​Do’s and Don’ts for Cleaning Your Bike

If you are a year round cyclist biking in the harsh conditions of winter you will find these have taken a toll on your bike’s performance.  Even if you do not bike when there is snow, ice and salt on the ground, you might someday get caught in the rain or dust and road debris will build up on your bike.  Even though bike frames will resist water and grit, dirt can creep into the  components and get trapped in the moving parts.  A little soap, water, and lubricant applied on a regular basis will boost your bike’s efficiency.  But there are some things you should do to get it done and done faster and others you should not.

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Advantages of keeping your bike clean

• Removing grit in pivot points, chain and bearings will enhance the bike’s performance and extend the life of the parts.
• Cleaning and lubricating components will result in less effort for you as you pedal.
• Regular attention will enable you to keep an eye on the condition of key bike parts and assess whether anything needs replacement.
• The bike just looks better.

Before you get started, collect the following equipment:  Garden hose or bucket of water, detergent, spray on degreaser, stiff and soft brush, and soft rags.   Optionally, it is useful to utilize a bike repair stand to lift the bike off the ground and enable you to work at eye level. 

Bike cleaning station at Earth Rider

What to do when cleaning your bike
Before you start:

• Equipment – gather all items needed.
• Water source – find a garden hose with a light shower setting or a bucket of water.
• Solvents – use a bike specific detergent that is biodegradable, non-toxic and plant based.  You will also need degreasers.  Polishes will protect the frame finish, but bike specific ones will make sure they will not adversely impact rubber (tires and brake pads) and drivetrains.
• Rags – find multiple soft clean rags, cloths, or sponges, setting aside different ones for different parts of the bike, i.e., use different ones for the frame and pedals compared to the dirty, greasy areas such as the drivetrain.  This will avoid transferring grime.

Step by step process for cleaning your bike:

• Where to start – start at the top and work your way down.
• Pre-rinse – apply water to each area before scrubbing to avoid scratching the finish with any dirt that may be there.
• Apply cleaner – use bike specific detergent on the frame and use a soft brush to dislodge any dirt.  On the drivetrain spray on a degreaser, let it sit, then use a stiff brush to loosen dirt and grease.
• Rinse – use clean water to wash away the dirt that has been loosened.
• Special treatment for the chain – if only a light cleaning is needed, apply some chain lube, rotate the cranks to let it soak in, then wipe off to remove surface dirt.  For medium dirt, soak a clean rag with a degreaser, hold it on the chain and backpedal, running the rag along the chain.  If you have a fixed speed bike you will have to just run the rag along the exposed chain, turn the cranks forward a little and rub the newly exposed section, repeating until the entire chain is cleaned.  If a heavy cleaning is needed because there is lots of grease and dirt caked on including rust, spray on degreaser, wait to let it soak in, and then use a stiff brush or chain cleaning tool that will get in between the rollers. 
• Special treatment for rust - sometimes surface rust can be removed from steel parts with a stiff brush then followed up with a spray of lubricant.  On the frame or fenders, a piece of crumbled up aluminum foil or a nylon pad with a lot of scrubbing might loosen surface rust.   
• Dry – be sure to dry everything when done because rust happens even with clean water.
• Apply lube – add new lube to the chain, wiping off excess so as not to be available to attract dirt.  Also drip a little lube on all pivot points and housing entrances.
• Polish – a bike specific polish on the frame will provide protection and make the bike sparkle.
• Inspect all parts for wear.

What NOT to do when cleaning your bike

• Use a power washer or strong setting on a garden hose because this will force water into the bearings, drying them out, and it may be difficult to replace the lubricant.
• Submerge the bike in a tub or lake.
• Use strong solvents that may degrade the finish.
• Transfer dirt from a very gritty part to a cleaner part by reusing dirty rags and not cleaning brushes thoroughly.
• Contaminate brake pads, rims or disc brake rotors with lubricating liquids.
• Apply slippery polishes on the three touch points of the bike: handlebars, pedals, and saddle.

​If you do not have the facilities, time, or inclination to clean your bike, take it to a bike shop that performs bike service.  They are able to perform a professional bike cleaning, either a light one or a deep cleaning as part of a tune up or as a separate service and will likely have all the brushes, detergents, and post clean up lubricants.  When your bike is sparkling clean and working its best you will look good and enjoy a smooth and efficient ride.