Keeping a white saddle white?
 

saddle soap? shoe polish? simple green?
inquiring minds want to know

I have a white saddle and white bar tape now for 3 years, liked the way it looked on my black Domane but was ready to abandon if it was a pain keeping it clean.

The saddle really hasn't gotten very dirty, I was surprised. Cleaning it with Simple Green and then giving it a light rubdown with a cloth wet with 303 spray (I use it on my boat cushions, basically ArmorAll) and it has stayed nice and clean.

The bar tape takes a bit more work. I spray the tape with ScotchGuard after I put it on, that really seems to help. My wife gave me these "Magic Erasers" which are like sponges with some kind of magic stain remover - those work well for cleaning the tape where it gets dirty from my hands/gloves. Then just the usual washing when I wash the bike has worked pretty well.

"Magic erasers" are just melamine foam; they work as a fine, non-aggressive abrasive with no chemical action. They work well for white saddles, tape, shoes and most anything else that needs quick cleaning, and they can be bought direct from China for literally cents apiece.

Regarding maintenance of white saddles, I've found that window cleaner and/or any sort of cleaning/degreasing spray work quite well to clean what the melamine sponges don't. However, over the long term some yellowing will always occur, and I have yet to find a way to remedy that. Luckily it takes many years for it to become really bad in my experience.

+1 On the Magic Erasers (Mr. Clean). It did a good cleanup job on my Specialized Power Saddle.

Did anyone mention Magic Eraser, yet? :thumb:

Where can I buy these from China for cents apiece? Link?

The Mr. Clean ones I use at home always disintegrate much too fast.

EDIT: Never mind, I see some on ePay.

I have seen them on Amazon, Alibaba/Aliexpress, eBay, DX.com etc. Not all are the same quality - some will be less elastic and more fragile than others so they will not last as long - but they all do the job and at that price the differences don't really matter.

Don't use Chinese magic erasers....they will assplode on you.

Thanks for this. Mrs. NoWhammies loves white bar tape and I'm forever cursing her since I find it impossible to keep clean. Especially when I'm working on her bike and having to touch the chain, then go back to the brakes, etc. I'll start keeping a Magic Eraser in my kit. And the tip about ScotchGuard is brilliant!

Obligatory plug for fake leather white bar tapes, easy to clean and stay clean longer. The new Fizik Bondcush Classic is fairly thick and cushy too, if that's what you prefer.

Make sure to visit the restroom before every ride. :D

Wear white bibs.

It's all in the material and being careful.

Certain materials don't stain with common things like sweat or sport drink and stay white. Others seem to soak it up permanently.

I have a white/red/black Fizik saddle that's 75% white. Whatever material it is won't stain unless it's nasty nasty chain lube.

Then again, I now wax chains so that isn't a problem any longer.

As for bar tape? I'll let others answer. I've not had the same luck there.

Magic Eraser ordered!
I think I'm going to try some good ole white Kiwi...

[MENTION=208545]Fiery[/MENTION] good suggestion on the bar tape. Next time I'm taping up the wife's bike/bars, I'll go for a different tape.

I have a white saddle, tape and hoods. The saddle stays pretty clean. I use Lysol All Purpose Cleaner and a sponge on the hoods and tape. Works well.

This stuff from Dollartree for a buck. Cleans grimy white rubber brake hoods better than anything I've tried. Works okay on a white Origin 8 saddle, but takes more wiping. The saddle cover seems to be semi-permeable, not quite fabric but definitely not vinyl or plastic, maybe some kind of microfiber that feels like leather. A dry erase board sponge eraser helps too.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...959f5b4651.jpg

LA's Totally Awesome grill and oven cleaner. It's mostly ammonia with surfactants. Stronger than Dawn or Windex, not as strong as foaming corrosive oven cleaners.

My white bar tape pretty much only get dirty where my gloves tough it, I probably ought to wash my gloves more often...

The saddle is under your behind, so no one can see it while riding, especially yourself. Why bother? I never wash my car either, I will let the other people take offensive at looks, doesn't bother me.

Cool story