Cleaning/maintenace hints, tip and tricks for a newbie

n1ckster

Hi, I am looking for some advice and recommendations as to how to go about cleaning my new bike and what basic set of products to buy to maintain it.

My Orbea is a little over 1 week old and is still nice and clean (as it left the bike shop) and has suffered only minor dirt from the largely dry roads; so far I have been lucky that I have only cleaned it using a damp cloth and haven't felt the need to lube any components.

When the time comes to clean the bike properly and to begin to maintain and lube it on regular occasions what products do people recommend and are there any hints/ tips or tricks that people employ to keep their pride and joys in tip top condition?

Thanks in advance,

Nick

hokum

Nobody will agree on cleaning fluids. Some people just use water to wash off dirt, others use car shampoo or bike specific cleaning stuff like the Muc-Off gear.

If you want cheap sponges and cloths go to your local Wilkinsons. They do multi packs of soft sponges and microfibre cloths. Or you could buy a single Muc-Off branded microfibre cloth for three times the price...

Scrumple

TESCO BABY WIPES

20 summat p per pack, safe, great

luv em

buy em

(another Scrumple endorsement, I should get paid...)

rake

Scrumple wrote:

TESCO BABY WIPES

20 summat p per pack, safe, great

luv em

buy em

(another Scrumple endorsement, I should get paid...)

i gave this a try after seeing it a while ago. i can say its a very good idea works well. no need to mess with fluids or having to wash the cloths afterward. they are thin enough to get into tight places, unlike tissue they dont tear too easily. theyre very cheap. theyl even wipe oil off too. paraffin is good to clean the chain.
there are the branded bike products which will work well if you please, but will cost many many many times more.

PhilofCas

I've found old towels (typical bathroom one) very useful for cleaning the drivetrain, brake calipers etc, in fact, anything oily/greasy on the bike, also a seperate towel for drying frame/wheels etc etc after a good wash

rake

PhilofCas wrote:

I've found old towels (typical bathroom one) very useful for cleaning the drivetrain, brake calipers etc, in fact, anything oily/greasy on the bike, also a seperate towel for drying frame/wheels etc etc after a good wash

But you still have to mess about cleaning the towels before you put them back in your bathroom.

hokum

Just clean the bike with one side of the towel and keep the other side for yourself.

MattC59

+1 for baby wipes ! They're great for cleaning your chain.

Otherwise, I just use fairy liquid in water. Some people don't like tis as fairy liquid has salt in it, but as long as you rinse it off properly it's not an issue. I've been cleaning my bikes liek this for 20yrs or so, with no problems.

nakita222

hokum wrote:

Just clean the bike with one side of the towel and keep the other side for yourself.

Im guessing your single. In fact i'm not guessing im telling you you're single.

leedsmjh

+2 for baby wipes, with a liberal spray of GT85 for real gunge.
Baby wipes for bike cleaning is one of the best tips I've picked up from the forum (along with beginners should set up rollers in a doorway)

PhilofCas

rake wrote:

PhilofCas wrote:

I've found old towels (typical bathroom one) very useful for cleaning the drivetrain, brake calipers etc, in fact, anything oily/greasy on the bike, also a seperate towel for drying frame/wheels etc etc after a good wash

But you still have to mess about cleaning the towels before you put them back in your bathroom.

blackpoolkev

I was in the LBS and asked what they would recommend for polishing the framework of my bike.Rather than try to sell me something,he helpfully suggested Mr.Sheen furniture polish.
Eager to try it out,I searched the cupboard under the sink and found 3 half-full cans of the stuff- .Even better it works a treat.