Serpico

Hey, what do you guys use to clean your bikes?

I have a bike coming soon. Let me know what kind of spray etc, and/or types of cloth.

I would prefer something I can pickup after work, as opposed to some bike-specific compound.

Also, do you use different chemicals/materials on different parts, and is there anything I should definitely avoid.

Thanks in advance.

Chucklehead

avoid Ammonia.

Jakey

I've been told Pledge on many occasions..

DXchulo

Pretty much any old soap you want with a rag or a sponge. It's a lot like washing a car. Just try not to pressure spray around your crank, hubs, etc.

CycleFreakLS

I like those Costco premoistened wipes (like big diaper wipes). Cleans very well, fresh citrus scent. Doesn't disintegrate like a paper towel and easy to clean in between tight spaces. I use a valve gauge (for doing valve adjustments on your car) to "thread" the wipe through tight spaces. Finally, a wipe down with lemon scented Pledge puts a nice coat of wax on the bike.

LordOpie

crap! I use those all over my house, why didn't I think of that for my bike?

I've been using Simple Green... works well, but it leaves my hands dry and unsexy.

ed073

normal liquid car wash, sponge and a bucket. Use turpentine or kerosene and a little paintbrush to wash the chain and cassette first.

KevinmH9

I usually use normal car wash, warm water, a bucket, and a clean rag for the frame and tires. I use some Pedro Degreaser along with a small brush to clean the access oil off of my chain then drivetrain and surrounding areas. Usually I wash my bike off with a misty spray of water, not very strong to wipe off any dirt and oil. After my bike is clean I take a clean dry towel and wipe down the bike dry. After it is dry I take some Pedro Bike Polish and I take another clean, dry rag and I spray a bit of it on the rag and I wipe the bike down. After the bike is clean I oil it and wipe off any access oil from the chain and ready then shes ready for more!

OneTinSloth

simple green on everything. try not to inhale too much though.

slvoid

I use pledge for my wooden bikes.
Otherwise it's water with a lil degreaser or alcohol and

JamesV

For that black grimy gunk on chainrings, cassette gears, derailleurs, etc., I use Gunk Foamy Engine Brite. Spray it on, let it foam for a few minutes, hose it off. Repeat, then hit the tough spots with an old tooth brush while it is still foaming. Get it at any auto parts store.

slvoid>> I use pledge for my wooden bikes. <<

The last time I used Pledge on my bike my water bottle left a ring...

KevinmH9

If you don't mind spending a few bucks (not sure the exact price some packages can range up to $150-$200 maxmium). Some LBS's might offer packages where you are able to get your bike tuned up and professionally cleaned a few times. I haven't bought the package myself but I have looked at some of the descriptions and they are worth the money.

drroebuck

Ha!

I use Simple Green for anything sensitive ... bike surface, electronics, etc. Love that stuff.

TandemGeek

Takes about 1 hour for a periodic road bike cleaning, e.g., riding in the rain or about once every other month during riding season. Mud bike gets no respect and very little cosmetic cleaning (thank goodness for Ti); weekenders get 5 minute wipe down after each ride and chains just get tossed in wax bath between periodic cleanings. Hot bath "melts off" old lube and sediment settles to the bottom of the bath.

Periodic Cleaning (Tandem takes a few more minutes due to timing chains, rings, & extra crank).

1. Bike gets attached to the Park workstand by the seatpost. (1 min)
2. Fill bucket with water & a splash of Meguiars car wash; washing implements are a stiff bristle parts brush, a nail brush, and a pair of nylon dustpan brushes -- one with cropped bristles the other long. (2 min)
3. Wheels come off for cleaning. (1 min)
4. Chains and cassette come off the bike / rear wheel and get a short, 3 minute soak in my 12 year-old $15 Finish Line Parts "Washer" that I fill with a 50/50 mix of Zepp Citrus Degreaser ($8 gallon at Home Depot good for about a year of cleaning): https://www.performancebike.com/produ...00/00_7240.jpg (3 min)
5. Bike & wheels get a light rinse to cover the frame with water before Step 6 (1 min)
6. Chainrings, derailleurs, bottom bracket areas, and brake calipers get a quick scrub from a stiff bristle parts brush dipped in the Citrus degreaser. (3 min)
7. Short bristle dustpan brush gets dipped in soapy water and is used to give entire frame and components "the once over". Brush easily fits into nooks and crannies around brakes, cranks, chainrings. (3 min)
8. If garden hose is available, frame gets light rinse to clear soap. If no hose available use a 2nd bucket of clear water and long-bristle brush to rinse clear soap. (1 min)
9. Chain & cassette pulled out of Citrus bath and given quick scrub with nail brush then rinsed-off with clear water before being layed to dry on shop towels. (5 min)
10. Scrub wheel rims and tire sidewalls with nail brush, clean spokes and hubs with dustpan brush dipped in soapy water, then rinse and set aside to drip-dry. (5 min)
11. Throw damp chains into Fry Daddy with hot-melt paraffin wax bath. (1 min - 10 minute cook time)
12. Wipe frame dry with soft terry cloth towel while chains "cook". (5 min)
13. Apply 1 coat of Meguiars polish, then 1 coat of Meguiars Carnuba wax to frame. (5 min)
13. Dry-off cassette cogs and reinstall on rear wheel; put wheels back on bike. (3 min)
14. Pull chains out of wax bath and let cool on shop towel for 15 min. (1 min / 15 min)
15. Reinstall chains. (1 min)

ivan_yulaev

I usually just wipe off every few rides on my downtube and stem tube, where dirt tends to build up. About once a month, I will clean off the whole frame with a little bit of orange cleaner, which works as a good degreaser. Also, wipe off the chain periodically, and add lube.

There is also cleaning/lubricating the chain and cassette, which involves removing both, but I do that very infrequently, as it is not necessary to do it often. I also plan to start greasing the bottom bracket every once in a long while to keep it from seizing.

I do ride in fairly clean roads, so your milage may vary.

Hipcycler

Real quick wipe-downs once in a while....get yourself a bottle of that spray and shine stuff guys use on their classic cars. That's what I use on my '61 Ford Falcon Wagon and my Trek 7500! Works great.

"Mothers" is one brand...Turtle Wax makes a spray as well.

Chad's Colnago

I buy Pro Honda Polish for my motorcycle, and use it on my bicycle also. It's an aersol cleaner plus wax. It works really well for picking up road grime and what not plus it leaves a real nice shine. For the drivetrain I have one of those chain cleaners you mount on your bike. Works real well but can be messy. Cables I just barely wet a rag with WD or any other light oil and give em a wipe. Try not to get the cable too oily for it will atract dirt. That's about it that I can think of right now.

Lectron

Diesel or lamp oil. Leaves a thin film of fat, and doesn't
force oil/grease out from bearings etc. the same way as
many other solutions.

Citrus removes dirt very effective, but try removing the citrus afterwards.
You might just have ruined that chain !!.

Nope. Diesel is nr. 1 but smells like sh**, so I go for nr. 2 paraffin / lampoil.
Cheap too.

cycleman_21

I have used armorall wipes because I got them as a gift for my van
they sure work great on the bikes though sometimes useless gifts pan out.

Ron

barleyrocket

So I was watching the video of them taking care of the Discovery Teams bikes and the wrench is soaping down the bike to clean it, great got that. Then takes the hose and sprays it off like it was a Ford. Whats with that. They can do that because they just buy a new hub every 2 weeks and it doens't matter?

ed073

Correct. When you've got that many bikes to clean and a bottomless pit of bikes and bits from sponsors, quickest is best.
I wouldn't recommend this approach for the Madone in your garage at home!