Bike wash
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2016
Location: North West Mississippi
Posts: 18
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Bike wash
Recently got a bottle of Finish Line pink bike wash. It works ok but not exactly cheap.
Got me wondering what everyone uses.
Buck of soapy water with Dawn?
409 ?
Anything to stay away from? Anything gonna eat my paint or weaken carbon?
Also degreasers. Finish line vs. gasoline? Or household chemicals?
Thanks
Got me wondering what everyone uses.
Buck of soapy water with Dawn?
409 ?
Anything to stay away from? Anything gonna eat my paint or weaken carbon?
Also degreasers. Finish line vs. gasoline? Or household chemicals?
Thanks
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Porter, Texas
Posts: 4,133
Bikes: Trek Domane 5.2, Ridley Xfire, Giant Propel, KHS AeroComp
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1648 Post(s)
soapy water and pledge.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 20,692
Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7504 Post(s)
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Maryland (DC area)
Posts: 276
Bikes: Trek DS 8.5 Scott Hybrid Thunderbolt folder '75 Schwinn Varsity '95 Schwinn cruiser '58 Wstrn Flyr...
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 111 Post(s)
Automotive soaps work well for general cleaning, and are made to be gentle on plastics, finishes, rubber, etc.
Degreasers: Dawn dish soap, any citrus degreaser, and this stuff from Dollar Store called "Totally Awesome".
They are all biodegradeable, not harsh on the bike or the environment.
If riding in dry/dusty conditions, all it may need is a quick spritz of water. Save the soaps for another day.
Drying is important.
I use compressed air. a leaf blower might work too.
Degreasers: Dawn dish soap, any citrus degreaser, and this stuff from Dollar Store called "Totally Awesome".
They are all biodegradeable, not harsh on the bike or the environment.
If riding in dry/dusty conditions, all it may need is a quick spritz of water. Save the soaps for another day.
Drying is important.
I use compressed air. a leaf blower might work too.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Metro Detroit/AA
Posts: 8,091
Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3496 Post(s)
Plain water, unless it has gotten really dirty, then some Dawn mixes in.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 21,818
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r
Mentioned: 67 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2714 Post(s)
fyi - if you use Walmart's spray chain cleaner it will kill your grass
#7
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 12,614
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5601 Post(s)
Clean the bike well, wax and then the bike comes clean with a damp rag. That's all. You don't have to spend money on cleaning products.
Harsh dish washing soap like dawn dulls the paint. Degreasers are for parts which are removed from the bike.
I would never use compressed air to dry a bike. Runs the risk of blowing water past bearing seals.
-Tim-
Harsh dish washing soap like dawn dulls the paint. Degreasers are for parts which are removed from the bike.
I would never use compressed air to dry a bike. Runs the risk of blowing water past bearing seals.
-Tim-
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Maryland (DC area)
Posts: 276
Bikes: Trek DS 8.5 Scott Hybrid Thunderbolt folder '75 Schwinn Varsity '95 Schwinn cruiser '58 Wstrn Flyr...
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 111 Post(s)
Clean the bike well, wax and then the bike comes clean with a damp rag. That's all. You don't have to spend money on cleaning products.
Harsh dish washing soap like dawn dulls the paint. Degreasers are for parts which are removed from the bike.
I would never use compressed air to dry a bike. Runs the risk of blowing water past bearing seals.
-Tim-
Harsh dish washing soap like dawn dulls the paint. Degreasers are for parts which are removed from the bike.
I would never use compressed air to dry a bike. Runs the risk of blowing water past bearing seals.
-Tim-
Not high pressure air, and not too close. I have well water, and need to get it dry so as not to leave mineral deposits.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of da Mitten
Posts: 10,710
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, homebuilt recumbent
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 809 Post(s)

I just use whatever I can find - car wash soap, dish soap, often just Pledge(tm) on a rag.
#10
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 8,163
Bikes: Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel, Centurion Ironman Expert
Mentioned: 130 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2433 Post(s)
Hot soapy water with Dawn, usually after chain cleaning to get the spatter off the chain stays.
I may try some sort of finish to see if it helps prevent mud sticking to the frame. That's usually the biggest maintenance annoyance after riding gravel or poorly maintained paved roads.
I may try some sort of finish to see if it helps prevent mud sticking to the frame. That's usually the biggest maintenance annoyance after riding gravel or poorly maintained paved roads.
#11
Str*t*gic *quivoc*tor
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,556
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6550 Post(s)
Warm water with Murphy's Oil Soap. Citrus-based degreaser for the drivetrain, if needed.
__________________
I know next to nothing. I am frequently wrong.
I know next to nothing. I am frequently wrong.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 4,867
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 844 Post(s)
Water with car wash soap or Dawn -- whichever is closer when I get the bucket and brush out.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Panama, close to Pedro Miguel Locks.
