Cleaning white brake hoods
#2
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#3
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Probably about like white handlebar tape... getting grease off of plastic probably requires solvent or something abrasive... try something counterintuitive like olive oil and follow that with some vinegar to clean off the olive oil. Otherwise, WD-40 is your last hope!
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One of my bikes has them. I used to wipe them down weekly. I gave up after a few weeks. No matter what I do, the dirt is on there on the first ride after a clean.
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Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
Or gentle soap and water on a terrycloth towel.
Or gentle soap and water on a terrycloth towel.
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I find Dawn dish soap diluted with water in a spray bottle and a soft terrycloth towel works best. Try to avoid rubbing alcohol or other solvent type cleaners, I find that they tend to dry out the rubber. Which leads to the hoods cracking.
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Best stuff by far I've tried is LA's Totally Awesome Grill & Oven Cleaner. Big pump spray bottle, costs a whole buck at Dollartree. Works on white hoods, white cable housings, pretty well on a white saddle cover.
It's not the caustic stuff in compressed gas cans. It smells like the main ingredient is ammonia, with the usual surfactants, etc. but it works better than anything else I've tried, including Dawn, Windex, Clorox foaming bleach spray, alcohol, nail polish remover, WD-40, dry erase sponge erasers, all the usual household stuff.
Whatever it is (the maker lists no significant hazardous materials), it cuts through grime and grease better than anything I've tried other than petroleum solvents.
It leaves the hoods feeling a bit softer and grippier, but I'd avoid using it too often. Strong ammonia can weaken latex. I use it about once or twice a year, and clean up in between with Dawn or any dish washing soap.
It's not the caustic stuff in compressed gas cans. It smells like the main ingredient is ammonia, with the usual surfactants, etc. but it works better than anything else I've tried, including Dawn, Windex, Clorox foaming bleach spray, alcohol, nail polish remover, WD-40, dry erase sponge erasers, all the usual household stuff.
Whatever it is (the maker lists no significant hazardous materials), it cuts through grime and grease better than anything I've tried other than petroleum solvents.
It leaves the hoods feeling a bit softer and grippier, but I'd avoid using it too often. Strong ammonia can weaken latex. I use it about once or twice a year, and clean up in between with Dawn or any dish washing soap.
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This! Been using Magic Eraser on my white saddle and bar tape. Bar tape is over two years old and is still very white.
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#11
Cycleway town
Rubber is a pig to clean, same problem with whitewall tyres. No easy answer!
#12
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In addition to the above, I have used the Purple Power cleaner / degreaser. The problem with any method may leave them sticky afterwards. For that, I rub them with a bit of olive oil.
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How about trying some TSP (tri sodium phosphate). Available where ever cleaning supplies are sold (even in the grocery store). It's a good grease and grime cutter.
Jon
Jon
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Best stuff by far I've tried is LA's Totally Awesome Grill & Oven Cleaner. Big pump spray bottle, costs a whole buck at Dollartree. Works on white hoods, white cable housings, pretty well on a white saddle cover.
It's not the caustic stuff in compressed gas cans. It smells like the main ingredient is ammonia, with the usual surfactants, etc. but it works better than anything else I've tried, including Dawn, Windex, Clorox foaming bleach spray, alcohol, nail polish remover, WD-40, dry erase sponge erasers, all the usual household stuff.
Whatever it is (the maker lists no significant hazardous materials), it cuts through grime and grease better than anything I've tried other than petroleum solvents.
It leaves the hoods feeling a bit softer and grippier, but I'd avoid using it too often. Strong ammonia can weaken latex. I use it about once or twice a year, and clean up in between with Dawn or any dish washing soap.
It's not the caustic stuff in compressed gas cans. It smells like the main ingredient is ammonia, with the usual surfactants, etc. but it works better than anything else I've tried, including Dawn, Windex, Clorox foaming bleach spray, alcohol, nail polish remover, WD-40, dry erase sponge erasers, all the usual household stuff.
Whatever it is (the maker lists no significant hazardous materials), it cuts through grime and grease better than anything I've tried other than petroleum solvents.
It leaves the hoods feeling a bit softer and grippier, but I'd avoid using it too often. Strong ammonia can weaken latex. I use it about once or twice a year, and clean up in between with Dawn or any dish washing soap.
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#17
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Westley's Bleche-White and LA's Totally Awesome Grill & Oven cleaner contain mostly the same or similar ingredients, per their respective MSDSs. Some folks claim the original Bleche-White formula was changed a few years ago and doesn't work as well now. Dunno, haven't used it in decades.
Neither product lists "bleach" among the ingredients, nor ammonia -- to my surprise. Sure smells like ammonia.
Incidentally, Clorox Foaming Bleach Cleanser pump spray didn't work particularly well on white brake hoods. It's a good household cleanser otherwise.
And don't mix cleansers willy-nilly trying to make them "better". Mixing bleach and ammonia creates chlorine gas, very dangerous stuff. I suspect that's one reason some cleansers have switched away from bleach and ammonia to other surfactants and boosters.
Neither product lists "bleach" among the ingredients, nor ammonia -- to my surprise. Sure smells like ammonia.
Incidentally, Clorox Foaming Bleach Cleanser pump spray didn't work particularly well on white brake hoods. It's a good household cleanser otherwise.
And don't mix cleansers willy-nilly trying to make them "better". Mixing bleach and ammonia creates chlorine gas, very dangerous stuff. I suspect that's one reason some cleansers have switched away from bleach and ammonia to other surfactants and boosters.