TJohn

I'm starting to get some road dirt and such. Had the bike for a few weeks now and feel bad I haven't washed it yet What do you guys use for the frame, wheels, tires?? Should I clean the rims where the brake pads touch?

TJ

maddyfish

I use baby wipes.

CliftonGK1

Bleach-free kitchen wipes and paper towels.

matthew_deaner

I clean mine like a car. Rinse with water hose on low pressure (and without nozzle), sponge and soap, then rinse again. Baby wipes can scratch your finish.

Ekdog

Just use an old rag to wipe it down with. Save a tree by avoiding baby wipes, paper towels and the like.

TJohn

Baby wipes They don't leave a residue? That's a good idea.

TJohn

I like that even better

thePig

I'm the same as matthew, I just wash mine like a car. Normally with a bucket and sponge.

Hydrated

What??

You mean you're supposed to clean your bike?

mkoso

Ride in the rain.

ItsJustMe

Power washer. The bike is cleaner than I could possibly get it with a brush in 2 minutes flat. I have the power washer out for something or other every couple of weeks, so I just blast the bike then.

I let it dry in the sun and then relube the chain (teflon/wax spray, takes 15 seconds) and I'm good to go. People tell me that I'm going to force water into places, but I see no evidence of that; I've still got all my original bearings in the wheels at nearly 14000 miles. I did replace my bottom bracket at 11000 miles, but it had been making noise since before I started power washing it (I just let it make noise for a year or so, it wasn't bothering me).

I don't think the power wash affects the finish at all, but I don't give a damn about the finish anyway. The power wash does get that goopy oil/dust crud out of the recesses of the freewheel like I don't think I could with a brush, and I don't have to use any solvents to do it.

jpdesjar

Prop in shower
Sponge and soapy water
Dry with towel
Lube stuff

Mr. Underbridge

Diluted Simple Green from Home Depot, followed by rinse with water.

I do clean the braking surface reasonably often, either with Simple Green or with baby wipes if I'm at work.

Chuck G

Mr. Clean "magic erasers" are great are getting road tar/grease spots off

JustBrowsing

Old t-shirts, some citrus degreaser, water. And yeah, it's a good idea to wipe down the rims every now and then--just don't lube them.

d2create

If it's dirty (has dried dirt on it), i clean it like a car. Mild car wash soap and low pressure hose.

But most of the time it's just dusty so I use a microfiber cloth and Pledge. Lemon scented.

acroy

of course not

I use the ultimate environmentally-friendly cleaning solution, I got you all beat: I let Mother Nature clean it by riding whenever it rains. That's enough. Any more is just silly - you might as well be a roadie and spend all your time polishing your pretty trinkets and shaving your legs!!

jefferee

I will occasionally wipe mine down with a damp rag.

jpdesjar

I don't obsess about cleaning my bike I just like to access the condition of things every couple weeks or so. If I have been riding in the rain I usually pick stuff up from the road so I like to get that stuff off of there asap. I can't stand grit in the drivetrain.

breadgeek

I also use rags, but I bought a stack of 25 mediocre white washcloths or small white hand towels at the proverbial discount store for like $5; I just machine wash them w/ bleach when they get dirty. One set for bikes, one set for house, way fewer paper towel purchases and I barely have to try. A friend taught me the buy/wash/reuse trick. What a concept.

To clean the bike, I just dampen the rag a bit with H2O and wipe down throughly. If I find that I need a solvent in some spot to remove a sticky substance, a dab of rubbing or grain alcohol usually removes it, or barring that, a few drops of tea tree oil.

Pig_Chaser

I've succombed to the alure of the power washer myself. I clean my bike at work in the washbay, on one particular day my bike was particularly muddy (tried a really really bad shortcut). I was washing and scrubbing with a sponge and bucket for maybe 10minutes when i decided to maybe just give it a quick hit with the pressure washer. 1 minute later my entire bike was spotless.

I dry it off with pressurized air and then relube everything.

Edit: Oh and i love to armour all the sidewall of the tires, gotta be careful not to get any on the rims though...

Berniebikes

I keep my bikes squeaky clean, usually less than 10 minutes to clean and lube one. I use white cotton rags, bought in 10 to 25 lb bulk purchases from the hardware store or home depot, and Pedros bike wash (others work, or make your own but I like it cause it's environmentally friendly)

Here's what i do,

Remove wheels, spray down with cleaner and wipe. Wipe braking surface off (checking wheels and spokes as I do), check pads and remove any grit or slivers.
Clean derailleurs, stays and all parts. Run a rag thru the cogs to remove any dirt or grease. Replace wheels, check brakes, make sure all cables are seated
Run chain thru a rag and wipe off clean.
Lube chain with synthetic lube, wipe excess off

If the bike has been in the rain or is really muddy I will hose off first with a slow hose stream, no pressure, then just wipe down. This takes a bit longer as the dirt tends to streak.

If the chain is really gunked up I will remove and use some citrus degreaser in a plastic bottle, rinsing several times till clean. Replace the chain and lube normally.

Trust me, cleanliness pays. Things will last longer, work better, and repairs are easier if you don't have all the gunk on your bike.

contador

while smoking pot...and with a piece of cloth

jpdesjar

So you can get really involved in the process I see. Always with a beer for me.

cooker

I rarely wash them (maybe once a year or less) but when I do I put them on the car hitch mount and use a bucket and a rag with an orange oil degreaser. I rinse off with the hose. I don't spray anywhere near the hubs or bottom bracket. The effluent goes down the driveway drain into my back yard weeping tile. No citrus trees growing there yet...