Clean your bike properly – 7 steps to a clean bike

Whoever rides a bicycle must also clean it. Especially in spring, autumn, and winter, the bicycle doesn't always stay clean on tours, but even a bike tour in summer rain can lead to a thorough wash.

A little dirt doesn't harm the fun of cycling, but it does harm your bike! The drive of a bicycle suffers particularly from abrasive particles, which is why you should wash your bike regularly. With our tips, you can get a clean bike in 7 steps.

Bicycle cleaners are available from various brands such as Muc-Off, F-100, or Neatflow. When purchasing, make sure to buy environmentally friendly cleaning agents to avoid harming the environment while cleaning your bike.

These products are useful for bicycle cleaning

• A bicycle repair stand helps you keep your hands free while washing. Your bicycle is held securely, allowing you to focus on cleaning. A simple bike stand will do as well.
• For any decent bicycle cleaning, you need water. A garden hose is ideal for this, but especially in winter, they are often put away due to the risk of frost. In that case, a bucket or watering can will suffice.
• Different brushes, cloths, and sponges should not be missing when cleaning your bike. Here too, you should pay attention to biodegradable materials.
• When cleaning your bike, water alone is not enough, as the dirt often sticks firmly. Special bicycle cleaners for the frame, chain, drive, and brakes ensure better dirt removal. But please make sure to use biodegradable products!

Use only biodegradable bicycle cleaners for cleaning your bike and avoid aggressive, acid-containing household cleaners.

Products for Bicycle Cleaning

Repair stand | Bicycle pressure washer | Bicycle cleaner | Bicycle care

Can you clean your bike with household products?

The question often arises whether bicycles can simply be washed with household products  can. Because dish soap also degreases, vinegar cleaner dissolves dirt, and so on. Clear answer:

It is not recommended to clean a bicycle with household cleaners or homemade mixtures from home remedies. From rust or ruined paint to seized brakes, the consequences can be really annoying!

Special case carbon bicycle? 

Your expensive carbon racing bike, gravel bike, or MTB also needs a wash from time to time. 

1. In this case, you can study the descriptions of your bicycle cleaners and care products, where you will often find a note on whether the product is also suitable for carbon . 
2. We particularly recommend the use of a work stand for carbon bicycles, so the bike doesn't fall over while cleaning. 

Where is the best place to wash your bicycle?

It is definitely advisable to wash the bicycle in a place where the wash water drains into the sewage system.

In the wash water - even if you use environmentally friendly cleaners - there are chemicals, lubricants, and so on. They are better off in the sewage treatment plant than on a meadow!

Cleaning your bicycle in 7 steps

Cleaning your bike is actually not that difficult, yet we have compiled a step-by-step guide.

So - how do you clean your bicycle properly?

Step 1: Preparing the bicycle

Quite logical: Remove all parts that cannot withstand water. You should remove bike bags, battery lights, or the bike computer before washing. You can wrap contact points with some cling film. Also, parts like leather saddles can be wrapped.

Step 2: To make washing easier - soak the bicycle

You should definitely pre-wet your bicycle before cleaning, that is soak it. It's best to spray off the coarse dirt with a garden hose before going into detail with the cleaning. Alternatively, you can also soak the bicycle with a watering can or a bucket and a sponge.

The dirt must go! A clean and properly cleaned bicycle not only looks better but also contributes to impeccable and long-term good function. Before you start cleaning, you should definitely rinse your bicycle.

Step 3: Washing the bicycle drivetrain

In the second step, you take care of your drivetrain - that is, the chain, chainrings, crank, front derailleur, and rear derailleur. Since the dirt in these areas is often stubborn and mixed with oil or grease, it is worth spraying on a special chain cleaner. A chain cleaner or drivetrain cleaner dissolves the dirt, allowing you to remove it much more easily after a short exposure time.

Our tip: To get between the chainrings, special sprocket brushes are suitable. Once the dirt is loosened with the brush, it can be easily rinsed off with water.

For cleaning the bicycle drivetrain, a special cleaner is particularly suitable for loosening stubborn dirt.

