How to Wash a Bicycle

Posted on October 22nd, 2009 by Elaine

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A bike that’s squeaky clean will work better than one that’s caked with mud and rust. It’s very important for any bike owner to know how to properly wash and clean his bicycle, so it will be useful for a longer period of time. Here are some easy steps you should follow.

What You’ll Need:

A bucket of dish detergent and water mixture (don’t use any lye-based soap)
Bike stand (or any material you can use to prop up the bike)
Plain water
Clean towels or rags
Sponge
Scrub brush
Chain lube (optional)
Car wax

Procedure:

Prop up your bike using a stand. If you don’t have one, just lean it against rocks or trees. It must be in an upright and still position.

bicycle cleaning

If there are major mud clamps on the bike, chip them off. Those that are bigger than a ping-pong ball must be removed manually, so washing will be easier for you.
Spray the bike with water, removing excess grime and dirt. You can use a hose or a bucket. Washing with too high-pressured water will take away the lubricants and grease that your bike needs, so just spray lightly.
Clean the chain and the areas around it. Get a scrub brush and dip it in plain water. If you’re not very familiar with the chain, or if you don’t have any chain lube, you can just skip this step.
Use the sponge to wash the bike’s frame, using the soapy water you prepared. Make sure you give attention to hard-to-reach areas. Spray with water lightly, then repeat the scrubbing, if there are still dirt deposits on the bike.
Wash the bike wheels, using the sponge and soapy water as well. If you want, you can even dip the wheel on the bucket, so all sides become clean.
Lightly rinse the whole bike.
Dry the bike. Don’t let it dry by itself. You should use two different towels or rags, one for the clean parts and frame, and the other for the oily areas. You can also use the second towel for cleaning around the bike’s brake pads and wheels where rubber deposits have developed.
Wax the bike frame with a top-quality car wax, following the manufacturer’s instruction. This makes the bike shiny and protects the finish.
Add chain lube to your bike’s chain.

Washing your bicycle the right way will assure you that it will be useful for more years to come. Just follow these easy steps, and you’ll have a neat-looking bike once again.