General Cycling Discussion - Cleaning the seat

Lately I've noticed that my seat smells a little. I've been using a little windex when I clean the rest of the bike, but obviously the fabric is absorbing the sweat smell, etc. It's a gel seat. Any suggestions for cleaning. Should I just take it off the bike and hose with soap and water (it's also a suspension seatpost, and I don't feel like taking it apart from that)

Edit: Watch what you say

- WorldIRC

See if you can remove the seat cover with out damaging anything. If you can, do so & wash it in the washing machine, but hang it up to dry. The heat from a dryer might shrink it. If the cover can not be removed was it with regular dish soap, like dawn, rinse well & let it air dry. Anything other then a mild soap such as dawn may cause harm to the gel saddle.

To be honest I can't say I've ever cleaned a saddle on any bike I've ever had -- although my bikes tend to see a bit of rain, which may negate the effect of excessive perspiration.

I don't consider "Dawn" to be mild, have I been wrong?

I use liquid hand soap (with antibacterial agent), or laundry detergent.

Wet down the fabric of the seat. Use a few drops of woolite and rub it into the fabric real well adding a little water if neccessary. Let it soak for a few minutes, then rinse out the soap with plenty of water. Maybe dunk it in a bucket to rinse but probably not required.

Let the seat dry in the sun and you should be odor free.

I wipe mine with a chamois every time I ride.

55/Rad