Cleaning the bike regularly in winter? Annoying! And unnecessary, it gets dirty again immediately anyway. Or not? Your bike likes to be out and about in winter. However, it needs a little more care so that it doesn't suffer from the weather conditions. If you can't stop cycling in winter, it's absolutely essential to clean the bike every now and then, giving it a wash more often than in summer. Here you will learn how to do it and with which accessories the winter bike wash can be done quickly and easily.
But why is it so important to wash the bike again and again, especially in the cold season? It's quite simple:
- Your bike has to endure significantly more in winter than in summer. It is often constantly wet, sometimes it doesn't dry properly for days in cold temperatures. Unfortunately, the moisture also freezes at sub-zero temperatures.
- Problem number 2: Moisture helps the dirt to creep into even the smallest crevices.
- Speaking of dirt – it sticks particularly well in wet conditions and compacts into a thick crust if you don't remove it in time.
- The biggest problem, however, is the grit. While on the one hand it ensures that you don't slip on snow and ice, on the other hand it gnaws at the material. Gravel or sand also take their toll on city bikes, causing increased wear and tear, which is otherwise only known to off-road bikes, such as MTBs. But what's really nasty is road salt! It likes to eat away at bike surfaces. It is all the more important that you wash and care for the essential components properly in winter.
Cleaning the bike in winter – it's that easy!
Slush, grit and salt must first be removed from your beloved bike. But don't worry, you don't have to scrub the bike for hours with frozen fingers.
Step 1: First you have to clean the bike!
If you haven't been riding through knee-deep mud, "rinse - spray - rinse" is usually sufficient. Especially if you plow through the dirt with your mountain bike on the winter trail, you should rinse it off immediately after each ride.
Is it a good idea to clean the bike with a pressure washer?
Especially in winter, you should not clean the bike with a pressure washer . The water jet from the pressure washer is usually too harsh for bicycles and can cause more damage than the proverbial sand in the gears! A pressure washer often blasts water into all sorts of crevices and openings with a lot of pressure. It can take a few days for this moisture to dry in cold temperatures, which isn't good for the bike!
It's better to use a garden hose to clean a bike.
to clean, but here too you should work with the shower rather than the "sharp jet." If you don't have a garden hose or need to disable it in winter to prevent freezing, you can of course also work with bucket or watering can . There are even bikers who treat their beloved bike to a wash in the bathtub. To simply free the drivetrain from salty water after a trip, a bike bottle with lukewarm water is sufficient. You can carefully remove coarse dirt with a soft brush .
Bike brushes for all possible components are conveniently available as a set. Image © Peaty's
If possible, it is advisable to plan the wash on a winter day without freezing temperatures or at least wait for a day when the bike can dry in the sun .
What cleaning products do I need for my bike in winter?
With modern cleaning products, you can effortlessly remove even stubborn dirt from the bike. Providers like Muc Off and F100 offer special bike cleaners for this purpose. It's best to use a biodegradable bike cleaner, spray your already roughly rinsed bike with the cleaner, wait a while, and then rinse off dirt and cleaner with a water jet.
Meanwhile, some manufacturers offer various biodegradable and thus harmless cleaners , but it's still better if the wash water ends up in a drain and not on a lawn. There are also refill packs or bike cleaners that you can mix yourself, keeping waste and plastic packaging to a minimum. Particularly eco-friendly is "bike soap" that comes entirely without a plastic bottle.
Exemplary in terms of environmental compatibility: the bike soap from Schwalbe. Image © Schwalbe
Step 2: Special Cleaner for Bike Components
After the rough wash, it's time for the drive and brakes. There are not only universal cleaners for the entire bicycle. In winter, special cleaning agents may be better suited for sensitive components . Especially disc brakes are a delicate topic, a degreasing cleaner for the brake discs cleans them gently. The bicycle chain also takes a beating in winter, with chain cleaner and a new layer of grease, your entire drive lasts longer!
Brake Cleaner
Bicycle brakes should be cleaned now and then, especially in winter. Even for fair-weather cyclists, well-maintained brakes are an absolute must. When the roads are wet and slippery, they become even more important, as the braking distance is already longer. Poorly maintained brakes are simply dangerous in winter because a film of water plus road salt will hardly improve braking performance.
Normally, it is sufficient to treat the brakes with bicycle cleaner . But for heavily soiled MTBs or city bikes used daily, special brake cleaners are highly recommended. Here, too, there are environmentally friendly and biodegradable products. If you notice that the braking power is decreasing, you should definitely have them thoroughly checked, they may not only need cleaning but also service.
