Best way to clean my bike?

[esmorin]

Hi Owlie! I live in an apartment, too...which is why this is kind of a challenge for me. I have no out-doors source of water....and if I put together some sort of cleaning kit, it pretty much needs to be self-contained.

So, it's OK to clean the chain and cogs with degreaser to 'de-gunk' them, and then add new, clean lube? I mentioned to a friend earlier about cleaning my bike with water...and the response was like "water?!?! you don't want it to get rusty!" And it scared me....even though I can't imagine cleaning it without using water at SOME point in the routine (even just to rinse off degreaser). So I guess, I am looking for reassurance that as long as I bounce the bike to get water off, and dry it with a towel, and relube, water is OK?

Thanks so much for the responses, by the way!

[PamNY]

Hi Owlie! I live in an apartment, too...which is why this is kind of a challenge for me. I have no out-doors source of water.

Is there an outdoor faucet that your apartment staff uses? That's what I use when my bike needs water. I ride a lot in winter and I just ask the staff to turn the faucet on for me. The road salt definitely needs to be washed off with water.

[OakLeaf]

Water is fine. Bicycles are meant to be ridden outside! But if you must use a hose, use one of those gentle rain sprinkler attachments. It's high pressure that's a problem. If there's an opening at your seatpost, cover that so water doesn't go down your seat tube and potentially into your bottom bracket.

Your main task when cleaning your bike is getting grit out of moving parts. That's what causes wear.

Someone here suggested using one of those pump-up garden sprayers. That was the Best Bike Cleaning Tip EVAH. You get enough pressure to get crud out from between chain plates, brake caliper arms, etc., but not so much that it'll penetrate bearing seals; and you can direct the spray very precisely to keep from directing it at bearings and frame drains.

Also, you could fill it indoors and take it outside for washing. One filling of the 2-gallon sprayer is usually plenty - but you can always refill it if you need to.

[sundial]

I got into the habit of washing my mountain bike after every ride with this. I also dial it to fine mist and rinse off my road bike when it gets dusty or muddy. The chain gets cleaned about once a month so that I don't get gunky chain grease on me. I lube the chain about every other week.

[Aggie_Ama]

I got into the habit of washing my mountain bike after every ride with this. I also dial it to fine mist and rinse off my road bike when it gets dusty or muddy. The chain gets cleaned about once a month so that I don't get gunky chain grease on me. I lube the chain about every other week.

You are a rockstar! I have seen people using those but has no clue what it was. DH is THE WORST about bring home a dirty bike from racing then letting it sit for a a few days and he wonders why parts wear out so quick. I want to pick up the bike and hit him on the head with it (while he still has his helmet on naturally). Drives me batty!

I use the mist setting on my garden hose every week on my mountain bike. We rarely ride muddy trails in Texas (except said races) so it is usually just dusty mudd making things squeak. Rock 'n Roll Gold Lube which cleans and lubes every week, full strip down to clean every nook and cranny about twice a year. Sometimes clean the rotors on the brakes to reduce noise.

For the roadie, same thing mist setting then dry with a microfiber towel my in-laws thought we would use for cars. I spray Pedro's Bike Lust on a separate towel and wipe the fork, top tube and down tube for extra spiffy shine. Rock n' Roll the chain about once a month, thorough clean including running the chain through the Park Tool Chain cleaner, tooth brush scrubbing the cassette, etc about twice a year.

The biggest key is no high pressure and be careful with things like bottom brackets, seat posts and such where water can creep in. My LBS uses a fine mist to clean bikes, if they think it is okay then I am okay with it.

[OakLeaf]

I always thought Simple Green was a weak acid, but it turns out it's a weak base.

On bicycles and motorcycles, it won't hurt anything that won't wear out from other causes long before any chemical reaction from Simple Green caused any damage. Rinse it off, just as you would with any solvent or detergent.

I can see where you'd be especially careful about what you'd put on aircraft... lots of riveted plates and nooks and crannies, and just generally an enormous surface area that would take an inordinate amount of time to clean individually. AFAIK it's high pressure hose and maybe sponges or scrub brushes with aircraft. Not the toothbrushes and pipe cleaners we use on bicycles...


ETA: I use the Park Tool degreaser as well. It seems to be one of the least toxic ones out there. That's a relative term, though.