Step 4: Clean the bicycle frame

Next, you should take care of the frame and all other attachments. Applying special bike cleaners simplifies cleaning immensely here as well, as stubborn dirt is loosened and can be easily rinsed off.

• Spray the bicycle cleaner on the wet bike, wait a few minutes until the cleaner has dissolved the dirt.
• Then rinse it off with clear water.
• For stubborn dirt, you can use a soft brush or sponge before rinsing off to assist the bicycle cleaner. 

Important! Do not scrub or scour if there are still particles, sand, or coarse dust on the bicycle.

 

Most bicycle cleaners need to be sprayed onto the wet bicycle to be able to work for a few minutes before you can remove the dirt with a soft brush or sponge and plenty of water.

Step 5: Does your bicycle have dampers?

In this step, it depends on which bicycle you ride. This is about dampers, which are only found on certain bicycles, such as mountain bikes, trekking bikes, and some city bikes. If you have them, your suspension fork and damper should receive special treatment, as both are significantly more sensitive than the rest of the bicycle. Therefore, use only a soft and clean sponge for cleaning the stanchions and seals to avoid scratches. You should be very careful with the pressure washer here (even if it's one for bicycles) as the pressure can wash particles under the seal. The stanchion must be dried with a soft cloth, and then some damper care is indicated to prevent rust and keep the seal supple.

Step 6: After cleaning comes the rinse

Once you have cleaned all the components of your bicycle with the brush and/or sponge, you can rinse off the bike cleaner along with the dirt with clear water and roughly dry the bike with a microfiber cloth.

After that, it can simply (with a few exceptions) air dry before you apply bicycle care, chain grease, and so on.

Step 7: After cleaning, the bike can dry...

... and you can put your feet up. You can let the air dry the bike. But there are exceptions.

• The bike should not stand around wet for too long. In very cold weather, you can help with a soft cloth. Also, make sure that the wash water does not freeze.
• Compressed air can speed up the drying process, and you can also use it to blow water out of hard-to-reach corners. 
• You should dry contact points with a soft cloth. For example, the contacts between the e-bike and the battery or between the mount and the bike computer remain rust-free this way.
• The chain also tends to rust, so dry it with a soft cloth.

Step 8: Bike Protection and Care

After thoroughly washing your bike, it should now be dirt-free, but you're not quite finished yet, as you should not neglect the subsequent care.

> In our blog, we also show you, how to properly care for your bike.

When cleaning your bike, please avoid:

• In frost, you need a place with above-zero temperatures to let your bike dry. The wash water should not freeze.
• A high-pressure cleaner is still often used when cleaning bikes. This is generally not a problem, but you should never aim the high-pressure jet at suspension forks, dampers, and any type of bearings. The high water pressure can push dirt into the bearings and seals, causing long-term damage. For cleaning the frame, tires, or other components without bearings and seals, its use is fine.
• There are now high-pressure cleaners built specifically for bikes or delicate items. They operate with less pressure and can at least remove coarse dirt from the frame or wheels.
• You should definitely avoid aggressive and non- biodegradable bike cleaners ! Think of the environment and the fact that you want to enjoy its beautiful trails for a long time.
• The wash water belongs in the gully, not in the ground. 
• Most of your bike's components are made of aluminum or plastic, and you can simply let them air dry. However, the chain tends to develop surface rust when wet. It should be immediately wiped with a lint-free cloth and then lubricated with suitable chain oil . The same applies to the contacts of the e-bike.
• After cleaning the bike,  wrong lubricants are often applied. Products like WD-40 or universal oil are excellent products but have no place on the chain, the bearings of the full-suspension frame, or the seals of your suspension fork. You should only use specialized products for bike maintenance.
• Quickly wiping off dirt in its dry state (e.g., with a glove) while on the go is not a good idea. Small stones in the dirt can quickly cause unsightly scratches on the paint or components.

 

More bike care tips in the bike blog:

• Bike cleaning in winter
• How to properly maintain your bike
• What helps with frozen bike brakes?
• F100 bike cleaner in the test
• Bike lubricants explained

Now you know how to clean your bike so that it lasts as long as possible - and always looks good. Feel free to leave notes and comments below. We look forward to your feedback.