Chain Cleaner
The bicycle chain should also be cleaned regularly in winter. If you commute daily through the city to work or take leisure rides now and then, you should rinse the drive occasionally, which will wash away the grit. Only if it is very encrusted do you need chain cleaner. Afterwards, you must definitely re-grease the chain!
With a soft brush, you can carefully remove dirt from your bicycle drive. Image © Peaty’s
> Here you can find bicycle cleaners, brake cleaners, and more.
By the way, even if your bike glasses are not directly part of the bicycle, we have a pro tip for you! You should Eyeglass lenses and goggles ensure clear vision with a special cleaner and at the same time make sure your glasses don't fog up quickly! Of course, it also works on ski goggles!
Step 3: How to properly dry the bike after cleaning
Many cyclists put their bike in the garage wet after washing and are surprised the next morning - it is not as clean as the day before after a few hours. There is a simple explanation for this: small dirt particles collect in the water droplets on the bicycle, which then "stick" to the frame and components during slow drying. To prevent this effect, you can blow dry your bike with compressed air from a compressor after washing. A soft cloth has the same effect.
With a soft cloth you can dry your bike and polish it to a high shine. There are now environmentally friendly products without plastic here as well. Image © Peaty's
Step 4: Lubricate after cleaning!
After washing comes maintenance, and you should pay special attention to bicycle maintenance in winter! High-quality care products seal the surfaces of your bicycle, so moisture, road salt, and cold cannot cause any damage. You must also not forget to lubricate the drive and treat the dampers. Coordinated care products help your bicycle achieve long-term functionality and better performance.
Chain oil
You need to clean and lubricate the bicycle chain particularly thoroughly because it is one of the most important components on the bike and is constantly in motion. It is also quite close to the wet road, so it is all the more important to give this component a little more love. There are a variety of oils and lubricants available for the bicycle chain.
These care products come in oil form in small bottles or as aerosols in spray cans . For both variants, the chain must first be thoroughly cleaned and then the lubricant applied. If the chain is very heavily soiled, it is advisable to use a special chain cleaner, a soft brush, or a chain cleaning device.
Note 1: Chain greases and chain oils are available in different versions adapted to wet or dry conditions! If you frequently ride your bike in winter, you should make sure to use at least an all-weather chain lubricant. Even better is a chain grease that has been mixed for wet riding conditions.
Attention 2: There is bicycle maintenance – including drivetrain lubrication – that must be applied to dry surfaces. Other products penetrate moisture. The user manual will tell you what to do.
> Go directly to drivetrain lubrication
Lubricants for suspension elements
Winter is not only demanding on the drivetrain and brakes, but also your suspension elements and their seals must endure a lot when riding in mud, with flash rust threatening! When cleaning and maintaining, it is advisable to occasionally spray the stanchions or wiper seals with a suspension fork maintenance oil or damper oil.
> Here you can find damper oil and suspension fork oil for bicycle maintenance
Damper oil or damper lubricant keeps the seals supple and reduces friction. Image © SRAM
Anti-corrosion spray protects metal parts
After cleaning, you can protect sensitive parts of your bike from rust with an anti-corrosion spray.
Step 5: The shiny protective layer …
First, you clean your bike, next the drivetrain is lubricated. Finally, the surfaces receive a protective layer. Various bike brands offer special “shine sprays.” These essentially have two functions: First, they provide a shiny bike after washing. Tiny, superficial scratches are sealed, making the paint look “like new” again. They also prevent new dirt, as dirt adheres less quickly to a smooth surface, and water can simply bead off.
Whether your bike needs to be dry for sealing or if the finish can also be applied to wet surfaces depends on the product you choose.
By the way, you don't have to bring your bike to high gloss to protect it from weather influences. There is also bicycle care for a matte finish.
If you use a spray finish, make sure that it does not get on the brakes and brake discs .
> Here you can find care products, shine spray, surface sealant, and more.
More tips to help you clean your bike
If you frequently ride your bike in winter, you should definitely clean and take extra care of your bike. Now you know how easy it can be! For cleaning, sets that contain bike cleaners, cloths, and brushes, and of course, care products like chain oil or spray finish, are particularly practical. These sets are also a great gift idea for bike enthusiasts! Want to optimize your bike care and are looking for special tips? If you are looking for a more detailed guide to help you clean your bike, you should visit our article "Bike properly clean". We also explain bike care in detail, and we have tested the environmentally friendly products from F100.
How cycling in winter becomes significantly safer, you can find out in our article "Winter with the bike - finally safe through ice and snow!"
Title image: Robert Ruggiero on Unsplash
