Our test of twelve bike cleaners clearly shows that there are major differences between the individual products. What makes a good cleaner and how do organic products differ from standard products? We asked Hartmut Hauber, Head of Application Technology at Dr. O.K. Wack Chemie GmbH, to find out. Hauber has decades of experience in the development and testing of cleaning and care products. He also sits on chemical industry committees that regularly discuss developments and test procedures.
BIKE: What makes a good bike cleaner?
HARTMUT HAUBER: An optimum bike cleaner is able to remove all dirt (road dust as well as grease and oil stains) automatically without mechanical assistance. At the same time, the bike cleaner is very gentle on all surfaces and materials.
Are there different requirements for the cleaner depending on the type of bike (road bike or e-bike)?
Soiling in the bicycle sector is similar depending on the type. Although there are certain differences, e.g. between cross and road bikes, there are no fundamentally different types of dirt. The requirements are therefore the same. There are no special bike cleaners on the market for racing bikes, e-bikes or cross bikes.
What should I pay attention to when using the cleaner?
Follow the instructions for use, rinse the cleaner thoroughly. Do not use on hot surfaces or in direct sunlight. Do not use home remedies or secret tips. Only quality products are designed for bicycle cleaning and have the necessary material compatibility.
What is the difference between organic and standard cleaners?
The raw materials used in organic cleaners are generally based on natural or renewable raw materials (e.g. sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, etc.). There are also organic bike cleaners that use bottles and labels made from recycled plastic. A high-quality organic bike cleaner has the same cleaning effect and material compatibility as a standard bike cleaner. The assumption of many customers that organic is more expensive and worse is fundamentally incorrect.
What is the difference between wheel and car cleaners?
The soiling on bicycles and cars is different. When cleaning bicycles, you have to reckon with more oil and grease stains, whereas cars often have stubborn insect stains, especially on the front. Bicycle cleaners are usually sprayed on undiluted and rinsed off after a certain contact time. Effective bike cleaners work automatically and only require mechanical assistance in the case of very stubborn dirt. Car shampoos, on the other hand, are usually concentrates that are not used pure but diluted. As a rule, the car is always cleaned with mechanical support using a sponge or washing glove.
Many people wash their bikes with cheap washing-up liquid. Is that an alternative?
Washing-up liquid is designed for household soiling. Soiling in the bicycle sector is sometimes completely different. As a rule, washing-up liquid is always used in diluted form. This automatically requires mechanical support, which entails a risk of scratching sensitive surfaces. Self-acting cleaning (spray on, leave on, rinse off) is not possible with washing-up liquid. Washing-up liquid is not designed for sensitive bicycle surfaces. Washing-up liquid can attack polycarbonate or Plexiglas (headlight lenses, rear lights), for example (stress corrosion cracking).
In the following articles you will find everything you need to know about cleaning and caring for your bike:
Stefan Frey
Editor
