Dumb/silly cleaning idea

[benb]

Anyone try an electric toothbrush for cleaning tight spaces on bikes?

I have one that Amazon accidentally sent us. It’s not a really nice one, I’m tempted to try it since we don’t need it.

Literally sitting in a dentist waiting room with my kid and he asked me what ultrasonic means and this came to me.

[Veloo]

Not an electric one but I do use toothbrushes after I'm done with them.
Also have straw/pipe brushes for screw wholes and really tight spots.

[reuben]

I floss my chain after every ride.

[tootall]

I have thought about hitting my chain with an ultrasonic toothbrush to clean it but haven't tried it yet. I guess it would still require a rinse to flush out/off whatever got knocked free. Seems like an ultrasonic or reciprocating head would be effective on surfaces for sure.

[benb]

If I give it a try I'll report back.

Seems like it would work well on chains with minimal effort. Might help for nooks and crannies on hubs as well.

My guess is the heads don't fit inside a cassette without modification or disassembling the cassette.

I have lots of little "pipe brushes" for cleaning reusable straws, can't believe I hadn't thought of that, I'm going to have to try those for the cassette.

I have the set of Park Tool brushes but often times they seem so big they spread grease & grime as much as they remove it.

[AJosiahK]

Originally Posted by reuben

I floss my chain after every ride.

lol

and yeah, not electric but I do use the used up quip ends for cleaning up stuff. reuse reduce recycle! or something like that

[reuben]

Originally Posted by AJosiahK

lol

and yeah, not electric but I do use the used up quip ends for cleaning up stuff. reuse reduce recycle! or something like that

Ear wax makes good gear wax.

[Mike Bryant]

Here's another... for cassette cleaning.
Chunky yarn. Yes, extra thick yarn, in the crafts section of any store. Cheap! Break you off a section and floss that cassette. Works great and much easier than using the edge of a terry cloth towel. If your cassette is extra dirty, spray some WD-40 (or similar) on it. I use it when the wheel is off the bike during cleanup; just put the wheel in my lap and use the ratcheting action of the hub to floss away. It really gets into the nooks and crannies of the cassette. Try it.

[batman1425]

My $0.02 is it'll make a bigger mess than be helpful. This is based on how much "spray" my sonicare creates if accidentally turn it on before I start brushing. Flings stuff everywhere.

[KonaSS]

That is basically this product - https://www.amazon.com/Finish-Line-G...004JKK75A?th=1

Claims it is made from "microfiber." You could get a cheap polyester chunky yarn and try it out.

[benb]

Originally Posted by batman1425

My $0.02 is it'll make a bigger mess than be helpful. This is based on how much "spray" my sonicare creates if accidentally turn it on before I start brushing. Flings stuff everywhere.

Good point. I got sick like the day after I posted this and haven't even gotten to ride again so no cleaning. The toothbrush amazon sent us is not a sonicare though, my guess is it doesn't fling stuff as hard.

But the Park brushes also tend to fling stuff everywhere.

I like the yarn idea. I have some twine already, I will perhaps try that, but it's probably not the right thickness for cassettes.

[batman1425]

Originally Posted by benb

I like the yarn idea. I have some twine already, I will perhaps try that, but it's probably not the right thickness for cassettes.

I've had good luck with strips cut out from old cotton T-shirts. Fold them in half lengthwise and that's just about the right thickness to floss in between the cassettes. Spray a bit of your fav. degreaser on the shirt before starting for extra cleaning, and use a "ratcheting" motion to work around the cassette. I do this if I'm not planning to pull the cassette to really scrub it out. Also, no flinging.

[Cat3roadracer]

Unscented baby wipes.

[notlance]

Use & (re)use old running shoe laces.

[Louis]

Paper towels and pipe cleaners - if they can't handle the job, then IMO it isn't worth doing.