufacturer that uses latex paint on their product. You want your wheels either powder coated or painted with automotive quality enamel or lacquer paint.
If you want them electrostatic powder coated, there is no reason to sand or degrease - the original paint must be 100% removed for powder coating. Couple ways to do this, either with chemical stripper or media blasting. Removing the OEM paint yourself will save you some money on powder coating costs, but they must be completely free of paint.
I'd recommend paint by a professional. He (or she) will know how to sand and scuff the wheels to be ready for paint. They'll know the best recipe for the type of paint being applied, which will determine if a clear coat is used or not, etc. They will ideally paint in a humidity controlled heated downdraft booth, which maintains a positive pressure that results in a better paint job. The temperature in the booth can be increased to fully cure the finish.
Brake dust is caustic. Wheels rapidly heat up and cool down during normal use. Harsh chemicals, stiff brushes, and heavy water pressure are often used the clean them. For these reasons, rattle can spray paint isn't up to the task.
The best bet might be to find a set of used wheels that are in better condition than yours. Just my 2 cents.
