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It is best to clamp the bike in an assembly stand or a wheel holder, as this is the easiest way to work. Mechanic's gloves protect your hands from dirt and lubricants. The first step is to rinse off coarse dirt with clear water and soak the bike.
1 Spray drive
This is where the toughest dirt lurks. Spray all parts of the drive with an organic chain cleaner, then leave to act briefly. We do not recommend chain cleaners as they remove all the lubrication from the chain.
2 Clean drive
Use a small brush with hard bristles to scrub the chain, cassette, cranks and derailleur pulleys thoroughly. One Pinion brush can help to remove dirt between the sprockets. If possible, keep the chain cleaner away from the bearings. Then rinse everything clean with water.
3 Foaming
Now you can finish the rest of the bike with Cleaning spray Spray on. Brakes and brake discs are generally not affected by this, so don't panic about the foam bath. Again, allow the cleaner to take effect according to the manufacturer's instructions. The foam carpets that bubble out of the mobile cleaners may have a high entertainment value, but they spread cleaner around unnecessarily and are more suitable for large areas, such as on cars.
4 Scrubbing
One Brush with long, soft bristles gently removes the coating from the frame, wheels and suspension elements. Never use the drive unit brush for this! Do not forget hidden areas such as the underside of the saddle, fork crown or the underside of the seat and chain stays.
Wash out the brush from time to time to avoid spreading dirt unnecessarily
5 Shower off
Dirt and cleaning agents can now be easily washed off with a gentle jet. Always proceed from top to bottom. Caution: Do not use a hard jet of water on the bearings!
6 Dry rubbing
Especially in winter, it is worth drying with a microfibre cloth. Pay particular attention to clean sliding surfaces and seals on the suspension elements. However, make sure that there is no dirt on the cloth that could scratch the running surfaces. Finally, wipe the drive dry with an old cloth.
7 Regreasing
The dry drive now requires new lubrication, at best with Organic chain oil. Only ever apply lubricant to the chain rollers. Drizzle a little oil onto moving parts and joints. Wipe off any excess chain oil after it has worked in, otherwise it will attract unnecessary dirt.
8 Sealing
Treating your bike with a protective wax at the end makes the next cleaning easier. This makes it difficult for dirt to stick to the bike. To prevent wax from getting onto brake discs and pads, you can also apply the spray to a cloth and rub it into the relevant areas.
Attention: Observe environmental protection
Washing should take place on paved surfaces with a connection to a sewer. In private areas, you can also wash your bike over overgrown ground, but then only with water.
The right cleaning equipment
When it comes to bike care, everyone has their own method. A few Useful utensils are part of our basic equipment.
1 brush set
With a good set of brushes, you can reach every nook and cranny of your bike. Our top three: With soft, long bristles and high water capacity, the Dynamic Soft Washing Brush Ideal for large surfaces, wheels and tyres. The Muc-Off Detailing Brush with short, hard nylon bristles scrapes stubborn dirt from the drive and the Flexible fine brush from Peaty's gently cleans hard-to-reach areas.
2 Wash mitt
The wash mitt from Dr Wack (>> e.g. available here) has replaced the classic sponge for pre-washing. It absorbs a lot of water, removes coarse dirt perfectly and is gentle on the paintwork thanks to its soft fibres. Caution: rinse frequently during the wash to avoid spreading the dirt. Can be put in the washing machine and tumble dryer.
3 Large bucket
Not everyone has a water connection at their washing area. A bucket filled with lukewarm soapy water is therefore ideal for topping up mop water or cleaning brushes between washes. Construction buckets with handles are particularly robust, available from any DIY store and can be used to store cleaning utensils after washing.
4 Microfibre cloth
A fluffy deep-pile cloth is ideal for "stripping" the bike after washing. It prevents water stains and protects the paintwork. It is also ideal for cleaning the stanchions of the suspension elements. The microfibre cloth is available from Sonax in the Pack of two for 8.89 euros.
Mixing water and surfactants to create a product that not only removes stubborn dirt but is also gentle on the material - not so easy. We wanted to know what makes a good bike cleaner and asked an absolute expert in this field.
Stefan Frey
Editor
