Bike cleaner recommendations

Hattori-Hanzo

Well-known member
Apr 10, 2023
427
567
UK
Don't get G-85 near the rotors or calipers!!!
On a serious note, if you do accidently contaminate your discs / pads, immediately clean them with pure acetone (not nail polish remover as it has other ingredients) and a bit of a 1200 wet and dry sand paper.

I do this regularly to remove containments, dirt/mud and brake pad dust. Brakes are still going strong and don't squeak at all 👍

I use acetone over brake cleaner as you can soak the wet and dry in it to soften it and if you shop around it can be bought for a fraction of the price of brake cleaner. Just avoid contact with painted areas.
 
Last edited:

Binhill1

🍊 Tango Man 🍊
Mar 7, 2019
3,326
5,171
Scotland
Hi
I’m looking for recommendations for a good bike cleaner to clean off the winter mud and grime. I clean my bike once a week (it gets used 2-3 times a week always off-road) I’ve been using Muc-off but it keeps going up in price. I’ve been recommended fenwicks and have used it at a friends ,but any recommendation will be welcome.
Cheers.
Best one by far is if the wife does it for you.
 

Binhill1

🍊 Tango Man 🍊
Mar 7, 2019
3,326
5,171
Scotland
All bike washes are a scam, just use water and a cloth or cheap auto wash soap if you really think you need suds.

D
Yes I use the cheapest car wash and only a squirt. I've even removed dirt when out on the trail on my own by peeing on the bike .Chains don't need that much attention unless your OCD and there's plenty of that on here.
 
Oct 24, 2022
1
0
United Kingdom
On a serious note, if you do accidently contaminate your discs / pads, immediately clean them with pure acetone (not nail polish remover as it has other ingredients) and a bit of a 1200 wet and dry sand paper.

I do this regularly to remove containments, dirt/mud and brake pad dust. Brakes are still going strong and don't squeak at all 👍

I use acetone over brake cleaner as you can soak the wet and dry in it to soften it and if you shop around it can be bought for a fraction of the price of brake cleaner. Just avoid contact with painted areas.
Bang on this stuff👌😎
Bike Xpert Bike Cleaner | 5 litre (2 Pack) With Foaming Extension Hose | Fast Acting Bike Wash | Biodegradable | For All Types Of Bikes | Bicycle Cleaning | Ready To Use https://amzn.eu/d/6yn7Amo
 

Canyon Shawn

Active member
Feb 4, 2023
301
192
Lake Sherwood, California
^ Soapy water like Dawn diluted in water isn’t going to hurt anything. The most important part of cleaning a mountain bike is having the proper tools. There’s a couple of companies that sell sets of brushes, and it makes cleaning so much easier.
 

Downhillr

Active member
Jul 2, 2021
300
158
SF Bay, California
Hi
I’m looking for recommendations for a good bike cleaner to clean off the winter mud and grime. I clean my bike once a week (it gets used 2-3 times a week always off-road) I’ve been using Muc-off but it keeps going up in price. I’ve been recommended fenwicks and have used it at a friends ,but any recommendation will be welcome.
Cheers.
I use the Muc-Off product myself. There is anither product I use in wet/muddy conditions to help shed mud and make cleaning a lot easier as well: Amsoil‘s “Mudsliger” spray-on was developed for ATV market but is great for any mud activity, it doesn’t pick up dust and dirt like more oily products, stays on for 2-3 weeks.. I spray the underside of down tube, back of seat tube, rear triangle and rear pivot, shock link (do NOT overspray onto brakes/rotors). https://www.amsoil.com/p/mudslinger-amssc/
Hi
I’m looking for recommendations for a good bike cleaner to clean off the winter mud and grime. I clean my bike once a week (it gets used 2-3 times a week always off-road) I’ve been using Muc-off but it keeps going up in price. I’ve been recommended fenwicks and have used it at a friends ,but any recommendation will be welcome.
Cheers.
 

Gilbo

Member
Nov 16, 2022
101
61
Isle of man
Hi
I’m looking for recommendations for a good bike cleaner to clean off the winter mud and grime. I clean my bike once a week (it gets used 2-3 times a week always off-road) I’ve been using Muc-off but it keeps going up in price. I’ve been recommended fenwicks and have used it at a friends ,but any recommendation will be welcome.
Cheers.
I went with fenwicks and so far I’m impressed.
 

Sander23

Active member
Aug 28, 2020
740
457
Belgium
Got a 4 l can of chemical guys honeydew. Use it in a foamgun (cheap aliexpress)for everything mtb motorbike, cars...
Great stuff, thick foam smells good and cleans good
 

InRustWeTrust

E*POWAH Master
Mar 9, 2020
524
758
Sweden
yes, muc off is really expensive and it is again common alkaline degreasing it contains.

you can buy alkaline degreasing cheap in cans at e.g. motocross/enduro shops and then dilute it yourself. buy a 5 liter canister and you have so you can wash the bike all year for half the price than muc off costs.
 

