Bike Washing Detergent

[ghammer]

Yup, I'm one of those who wash their bikes after messy/sweaty rides. I loathe to put a well ridden bike away filthy, and if it resembles grimy, I scrub it down. As a result (apart from nicks and small scratches), my 7 year old bike looks pretty much new. And I have a super quick routine that'd put Conti's mechanic (Muñoz) to shame.

But I'm tired of paying premium for "bike-related-detergents". Makes no sense to me. Isn't a detergent a detergent?

For those of out there who wash their bikes, is there a household, average supermarket brand that'd be safe for bicycles?

Thanks,

G

[AngryScientist]

assuming it's a painted bike - car stuff works great.

as nutty as bike guys are, the automotive industry is huge on show-and-go. anything safe for car paint is going to be perfectly acceptable for bike paint.

i always have a bottle of automotive "quick detailer" in the garage to wipe the bike down with.

[NYCfixie]

I have never used a bike-wash product.

I have only used dish detergent: Joy, Dawn, etc.

You would be amazed at how well they cut grease and you are not using something that is bad for the environment (or yourself when you use it).

I know some people dilute and use simple green but the best part of dish detergent is that most people already have it and you will most always have it "in-stock" at home.

[dbnm]

Dawn dish soap. Awesome.

I use it after I clean the chain.

[djg21]

Yup, I'm one of those who wash their bikes after messy/sweaty rides. I loathe to put a well ridden bike away filthy, and if it resembles grimy, I scrub it down. As a result (apart from nicks and small scratches), my 7 year old bike looks pretty much new. And I have a super quick routine that'd put Conti's mechanic (Muñoz) to shame.

But I'm tired of paying premium for "bike-related-detergents". Makes no sense to me. Isn't a detergent a detergent?

For those of out there who wash their bikes, is there a household, average supermarket brand that'd be safe for bicycles?

Thanks,

G

I use Simple Green, which can purchased from auto-parts store or from Lowe’s. https://simplegreen.com

[Ken Robb]

I have had Simple Green stain alloy parts. Maybe I should have diluted it more than I did. Many people love the way Dawn works on all kinds of grease and I'm told it's friendly to the environment.

I'm still working through motorcycle cleaner that I bought by the gallon when I had those kind of bikes. There are several brands and they work quite well when applied with a spray bottle, hosed off with water, and dried with a soft towel. I have an air compressor in the garage so if I blow most of the rinse water off the toweling goes very fast.

[raygunner]

Great post...Since I was out of bike cleaner I was just telling myself I had to pickup some up soon, not anymore!

Thanks for helping me save a buck!

[Frankwurst]

Dawn dish soap. Awesome.

I use it after I clean the chain.

This. I just got back from the store after buying a new bottle.:beer:

[C40_guy]

I have never used a bike-wash product.

I have only used dish detergent: Joy, Dawn, etc.


If you wax your bike paint, dish detergent will remove the wax. Any good car wash concentrate will work just as well.

[C40_guy]

I have had Simple Green stain alloy parts.

I left a good chain in Simple Green overnite and in the morning it was rusted. Ouch.

[rousseau]

And I have a super quick routine that'd put Conti's mechanic (Muñoz) to shame.
Link to instructional Youtube video or it didn't happen!

[spacemen3]

As stated, Dawn will strip off waxes. I like cleaning with Sparkle Green Formula and a soft terrycloth. If the bike's greasy, Dawn is great.

[Ralph]

You can wash aluminum parts with Simple Green if you wash and rinse quickly....and completely.
I once ruined the finish of a beautiful polished aluminum Campagnolo Record silver chainring by leaving it in a pan of Simple Green mixture over night. Discolored it. Speeds up corrosion. Looked partially corroded.

So when I wash aluminum parts in a Simple Green type cleaner......I wash off immediately.....just a couple minutes exposure. if they are loose parts.....soak in a tub of water afterwards.

