I've owned my bike for about 2 years now and haven't done a legit cleaning. I wipe down the chain every couple rides and relube it. However I want to get a real good cleaning in. I was wondering if I take the wheels off and just spray it down is that alright? I've read that it is but the idea of rust really scares me. Also, i wipe it down occasionally with Simple Green. Is this OK to use on the chain? My chain is filthy and I really need to get in there and clean it up really well. If Simple Green isn't good, what is?

Thanks in advance!!

Follow these procedures but you don't have to use their products...

...or you could just use extra fine grit sandpaper all over....

You'll get a ton of answers on chain cleaning solution, I take the chain and pulleys off and submerge them in diesel gas. Move things around for about a min and it all comes out sparkling clean. Then wipe down the cassette/rings in the same and everything else with a water wet rag, never had any issues and my bike is coming up on its 10th birthday.

I also make sure to clean things up whenever I have a part off that rarely comes off.. one day I'd like to do the cabling.

I'd be careful hosing or spraying your bike down. Keep the spray off bearings.

If you wipe down your chain and re-lube every few rides, you're already doing more than 99% of all cyclists.

I also take mine off but I soak it in WD40 then blow all excess out/off with an air chuck -reassemble and lube. I also take the cassette off and clean in a parts cleaner filled with WD40

Do a search. There are plenty of threads regarding cleaning your bike...2 years??? yipes...

What kind of lube are you using?

This is good basic practice: HOW TO WASH YOUR BIKE

I like to remove the wheels, one at a time, to clean them as well as inside the forks and the brake pads. I also use mineral spirits and a brush on the cassette followed by rinsing with water when I have the rear wheel off the bike.

For lubing the chain, here is an excellent proceedure from the Rock-N-Roll Lube website: ROCK "N" ROLL CHAIN LUBES

A FEW TIPS FOR USING ROCK "N" ROLL'S CHAIN LUBES
• Put the chain on the big ring in the front, and the small
cog on the back.
• Apply the lube on the chain, over the top of the cog. Let
a nice flow of lube go onto the chain (don’t be cheap). Remember you’re going to clean and lube the chain in
one step.
• Freewheel the chain backwards, and wipe off all of the dirt and grit that comes up to the surface of the chain. Keep in mind, you can’t wipe off the chain too much, so make that chain shine!
•Shift the chain off the big ring, so you can wipe off the chain ring, to clean up the little bit of residue left behind.
•For best results, allow your chain to sit a few hours or lube the night before. However, if right after lubing, you have
to ride, you have to ride, so go for it. Giving the lube a chance to set gives the lube a bit more life by allowing the protective membrane to fully set-up. Remember, to wipe
off you chain after riding regardless if you’re going to re-lube or not. This keeps the chain clean and looking great

If any of my bikes get grungy or muddy or road salted, I spray all over with hose and hit everything. I do not use a lot of pressure around the bb or head tube, etc...but I spray that sucker down. I then bounce the bike down the basement stairs and wipe dry with clean rags. Then I clean the nooks and crannies with simple green and then a light Windex spray all over and wipe with paper towels. After that I lube the chain and pivot points on the derailleurs and hang the bike by it's back wheel on a hook. I have never had any problems and do a deeper cleaning only when I do maintenance. I have done this for years on steel and carbon bikes. Life is short and bike cleaning is not that much fun.

The song in this video will now haunt my dreams forever. Thanks.

If it was a moist or wet ride, I clean and lube immediately or at least the same day. I usually ride 2-3 times a week when it's dry and I wash on the weekend so about every 2-4 rides, she gets washed and lubed.

Just search youtube for washing tips. There are plenty.

"Do do do do doooo dooooo....do do do do dooooo doooo..... do do do do dooooo dooooo doooooooooo... deedle deeeeeeee"

Two years.... with the same chain? You must at least keep it properly lubed. But... maybe... you should measure the chain just to be sure you shouldn't be replacing it.

I couldn't care less how dirty... OTHER people bicycle get. And it doesn't bother me to get my bicycles dirty ether. But the only way I know of to fully inspect my bicycle is to wash it. I wash my bicycle regularly. Most of the time my bike looks as clean as new. But then why shouldn't it.... it doesn't take but a few minutes every few days or weeks to keep it shiny clean and well maintained.

Here's a good little video that explains it all better than I ever could.

This is my favorite video:
from this BF thread:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...you-wash-yours

I bought all that stuff: brush set, chain holder gizmo, soap, Bike Lust, not the same brands as in the video, but stuff that does the same thing. Works like an absolute charm. Revolutionized my bike care practices, especially the brushes and chain holder.

If I told you what I do with my steel you'd probably have a heart attack . I am trying to be a bit better on my new bike since I have the feeling "they don't make them the way they used to"

Nashbar sells a chain-keeper tool like that. It works perfectly. In general, I find that you need a few inexpensive specific tools to clean a bike easily and thoroughly.

My tips:
- take the wheels off, mount a chain keeper and mount in a stand.
- get a long plastic brush the reach in behind the crank, hit the hubs and behind the brakes. I have one designed to clean fridge coils that works perfectly.
- use a stiff-bristled short handled gong brush on the cassette and rims.
- make sure your frame has good drain holes, if not, mark the seat height, pull the post and invert the bike to drain it after washing (this is a pain, the best advice is to buy a frame with good drainage...)

Method: I do this outside (obviously).
I use two buckets: one with very diluted dish soap (one squirt in several gallons) and one with plain water.
I use two automotive sponges that are wrapped in microfiber cloth, I got them at AutoZone.
I wash the bike with the soapy water first, then the drivetrain with the same soapy sponge, then use the brushes on all the hard to reach spots. I don't use any special solvent on the chain, soapy water works great.
I scrub the brakepads and cassette with a brush. Work aginst the ratchet in the cassette and really scrub, there's always an amazing amount of dirt in there. I also use a little Park cassette-specific brush to get behind the cassette.
I dig any implanted grit out of the brakepads with an awl.
I then wash everything once more with the plain water.
I wipe everything down with a towel.
I spray the drivetrain down with WD40 to displace water followed by relubing. I also relube the brakes.
I let the lube dry/sink in a bit, wipe of the excess with a rag, remount the wheels, run the bike through the gears a few times and I'm done.

I can get this done in maybe fifteen minutes and do it only as needed. I have a brushed-finish Ti frame and use a little Lemon Pledge if I want it to shine, which is rarely.

One other tip, I use a paintbrush and odorless mineral spirits on the chain to clean it if I'm not washing the whole bike down.

simple green is good for chain cleaning. i used it neat in a chain cleaning tool and then hosed down the chain. then i dried and then lubed.

I think everyone washes their bicycles differently.... and some of us modify our procedures and time goes by. But using a bicycle work/repair stand [of some sort] seems to be universal. I have a bicycle work/repair stand that I haul out from the garage to the backyard every time I clean a bike.

I have heard of apartment dwellers using a rack mounted on the back of their cars [for transporting bikes] as a work/repair stand. I guess if you had a bucket, sponge, brush or two, and rags or towel handy... a cyclist could clean the bike at the car wash. Be careful with the power washer-like wands! Don't accidently force water into bearings and places where you don't want water.

In my home office I have an old bicycle that hangs on the wall like art... using a fold-down bicycle shelf-rack. This thread has got me thinking again about some sort of semi-permanent bicycle stand mounted on the backyard fence or deck.