Mountain bike care: How to clean your bike properly - plus the necessary products

Washing your mountain bike regularly offers several advantages:

1. Service life of the bike: Dirt, mud and dirt particles can build up on your bike over time and lead to premature wear of the components. By cleaning your bike regularly, you remove these deposits and help to extend the service life of your mountain bike.
   
2. Function and performance: Dirt and deposits can impair the function and performance of the moving parts of your mountain bike, especially the shifting and brake components. Regular cleaning will keep these parts free of dirt and working optimally.
   
3. Aesthetics: A clean bike just looks better! If you're proud of your bike, you want to make sure it always looks shiny and clean.

To summarise, washing your mountain bike regularly is important to prolong its lifespan, maintain its functionality, ensure safety and improve its aesthetic appearance.

BIKE: Mike, you say that many people clean their bikes incorrectly. What do you mean by that?

MIKE SCHINKE: Many people set their pressure washer to maximum pressure. That's often up to 100 bar. That corresponds to the water pressure at a depth of 1000 metres. Most outdoor watches are only water-resistant up to 30 metres. This means that they are a real bearing and joint killer. Another user error: people spray their bike with the cleaner and wash it off straight afterwards. However, the ingredients need a certain contact time, which is stated in the instructions for use.

So the garden hose is always the better option?

Yes, if you still want to use a steam jet, you should turn down the pressure and aim at the floor first, as the pressure is higher at the beginning. Once the dirt has dried, I recommend spraying the bike briefly with the garden hose, then spraying it with the cleaner and working in the cleaning agent with the brush. After five minutes, you can finally hose the bike down. Incidentally, all bearings and joints can easily withstand the pressure of the garden hose. So you can use it anywhere without hesitation.

Special bike cleaners are in vogue. Are there cheap alternatives?

Sure, a bucket of warm water and washing-up liquid. This also loosens the dirt and works quite well.

Do I have to clean and lubricate my chain after every cleaning?

No, many people lubricate their chain too much and too often. This can be recognised by heavily soiled sprockets. When the chain needs oil should depend on the chain pattern. At the latest when the chain rollers are shiny, it's time. Also important: after washing, rub the chain dry with a cloth before oiling it again. You don't need oil on the link plate. That's why I wipe the outer sides dry again after oiling, so they don't attract dirt.

How often should I clean the drive?

If you clean and oil the chain properly, you will also have to clean the drivetrain less often. A lot of dirt often collects on the derailleur pulleys. I first scrape them off with a carpet knife. Then spray with drivetrain cleaner, work in with a brush and leave to work.

In spring and autumn in particular, many trail tours turn into muddy battles. How often do I need to clean my bike in summer in dry conditions?

Dust is worse than mud and sludge. This is because with mud, the stones in the dirt are so large that they do not creep so easily into the suspension elements and bearings. Dust is much finer and therefore penetrates more easily.

When parts on the bike squeak, many people use oil spray to help.

Stay away from WD40 or penetrating oil! This not only lubricates, but also cleans. This means that the base grease in the bearing dissolves, the balls are no longer lubricated and run dry. This is bearing death.

Products for bike cleaning

Fat solvent

Sprockets, derailleur pulleys and chainrings are brought back into shape with special drive cleaners. Tunap's chain cleaner has proved its worth. It not only degreases, but also lubricates thanks to paraffin. It is also easy to apply with a brush. 14.95 euros (300 ml).

Foamer

Gardeners fill plant protection products into such spray bottles. Pump bottles are also useful for cleaning bikes. Cleaning agents are easy to refill (environmentally friendly) and the nozzle can be adjusted more easily than with disposable bottles. Two-litre bottles have proven their worth. For example with Obi or Amazon available from 5 euros.

The icing on the cake

When the bike has been freshly washed, you want to avoid water stains and limescale residue. After all, the eye also rides. A microfibre cloth ensures a shiny, streak-free surface. Tip: preferably a large one, from 40 x 40 centimetres. Available e.g. from Rosebikes or Amazon for 9.99 euros.

Coarse cleaner

If you want to scrape the dirt off the derailleur pulleys, you can use a cutter or an old kitchen knife. This is particularly easy if the bike is hanging in the bike stand. Then place the knife on the side of the derailleur pulley, turn the crank backwards and scrape off the dirt. With Amazon from 5 Euro.

Mobile car wash

Once the dirt has dried, cleaning is much more difficult. With a mobile, battery-powered pressure washer, the bike can be cleaned on site. For example with the Aqua2go Evo, it holds 21 litres and has three modes: 30, 40, 60 bar pressure. The battery lasts about 30 minutes. Price: 279 euros

More articles on the subject of bike care:

>> High-pressure cleaner test