Washing up liquid??

lofty102

Can you use washing up liquid to clean bike chains without knackering them? I know it cleans oil off really well but I wasn't sure if it would damage the chain at all? Cheers.

nicklouse

if you really want to but it is not that good.

a chain cleaning solution is better.

streako

I use car shampoo. Cheap as chips from any supermarket.

Gerry Attrick

Most domestic washing-up liquids contain salt. I'd rather keep that off my chain!

Boffington

theres nothing washing up liquid can do that car shampoo can't do better

nicklouse

Boffington wrote:

theres nothing washing up liquid can do that car shampoo can't do better

there is actually. washing up liquid can dissolve the rubber window seals on cars. and car shampoo tends to have waxes in it as well, Not good for discs.

weedy1

It said in my owners manual not to use washing up liquid on your car as it contains Surfactants which apparently, over time can discolour your paint.

dave_hill

And car shampoo makes your plates taste funny when you lick 'em. Oh hang on, I've got it the wrong way round haven't I?

Been washing my car and bikes (both motor and pedal) with washing up liquid for years. As long as you rinse it off with plenty of clean water after it shouldn't be a problem.

mediamonkey

dave_hill wrote:

And car shampoo makes your plates taste funny when you lick 'em. Oh hang on, I've got it the wrong way round haven't I?

Been washing my car and bikes (both motor and pedal) with washing up liquid for years. As long as you rinse it off with plenty of clean water after it shouldn't be a problem.

Exactly, I've never understood this phobia about washing-up liquid. First of all, how much salt does it really contain? Not much by the look of it, at least the ingredients don't seem to mention it. Secondly, you'll get far more salt on your chain riding on the roads in winter, and guess what? You're *washing* your bike - finish off with plain water and the salt won't stick around!

(BTW my 16-year-old MTB which has done, at a rough estimate, 25,000 miles, is only on its second chain, has been ridden through all kinds of sand and muck, the chain cleaned fairly rarely and usually with washing-up liquid, *and* had liberal squirts of WD-40 and GT-85 over the years, and is still going strong. Not that I recommend this type of maintenance scheme )

The new bike is looked after more carefully 8)

lofty102

Thanks for the info lads, conflicting experiences tho!! I think as long as i rinse it all off properly I should be fine!! I'll let you know how I get on.

stumpyjon

I'm still waiting for my windscreen to fall out, I always stick a bit of washing up liquid in the windscreen washer bottle. That said I tend to use Hope Sh1t shifter or muck off on the bike followed by car wax spray (sprayed onto a cloth first) to keep the frame shiny and stop the muck sticking.

Marjory Stewart BAxtor

I've been using white lightening on a new chain for about six months now through the winter which claims to be `self cleaning`. was a bit dubious but the other day I just qiped some grit off with an old rag and was astonished that my chain (apart from some stuck on mud stains) sparkled and it wasn't covered in mud in the intricate jointy bits. I'm white lightening all the way with my chain cleaning as my lube is all i need, lolf

mediamonkey

I thought White Lightning was what tramps drink in summer?

MountainPete

After every ride (when I clean my bike), I fill a bucket with warm/hot water with a good splash of fairy washing up liquid in. The chain goes straight in and soaks whilst I clean the rest of my bike. I then give it a good scrub with a brush, dry it out, put it back on the bike and lube it up. Works a charm.

Marjory Stewart BAxtor

mediamonkey wrote:

I thought White Lightning was what tramps drink in summer?

in yarmouth it's what the chavs buy in bulk and drink on the beach at 10am