A better way to wash your bike?

ugo.santalucia

I've always used bucket and sponge, which is time consuming and a bit overkill, when you just want to remove a bit of salt and crud in winter. Equally, I don't want the hassle of having to buy a pressure washer, which is not good for the bearings anyway. Hosepipe uses a lot of water, which is not good either...
So, I think I have found another way: I have one of those pressure bottles that you buy in garden centres to spray things on plants, I think I paid a tenner for it. It's 2 lt and goes under pressure by pumping it. It does a great job cleaning the bike with 1-2 full "tanks" of water, so 2-4 lt in total, which is very acceptable. Pressure is enough to remove mud from the rims, but not enough to damage bearings.

Really pleased

MattFalle

You could use a garden hose in the absence of one of these sprayer things - with a nozzle with adjustable spray they are strong enough to do absolutely everything.

Loads of variations of those sprayer things US is using around. If you don't have a garden/yard, attach hose to inside tap, hang out of window. job jobbed.

First.Aspect

There are quite a few battery powered pressure washers around now. The mtbers at Innerleithen all seem to have one in the back of the van.

They only damage bearings if you point the jet at the bearings.

ugo.santalucia

yeahbbut, my solution is by far the cheapest and the one the most environmentally sound... and you don't need to have an outdoor tap

pblakeney

I've been using washed out spray cleaner bottles for ages.
Soapy mix spayed on before shower, leave, clean water spray after shower.

MattFalle

ugo.santalucia said:

yeahbbut, my solution is by far the cheapest and the one the most environmentally sound... and you don't need to have an outdoor tap

but you don't need qn outside tap with my solution and it probably uses less water as its quicker.

First.Aspect

ugo.santalucia said:

yeahbbut, my solution is by far the cheapest and the one the most environmentally sound... and you don't need to have an outdoor tap

I suppose. Are you talking about one of those big weed killer sprayers that you pressurise yourself and then carry around the garden with a shoulder strap?

pblakeney

I get by using similar to below. Washed out of course.
Reusing is more environmentally friendly than recycling. Less water than Ugo too! 😉

First.Aspect

Jesus you guys. If you really want to save water, just wash the drive train and lick the frame clean.

I just collect rain water and run a pressure washer off that. Just a thought...

First.Aspect

pblakeney said:

I've been using washed out spray cleaner bottles for ages.
Soapy mix spayed on before shower, leave, clean water spray after shower.

Sorry, what are we talking about here?

pblakeney

First.Aspect said:

pblakeney said:

I've been using washed out spray cleaner bottles for ages.
Soapy mix spayed on before shower, leave, clean water spray after shower.

Sorry, what are we talking about here?

You know exactly what, but kudos for the humour. 🤣

focuszing723

In the winter a bike with good mud guards then you don't need to wash it all the time. If you aren't in a race and it's just exercise, you just go a bit slower. Keep the decent bike fresh from salt for the Spring/Summer/Autumn.

elbowloh

First.Aspect said:

Jesus you guys. If you really want to save water, just wash the drive train and lick the frame clean.

I just collect rain water and run a pressure washer off that. Just a thought...

Legionella alert...

david37

focuszing723 said:

In the winter a bike with good mud guards then you don't need to wash it all the time. If you aren't in a race and it's just exercise, you just go a bit slower. Keep the decent bike fresh from salt for the Spring/Summer/Autumn.

im moving back to the beginning and simplifing things and just slapping training wheels on cleaning every time and replacing a chain and cassette in spring. mostly because i cant be bothered to maintain and store multiple bikes. having said that a hardtail for a bit of a change and when the roads are icy/snowy/flooded and forest seems a better bet. obv a gravel style bike as well for the same reasons as above and for touring / bike packing / going to the pub / being one of the cool kids / epic adventures etc. also a brompton and a single speed and my old TT bike oh and the turbo wreck.

BUT ive cut my road bikes down to one.

First.Aspect

elbowloh said:

First.Aspect said:

Jesus you guys. If you really want to save water, just wash the drive train and lick the frame clean.

I just collect rain water and run a pressure washer off that. Just a thought...

Legionella alert...

Yes, based on mass gardening deaths associated with watering cans that no one had reported, Porton Down conducted a study. What it didn't do is actually correlate the assay tests to any actual risk.

Besides, we live in Scotland where increasing a body of water above 20C for any length of time requires use of a kettle.

ugo.santalucia

I'm talking about one of these

https://www.toolstation.com/draper-pressure-spraygun/p26690?store=RM&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&gclid=CjwKCAiAu8SABhAxEiwAsodSZKFGoolkDMvsTESdxYkVrMWm2-Qkfr11nxFMfRfxs2snteG-Tr6z7hoCzrEQAvD_BwE

First.Aspect

Advise larger one, e.g. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spear-Jackson-Action-Pressure-Sprayer/dp/B00RD0KTZQ/ref=asc_df_B00RD0KTZQ/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=226005619422&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=236575191720439644&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046893&hvtargid=pla-420395423259&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

Pressure drop proportional to change in volume above liquid. Small dewar means if you put much water in it, the pressure will disspate like a little f@art.

lincolndave

Definitely much better

elbowloh

lincolndave said:

Definitely much better

Don't cross the streams!

First.Aspect

Showing your age there elbowh.

elbowloh

What the all female Ghostbusters film from a couple of years back?

pangolin

MattFalle

focuszing723 said:

In the winter a bike with good mud guards then you don't need to wash it all the time. If you aren't in a race and it's just exercise, you just go a bit slower. Keep the decent bike fresh from salt for the Spring/Summer/Autumn.

how hideously clubbie and boring.

no. no no no no. no.

i do not work my butt off to ride a rubbish bike so i save 5 minutes of my life hosing something down.

if i wanted mudguards i'd buy a Ford Mondeo.

next thing you'll be saying wear a hideous awful kit and hang out with people with matching spandex.

no.

First.Aspect

Oh grow up Matthew.