I would probably (now) take the same precautions with any metals and Simple Green. Prefer to limit Simple Green use to my roof and sidewalks. Kitchen dish soap cuts grease (and car wax) pretty well.....that's what it's formulated to do.

[Ozz]

Wash with Dawn, wipe down with Pledge

Sometimes I have an automotive car wash soap that I use....then the Pledge

Clean drivetrain with citrus degreaser...although I picked up some of that Finish Line degreaser to see what the fuss is about.

Cheers.

[tylercheung]

you would have to rinse off the dawn with water as well? you'd then have to dry carefully w/r to rusting?

[wallymann]

pretty much any quality grease-cutting dish detergent. the bulk stuff @ costco works fine. rinse well immediately.

i follow-up and hit all the nooks-and-crannies with compressed air to chase out water, but that's completely optional.

https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1AzLag8mWBuNkSndVq6AsApXaH/Hot-Sale-1PC-Airbrush-Spray-Gun-Duster-Blow-Compressed-Air-Duster-Nozzle-Tool-Air-Line-End.jpg

[Billybob62]

I left a good chain in Simple Green overnite and in the morning it was rusted. Ouch.

ditto with a cassette

[C40_guy]

Link to instructional Youtube video or it didn't happen!

Here you go, link to instructional (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrJawaRR3A0) wash video.

[LouDeeter]

I only use a moist rag unless I have a LOT of sand/dirt (no detergent), then I will drizzle water over the area of dirt build up to remove most of the surface. No pressure washing as that can push moisture into the bearings. Change the rag often to prevent scratches. Then, use a spray wax regularly to remove light grit and other build up, again with a clean rag. I use a rag (old socks are great) to clean the chain and pulley wheels often. Then, just toss them in the trash on trash day. My wife allows me to wash my old rags that don't have black grease on them with the towels. I lube the chain about once every two weeks by dropping a dab of oil on each bushing, then cleaning the outside of the links after running the chain a few times to allow the oil to seep into the moving areas. I lube the moving pivots of the brakes and derailleurs about once a month. I also don't ride in rain unless I get caught in it, so that would entail a different approach to cleaning and lubing.

[C40_guy]

i follow-up and hit all the nooks-and-crannies with compressed air to chase out water, but that's completely optional.


We recently moved to a house with a basement shop. PO left me some good stuff, including some Shop Smith woodworking tools and a basic vertical compressor. I moved the compressor to the utility room and plumbed copper airlines to the garage and to the shop.

Nice having air available.

Now I need to build a small closet for the compressor for sound management. It's pretty darn loud, and it's in a 10x10 concrete floor/walled room, which echoes like crazy!

[ultraman6970]

You can use wet butt wipes, they work awesome with grease.

[Hellgate]

For a full wash I start with hosing the entire bike off. Then spray with Simple Green bike cleaner foam. Let sit a few minutes. Then wash with HEB Ginger Orange dish detergent, best .97 cents you'll spend on soap. Then dry with microfiber towels. Works great for raw Ti and 40 YO paint. :)

[Zoomie80]

I use whatever I have for washing/detailing my car. Typically it's Meguiars Gold Class shampoo...a couple cap fulls in a half-bucket of water, gently wash using a microfiber car wash mitt (takes a couple minutes at most). Then gently dry with a microfiber towel.

For a quick clean, a few squirts of Meguiars Gold Class Quick Detailer on a small microfiber towel does the trick for me.

I've been caught in the rain a few times and rode home w/ mud, grass, worms all over my bike. I give the whole bike a gentle rinse to loosen/remove debris before washing with car wash shampoo. I make an extra effort to clean the wheels and brakes/pads, anything that pivots or spins--then lube once dry.

[Unpredictable]

If you need to use simple green.....Use Simple Green Extreme Aircraft. It is much better and won't stain or etch alloy....I like it
a bunch. For most mild cleaning, I just use Dawn too.

https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Green-13406-Aircraft-Precision/dp/B001VXU7OE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526952374&sr=8-1&keywords=simple+green+extreme+aircraft