Binhill1

🍊 Tango Man 🍊
Mar 7, 2019
3,326
5,171
Scotland
yes, muc off is really expensive and it is again common alkaline degreasing it contains.

you can buy alkaline degreasing cheap in cans at e.g. motocross/enduro shops and then dilute it yourself. buy a 5 liter canister and you have so you can wash the bike all year for half the price than muc off costs.
Halfords cheapest car wash don't need to use much and will last a year at least and that's washing the car occasionally as well.
 

Binhill1

🍊 Tango Man 🍊
Mar 7, 2019
3,326
5,171
Scotland
Well I use Aldi spray can bathroom mousse cleaner.
Wet the bike, spray foam on and leave it for about a minute then rinse off.
Seems ok and been using it for years
I've used fairy liquid as well . It's muddy sometimes but how clean do you want it. Same with chain 3 in 1 oil cheap as chips. Used that for 30 years probably.
 

Haveland

Active member
Apr 21, 2022
218
152
New Brunswick, Canada
I keep Dawn mixed with water in one of those weed spray hand pumps and have been washing my bikes like this for years. The only issue is Dawn is so good at removing grease you do want to go lightly and be careful where it gets into.
 

VWsurfbum

🤴King of Bling🌠
Jan 11, 2021
1,545
2,276
England
*I dont want to comment but I feel i need to*
*I dont linke GMBN but in this instance they are correct*
*Using home detergents is a really bad idea, just like using washing up liquid to wash your car*
*There is specialist cleaning products for a reason*
 

Haveland

Active member
Apr 21, 2022
218
152
New Brunswick, Canada
Not a bad video, but it's also clearly sponsored by Much Off. My takeaway from it is I do think I need to look more into a water displacer.

Dove soap, though is pretty bike-safe, and we use it a lot in the jeep world too, where we aren't worried about wax and finish. Used mostly on the undercarriage cleaning but I use it also in the engine area and will do a full jeep wash but normally only in the spring as a major clear to remove all salt from the Jeep.
 

militantmandy

Well-known member
Jan 18, 2022
399
369
Tweed Valley, Scotland
I just use a brush and water. Not washing my bike is just not an option in Scottish Winter (or summer). Once inside I wipe down with a cloth and lube the things that need lubed.


PXL_20231104_140848733.jpg
 

Dave_B

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
Aug 29, 2020
1,473
1,594
Newquay
Whatever bike cleaner you use, use it in a foam cannon, you get 100x the coverage. It’s amazing just how little you use.

I have a 24L container with a tap and I use the concentrate packs and dilute them. The 24l lasts well over 12 months.
 

Binhill1

🍊 Tango Man 🍊
Mar 7, 2019
3,326
5,171
Scotland
Well that's as clean as it ever gets . Be clartit wi mud on Friday again as I'm going out . Then it will get a clean again on Saturday if its lucky. I dont clean in the dark anymore. . Demon foam this time don't need a lot . Quick brush of chain with 3 in 1 oil no expense spared . Check everything is lined up with the Verynear gauge . That's what I miss about the non Ebikes just a quick hose when I came home and as everything is still wet it's was easy cleaned. Getting lazy 😴 as I get older as well.

20231115_132152.jpg
 

hogicid

Member
Jun 2, 2023
63
10
United States
Did you purposely pick the second photo because of the phenomenal amount of rust on the car ?? :) Or the funky after market foglamps .. then were the days ! :) "Carnossier" - BBS wheels and endless plastic crap to put on your car to make it look even crapper than it was ..

Oh yeah .. thread .. Let it dry, brush of the worst bits without touching paint - or use a soft brush made from the pubic hairs of Scottish Virgins. Then delicately and slowly use something like a silicone spray (either as that or a furniture polish) and microfibre cloth your way down, changing cloths regularly so you don't scratch the paint with the crap.

Ideally use heavy water, or make your own - it falls off faster ;-) if you need to use water.

If you want to be really snobby, use a de-ioniser with your water so it does just fall off . But ideally, don't use water.

If you do use water - tip the bike in every direction afterwards (it's scary how much runs out) then dry it extensively somewhere warm - but not too warm..

Or just brush it off, feck it, spend the time riding it bike manufacturers to avoid(use squirt lube as crap doesn't stick to it - don't ever use muc off wet lube - it should be called transmission destroyer.).
We’ve just run out of Fenwicks bike cleaner. What’s the current bike shampoo of choice in your garage?
 

Money Pit

New Member
Subscriber
Jan 27, 2024
75
50
UK
I occasionally use a muc off or peatys spray but that's since I received them as gifts. Otherwise I just use some meguiars gold car shampoo I've had for years.
 

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