Posts: 150
Bikes: Trek 2300
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 47 Post(s)
Dawn in a bucket with water. After drying using an air compressor I lube applicable parts and apply Turtle Wax Ice to the frame with a soft cloth.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Westminster, CO
Posts: 185
Bikes: 2016 Hong Fu Gravel Bike, 2015 Motobecane Turino Team
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 72 Post(s)
I pay someone to wash my bike.
#15
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 12,614
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5601 Post(s)
#16
Don't make me sing!
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Western PA
Posts: 1,016
Bikes: 2013 Specialized Crosstrail Elite, 1986 Centurion Elite RS, Diamondback hardtail MTB, '70s Fuji Special Road Racer, 2012 Raleigh Revenio 2.0, 1992 Trek 1000
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 301 Post(s)
Recently got a bottle of Finish Line pink bike wash. It works ok but not exactly cheap.
Got me wondering what everyone uses.
Buck of soapy water with Dawn?
409 ?
Anything to stay away from? Anything gonna eat my paint or weaken carbon?
Also degreasers. Finish line vs. gasoline? Or household chemicals?
Thanks
Got me wondering what everyone uses.
Buck of soapy water with Dawn?
409 ?
Anything to stay away from? Anything gonna eat my paint or weaken carbon?
Also degreasers. Finish line vs. gasoline? Or household chemicals?
Thanks
I use Simple Green, or the purple stuff, very dilute, for cleaning. If you dry with compressed air, you could drive water into bearings, so be aware, and be careful.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 1,847
Bikes: 1984 Trek 720 with a Nexus hub, 2016 Cannondale Synapse
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
just a damp cloth
#18
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NoVA - DC Metro
Posts: 1,228
Bikes: 1987 Schwinn Prelude -- 1995 Specialized Hardrock Sport GX
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 296 Post(s)
Baby wipes.
They will clean anything, seriously. My son is 4 and doesnt need them anymore but I still buy them because they work for everything.
Cork/foam bar tape even. Just wipe down real quick -
(Plus, you can wipe the tape dry instead of having to wait for it to dry all day/night since they dont soak the tape)
They will clean anything, seriously. My son is 4 and doesnt need them anymore but I still buy them because they work for everything.
Cork/foam bar tape even. Just wipe down real quick -
(Plus, you can wipe the tape dry instead of having to wait for it to dry all day/night since they dont soak the tape)
Last edited by Hardrock23; 07-29-16 at 03:45 PM.
#19
Getting older and slower!
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky
Posts: 418
Bikes: Trek Domane 6 series Project One, Bike Friday Pocket Rocket, Trek XO1, Specialized Turbo Vado 6.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
I use the Finish Line spray for a quick clean, Dawn with water when I want to do a through job. After I do the through job, I dry the bike(s) and apply Bike Lust.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 982
Bikes: '87-ish Pinarello Montello; '89 Nishiki Ariel; '85 Raleigh Wyoming, '16 Wabi Special, '16 Wabi Classic, '14 Kona Cinder Cone
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 354 Post(s)
As far as soap, I just use Blue Coral car wash soap I get at the auto parts store. It's what I wash my cars with to. It has no waxes or finishes just soap. I never take water to my road bikes. I wipe them down with a damp towel only when they get really dirty. I only take water to my mountain bike if it is caked with dirt and then judiciously wash with the Blue Coral.
#21
Ambulophobic
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: San Leandro, CA
Posts: 889
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 317 Post(s)
No buckets. No water. No soap.
Pledge Multi Surface on microfiber shop towels I get at Costco. Spray on the cloth and wipe down. Very easy, and because it doesn't make a big wet mess I can clean every nook and cranny in the comfort of my carpeted garage.
I second the baby wipes suggestion. I'm not sure what's in them, but I have a pack in my office for unexpected cleanups I might have to do. They work very well. They cut through damn near everything and leave a nice scent. I would use them more often if the Pledge wasn't so much cheaper.
-Kedosto
Pledge Multi Surface on microfiber shop towels I get at Costco. Spray on the cloth and wipe down. Very easy, and because it doesn't make a big wet mess I can clean every nook and cranny in the comfort of my carpeted garage.
I second the baby wipes suggestion. I'm not sure what's in them, but I have a pack in my office for unexpected cleanups I might have to do. They work very well. They cut through damn near everything and leave a nice scent. I would use them more often if the Pledge wasn't so much cheaper.
-Kedosto
#22
afraid of whales
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Front Range, CO
Posts: 4,322
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 346 Post(s)
$6.00 pump-it-up 1 gallon spray bottle from Lowes, 4 tablespoons of Dawn with 1 gallon of tap water. Spray it on after a crusty ride and rinse it off with the garden hose. No wax products, too lazy.
«
Previous Thread
|
Next Thread
»