Bicycle cleaning not only enhances the aesthetics of our gear. Cleaning individual parts and their maintenance prevents corrosion and extends their life.
Bicycle cleaning - this basic activity not only affects visual values, but also helps to extend the lifespan of components - cleaned ones work better and more precisely. A mud-covered drive will not perfectly shift gears, and a shock absorber effectively dampen shocks. Besides, it is difficult to recognize wear and tear or detect defects on dirty parts.
How to wash a bicycle?
There are as many opinions as there are people. Despite this, it can be assumed that there are general rules, thanks to which bike maintenance will bring the expected results. Let's start with when to clean the bike. Here the answer is obvious - when it is dirty. The road, which we mainly use in nice weather, will probably require less effort than an MTB, which has just descended from a muddy track. In the case of mountain bikes, a few hours of struggle may be enough for the clay to start blocking the wheels. Cleaning the bike is also a necessity before putting it away in the garage after the season, and also when the drive starts to make noise. This will give us confidence that nothing will surprise us when we pull out the two wheels again.
Once we get to work, we should prepare:
- a bucket of warm water;
- brushes - general, for the chain and for the cassette;
- rags for wiping;
- dedicated specifics and degreasers;
- lubricant.
Bike washing affects its appearance, but also allows the machine to operate smoothly.
How to clean a bike at home?
Residents of houses with their own piece of space have definitely more room for maneuver when it comes to cleaning a bike. With two wheels, you can always go out to the yard or hide in a home garage/workshop, without disturbing any neighbor with your work. This allows more freedom of action for private property owners and as much time as they need to take care of the bike. It is also much easier to maintain the order of performing individual activities, avoiding unnecessary repetition of the same movements.
How to clean a bike at home step by step
How to clean a bike and where to start? It will be most convenient if we mount the bike on a work stand or hang it by the saddle. First, we dismantle accessories, such as mudguards. It is also a good idea to remove the wheels, which can be dealt with at the end.
We start washing by thoroughly scrubbing the moving parts of the drive - cleaning the bottom bracket, derailleurs, cassette, taking care of the chain - using brushes and liquids. Dirty components make the whole thing work much worse and wear out faster. When these procedures are behind us, it's time to move on to the frame. Otherwise, its tubes may get dirty from mud or grease transferred from the cassette or crank. Finally, we thoroughly dry the frame, drive, shock absorber and rims. In this way, we will prevent the appearance of rust and unsightly streaks. This is also the moment to get the bike grease out.
When the bike is already shining, we have a great opportunity to take a good look at it, including examining the frame connections and rims. Let's check if there are any scratches or - even worse - cracks that could affect our safety.
We will definitely put less work into cleaning the bike if we regularly take care of its condition. In good weather, wiping mainly the frame and chain after each workout using a dedicated spray and rag (optionally these can be wet wipes) will make life easier for every cyclist.
Did you know that...
Cyclocross is a sport where your bike can get really dirty! That's why cyclocross bikes are designed in such a way that the mud sticking to the tires does not block the wheels during the ride. What's more, people participating in competitions often have a second bike ready, which they can get on when the first one gets dirty to the point that it makes it impossible to continue the struggle.
How to clean a bike with a pressure washer?
This method has many supporters, but also opponents. It is certainly convenient and helps in quickly removing a thick layer of mud from the frame, however, it requires great care. A high-pressure liquid can destroy seals, for example, it is also very easy to rinse off grease from individual elements. We have to be particularly careful around bearings, so it is certainly not the right way to clean hubs, headsets and bottom brackets. However, this does not mean that we should forget about this solution. A pressure washer for bikes will serve us very well - as long as we know how to use it correctly. The Muc-Off brand offers a Pressure Washer model in its range, and it is available at the Center in a set with agents dedicated to cleaning the bike from contamination.
First of all, remember that washing a bike with a pressure washer requires the use of clean water - this is the safest option. We also need to avoid directing a strong stream onto the frame from a short distance. It's better to step back and set the washer at an angle (not directly to the bearings). As far as possible, let's also choose low pressure.
Where to wash a bike living in a block?
Being a block resident, which involves sharing common parts with other tenants and thus spatial restrictions, many may wonder how to clean a bike. Going right outside the building is not always the best solution. It's better to find a piece of space in the parking lot with a drain, take a bidon or bottle and preferably ecological (bio) cleaning products. Then we stick to the order - we wipe the bike, apply preparations, rinse with water and wipe everything dry. We do not recommend trying to wash on the balcony, stairwell or in the basement.
Bicycle cleaning at a car wash
Cyclists living in a block cope in various ways. Nothing stands in the way of putting two wheels into the tub or under the shower, so that the dirt will automatically flow into the drain. If we have no idea how to wash a bike in a block, and we do not necessarily want to enter the apartment dirty, it is worth going to a car pressure washer. Let's pack the most necessary preparations, and on the spot, let's use a light stream from a distance to get rid of the largest dirt from all elements. Even the popular "active foam" program for cars should not harm our two wheels. The cost of such washing is a total of 5-10 zł, and it takes literally a few minutes.
Bike cleaning - what will come in handy?
What to clean a bike with? It is best to use dedicated tools and agents, thanks to which we will reach all nooks and crannies, without damaging anything in the process.
You can buy them individually or opt for a ready-made set. For example, MOTOREX offers a Bike Cleaning Kit, which includes basic cleaning agents, a sponge, a rag, and even a bucket. If we want to put together a full set of equipment, we can also reach for brands like BARBIERI, MUC-OFF or PARK TOOL - they offer, among others, brushes in ready-made sets. In them, we will find, for example, models useful for washing the frame, removing accumulated dirt between the cassettes, as well as those intended for wheels or narrow elements, such as cables. Single accessories - gloves or a sponge - are also available.
The choice is really big, so we will easily equip ourselves with accessories that will be good for us to work with.
What to wash a bike with?
There are many detergents available on the market, each with different applications. It is important to read the instructions carefully before using each one, suggesting how to clean a bike with this specific agent. Only in this way will we avoid blunders and fully utilize the potential of a given liquid, foam or degreaser.
Frame washing
Dedicated washing agents will make frame cleaning easier - they will not harm other components if they flow onto them with water. It is worth choosing products intended for different surfaces, as in the case of JOE'S NO FLATS bike soap. Let's also pay attention to whether a given agent is environmentally friendly.
If we want our machine to look flawless, at the end of the care treatments we should use a shining agent. For example, Eco Frame & Tire Shine from JOE’S NO FLATS additionally leaves a protective layer, pushing back the time for the next cleaning, and at the same time has a positive effect on the appearance and longevity of tires.
Chain
In this case, we can use a degreaser or a dedicated foam, in addition, a special chain cleaning device such as Finish Line Chain Cleaner or Bike Hand YC-790 brush may be useful.
Cassette
Thorough cleaning of this element requires patience, but it is definitely worth it. A brush for cassettes mentioned earlier will be useful for cleaning the bicycle cassette without removing it, allowing even the most stubborn dirt accumulating between the sprockets to be removed. Foaming Bike Cleaner foam from the FENWICK’S brand will also help us, with which we will also clean the chain.