These "how do I clean" posts are great. Everybody has an opinion and they seem tireless. If you are looking for even more info, do a search.

One thing about cleaning bicycles that is unique is that they have decals that can be damaged if you use the wrong cleaner. I have heard some folks recommend Windex or other window cleaners. If you use ammonia based cleaners on the old water-decals (just about anything pre-1983), then there is a good chance that you will damage, crack, or remove the decal.

I use automobile liquid soaps/detergents.

First, I hit the bike with the soap, then the rinse. Someone years ago posted this trick and it really works well. Don't wet the bike first. For a real nice clean and to minimize soap, apply the full strength soap to a damp sponge and clean the bike.

Then, rinse by pouring water on the bicycle via a bucket or gentle stream from a low-pressure garden hose. This prevents the chance of high pressure water from a hose getting into the bearings or frame.

Some areas of the bicycle might have really tough grease like the chain stays and BB area. For these areas, I use a de-greaser on a rag - not just spraying wildly from a pump spray. Automotive wheel cleaner seems to work best.

For the really greasy stuff like chains, chain-rings, and freewheels/cassettes, I don't mess around with the water-based degreasers like Simple Green, I use solvent - yup, gasoline and kerosine which I put into a spray bottle and spray on the parts. Be sure to lean your bike so that the sprayed parts are pointing downward. In other words, some folks clean their bikes while it is standing on the kick stand. This causes the solvents and dirt to trickle down onto the rear rim and tire which is not good. Lean the bike so that the run-off does not drip back onto the bike or the wheels.

Keep solvents away from decals.

I take the chain off, put it into a liter cola bottle with solvent and shake, shake, shake. Take it out, rinse, hang to dry. If you put the chain into another liter cola bottle and add 4 ounces of oil and shake, you can do a fine job of lubricating your chain. Wipe off the chain, and put it on the bike. Old schoolers wax their chains, frugal dudes use motor oil, techies use bike chain specific oil. I think chainsaw oil works good and it is clean.

Wax the bike before you put the chain on. Use your favorite automotive wax and let her sparkle. Be careful not to use solvent based waxes on water decals. There was a two-step wax a couple of years ago... was it ClearCoat(?) brand? Anyway, it just destroyed the decals on my favorite collectible Schwinn Continental. That hurt.

By the way, if you have a chainstay protector, this is a good time to clean that or replace it. If you don't have a chainstay protector, get one. I find that clear vinyl tubing from the hardware store fastened with three or four zip ties works very well.

A clean bike is attractive. Yessiree.