Metallifan33

I ride in dry conditions only and was hoping to not have to clean my chain/wash the bike (other than the post-ride wipe down) until I take my bike into the shop twice a year.
This plan however isn't going to work as my chain is getting annoyingly loud and I'm going to have to de-grease, wash, and lube it.
I am not someone who works on bikes/cars etc., however I think I would enjoy working on the bike.
My question is, where do you guys wash your bike? I thought about in my back porch (cement), but I don't want to stain the cement. I may do it on the front driveway or back yard grass.
Either way, I'm curious as to what you guys do. Also, what do you do with greasy rags afterward? Can you clean and reuse them? (I suppose you don't want to drop them in the washer).
These may sound like stupid questions, but keep in mind, I haven't washed a car by hand in decades.

shelbyfv

If you first remove the chain and rear wheel (for the cassette) you shouldn't end up with any runoff that will stain anything. Clean the chain and cassette with mineral spirits and re-use. Or wax lube. Do not put oily rags in the washer or dryer, just throw them away.

datlas 

Driveway. Spray drivetrain and chain with citrus degreaser. Use dawn liquid or similar to wash. It may not be perfect but reasonable.

cycletheworld78

I found that using a mild detergent and hand washing works best

CeeDotA

I wash my bike on a concrete slab in my back yard. Never once had issues with grease staining anything.

GlennR

I do it in my garage. but if you're concerned about staining the cement, do it on the grass.

mstateglfr 

Stain concrete?...my driveway isn't pristine enough to even consider that as an issue.

Just wash the bike in grass. Or out in AZ, wash it in the pebbles.
Spray with water, soap the bike, and rinse. Its like a 5min job.
Then apply chain lube after.

Carbonfiberboy 

On my front porch, actually the loading platform for our shop, which has a tarp over it so I can even wash them in the rain. The boards have 1/4" spaces between them for the rain and wash water to drain through. Most convenient.

Iride01 

I wipe mine down in the house were it's a comfortable temperature. Depending on where I am I might put down an old towel or a drop cloth. Those canisters with premoistened wipes generally work well for me. Even for getting the gunk off the chain and sprockets. Though I see STP has these that claim to be for degreasing....https://www.walmart.com/ip/STP-Cleaning-Engine-Degreasing-Wipes-Citrus-Scent-30-count/905072168

I might try them and see if they cut through chain grime better.

I've never felt a need to take a hose or other thing to my own road bikes. They just don't get dirty enough.

SVTNate

On a Park Tool stand, in the driveway, with my hose and my car wash bucket.

Simple Green the drivetrain, let it soak, scrub, rinse, then the entire bike with car wash soap, dry thoroughly with electric leaf blower, finish with a microfiber towel, lube the drivetrain, wipe down the Park Tool stand, put it all away.

I usually do it on car wash day, since I already have the hose, bucket, etc. out.

I use a microfiber wash mitt to scrub the bike with soap, BTW.

My decade-old bike looks brand new.

crazyravr

I live in an apartment. For me its the bathtub for the complete bike. For heavy duty once a year take it all apart clean, couple buckets to soak and then a bathtub

gsa103

If you're going to fully degrease, take things off the bike, you'll be able to get them cleaner and not have to worry about the mess. Otherwise, car wash soap, a spray bottle and some blue shop towels.

big john

I never wash my bikes unless they get muddy. I just spray Pledge and wipe with a clean cloth. Chain gets wiped with a rag before re-lubing. The chain never comes off until time to replace.

Bob Ross

I've stained the concrete in the back yards of two different apartment buildings where I've lived. Not sure if that's because my bike gets covered with a "special" kind of grime, or because I'm such a selfish inconsiderate tenant that I don't even take a few remedial steps to clean up the area after I've cleaned the bike. But those stains ain't goin' nowhere. :::shrugs:::

KJ43

I take both wheels off and put the bike on the stand in the backyard on the grass. Today I left the chain on with a roller but once or twice a month I'll take the chain off and soak it in white spirits to really get it clean.

I use simple green for the drivetrain areas and a sudsy bike wash for the rest of it. After the bike is dry I lube the chain and (usually) the derailleur pivots.

frozenscissor

I strip the wheels, cassette and the chain

eduskator

You will certainly enjoy working on your bike. Regarding the need to wash it, you shouldn't have to do anything else than wiping it off with a clean microfiber clothe & hot water if you ride in dry conditions. The less water you put on your bike, the better it is. I ''wash'' mine inside. By wash, I mean I wipe it off after every ride. I use a separate rag to wipe my chain off after every ride as well while I am cleaning the rest of the bike. I don't clean that one, however, I throw it in the garbage after the summer.

If I would wash it with a garden hose, I'd certainly do it in my backyard on the grass.

Regarding your chain that is noisy, frequent lubrication is the key. I lube mine every 100-200kms and perform a full decontamination every 1000kms (Fuel does a marvelous job!). When it's time, I also remove my cassette and clean it under hot and soapy water using a brush. I don't like to spray degreaser directly on the bike.

Sy Reene

Same. Sometimes challenging getting access to the building's water and hose access. I've thought about but haven't done it -- getting one of those 2 gallon pump garden sprayers for rinsing after soaping up and scrub with dawn and a car sponge.

caloso

We have a stamped and colored concrete patio. I’ve been washing my bikes there for years and never managed to stain it.

mdarnton

On the grass---it can grow back.
No hose driving dirt where I don't want it.
I grab the worst rag in the house, and throw it out after. Start with the frame, end with the greasy parts.

Bikerdrummer

I live in an apartment. For a quick job I sponge it down in bathtub. For more through job I’ll take outside in front of building with a couple warm buckets of water, one suds and one clean water. Park tool brushes are helpful. Drop of Organic dish soap or simple green for suds, degreased for chain.

canklecat

I'm in an apartment. I *could* wash my bikes indoors, but I don't.

I trundle out the bike to the back yard or parking lot, toting a bucket of warm water with Dawn, a spray bottle of generic "green" degreaser, some junk brushes and sponges, and do it quick and semi-dirty. I'm not that picky, just knock of the mud and worst road grime.

Switching to cleaner chain lubes cut down on some grime. I use either hot wax (a hassle to set up but easy once the process is underway) or Rock 'n' Roll Absolute Dry or Gold, both very light lubes that are mostly naphtha carrier with PTFE, and with the Gold, a bit of oil. I dribble a few droplets using a needle dropper once a week, kinda randomly. That's cut way back on the mess from oily lubes that collect grime and splatter the bike.

cuevélo

This is the way to do it, even if you do have access to a hose. Adjustable pressure that isn't too high, and you can fill it with hot water instead of cold. 2 gallons is enough for a fairly muddy mountain bike, or any road bike. I also fill an empty spray bottle with about 1/4 dish soap and 3/4 water, and use that after a first rinse.

kcjc

Driveway for the last six years. I guess if let the wash pool and evaporate, it may stain the concrete but mine is slope and it'll take too much work. Also, I'm pretty sure that the biodegradable cleanser I use may also work against staining.

Fox Farm

This time of the year? The bathroom tub.