Keeping your bike clean is an effective way of ensuring it works correctly and safely, while making sure it stays looking good. Clean components wear out less quickly than dirty ones - so a well-kept bike will also perform better than a grubby one, and won't require as much maintenance.
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There's a vast arsenal of filth-fighting weaponry available for removing grime, cleaning drivetrains and adding the finishing touches to a bike, but choosing what products to use can be time consuming. We've put together this guide to give you an idea of some essential cleaning products: what they are and what to use them for.
Essential bike cleaning products
1. Brushes
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Soft-bristled brushes are useful for removing softened mud and road grime, while ones with stiffer bristles should make easier work of lifting stubborn dirt.
Choose a kit that contains brushes of varying shapes and bristle stiffness. A large, soft-bristled brush or sponge is good for the frame and wheels and a cone-shaped brush is better for hard-to-reach areas. A toothbrush-type brush with stiff curved bristles can be used for cassettes and mechs, and you'll also want a brush to use when applying degreasers.
2. Bucket, hosepipe and sponge
Some of the simplest items on your bike maintenance checklist, but also some of the most important. You're going to need water to wash the bike, whether you go for a good old-fashioned bucket, a garden hosepipe or a pressure washer.
3. Bike cleaning solutions
4. Bike cleaning spray
5. Degreaser
6. Brake cleaner
7. Bike polish
The best bike cleaning products
Maxima SC1 Polish
- Helps keeps the bike looking shiny and fresh
- Also lubricates suspension
- Keep it away from braking surfaces and components!
Kärcher K2 Compact Pressure Washer
- Compact but powerful
- Versatile — great for bikes, but also useful in the garden and for other cleaning situations
- Different spray lance options for different jet shapes
Finish Line Suspension Spray
- Easy to apply, but spray can get on other parts of the bike
- Reduces friction, giving a smoother, quieter suspension system
- Take care to avoid getting it on brakes
Brite Ride Foam Bike Wash
- Sprays on as a foam which avoids run-off
- Also works as a degreaser
Pedros Green Fizz bike wash
- Concentrated so a little goes a long way, or can be diluted down
- Environmentally friendly
- Lifts dirt exceptionally well
Hope Sh1t Shifter bike wash
- Cleans dirt and cuts through grease
- Also works on disc brakes
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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