How to clean your bike: products and steps to follow?

Surely it’s happened to you before you go out for a ride, and when you get back, whether because you’re tired or short on time, you don’t clean your bike. The next day, the mud is dry and stuck on. To prevent rust and extend the lifespan of your components, it’s important to keep your bike clean and dry.

You might be wondering, how often should I clean my bike? Well, there’s no strict rule, but if you’ve been out riding and it’s just rained or it’s still raining  it’s best to clean it the same day. The same goes if your bike has been sitting unused for a while: you’ll want to clean and lubricate it before heading out again.

If you’re passionate about mountain biking, it’s a good idea to lube your bike after every ride. If you’re more into road cycling, every two or three rides should be enough. Don’t worry if you’re not sure how to do it  we’ll explain how to lubricate your bike in this post.

Cyclist in the mountains mtb

Let’s start by explaining which products you should use to take care of your bike, and then in what order to use them so your bike stays in top shape — lasting for years, needing fewer trips to the mechanic, and of course, riding fast and feeling great every time you hop on.

What products do I need to clean my bike?

There is no established rule, but it is essential or recommended to have the following materials and products to clean your bike. And yes, they will work for both road bikes and MTB.

  • Bucket with water: having a large bucket of water nearby will be very helpful to remove dirt residues and keep your hands clean, although you can also use degreasing hand paste.
  • Degreaser cleaner: the cleaner and degreaser will help you clean the bike thoroughly without damaging it. Just spray the cleaner and scrub with the brush.
  • Brake cleaner: a good brake cleaner for bikes helps maintain the effectiveness of the braking system by removing dust, grease, oil, and dirt.
  • Rags: used rags or any old cotton t-shirt can be used to clean small details or remove grease.
  • Brush: with the bike cleaning brush you can reach the most hidden and hard-to-access places.
  • Latex gloves: it’s a good idea to wear them to protect your hands.
  • Wax lubricant: the bike lubricant should be applied to the drivetrain and chain once everything is clean.

These products are not only useful for a single wash, but you can find them in different quantities and have them for a long period of time besides being very affordable.

Bike chain wax lubricant mtb

Tips and Steps to Clean and Degrease Your Bicycle

It’s not enough to just clean the bike with water; we must apply the special products for its care that we mentioned earlier and have the proper tools for bicycle maintenance.

  1. Prepare the area where you are going to clean the bike.
  2. Gather the materials we mentioned earlier.
  3. Clean: use water to remove the largest dirt if necessary (try to avoid pressure washers as they can be dangerous for some components; use them only in cases of heavy dirt). The best way is to spray the cleaner on the pedals, frame, rims, cogs, etc. What degreaser should you use to clean the bike? We recommend the Dirt Out Degreaser. For the brakes, use the brake cleaner. And if you have ever wondered how to clean the bike chain, it’s very simple using the bicycle chain cleaner.
  4. Brush the tires and drivetrain: with the Dirt Out 4-piece cleaning brush kit, you will have a different brush for each purpose, very useful for reaching the most inaccessible areas of the bike.
  5. Rinse: thoroughly rinse the bike, check carefully for any hidden dirt, and dry it to prevent rust.
  6. Check tire pressure: it’s a good time to check the air pressure in the tires. We recommend having a quality pump at home, like the Workshop Pump +160 PSI by Eltin.
  7. Lubricate: Apply the lubricant to the inside part of the chain while turning the cranks. Let the product dry for optimal results in wet conditions. It is not necessary to clean the chain if the lubricant is applied continuously.

We hope our tips have been helpful, because we all like to see our bike nice and clean when we’re about to go for a ride or hit the trail.

We’ll be happy to answer any questions on our social media and, of course, to read your comments.

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