Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Cleaning white brake hoods

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Cleaning white brake hoods

Old 10-19-19, 12:38 PM
  #1  
B._W.
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 11

Bikes: not enough

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts
Cleaning white brake hoods

I have tried everything to clean my dirty white brake hoods. Does anybody have a proven method?
B._W. is offline  
Old 10-19-19, 01:23 PM
  #2  
pickettt
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 411

Bikes: DiamondBack Podium 7, Focus Raven 1.0, Ritchey BreakAway Cross, (2) Trek 8500, Paramount PDG 90, Trek T2000, Redline Flight Pro 24

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 160 Post(s)
Liked 57 Times in 33 Posts
Originally Posted by B._W.
I have tried everything to clean my dirty white brake hoods. Does anybody have a proven method?
Replace them with black ones
pickettt is offline  
Likes For pickettt:
Old 10-19-19, 01:28 PM
  #3  
McBTC
Senior Member
 
McBTC's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 3,888

Bikes: 2015 22 Speed

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1543 Post(s)
Liked 51 Times in 39 Posts
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!
McBTC is offline  
Old 10-19-19, 04:37 PM
  #4  
2cam16
Senior Member
 
2cam16's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: San Mateo,Ca.
Posts: 4,348

Bikes: TRIMMED DOWN THE HERD

Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1088 Post(s)
Liked 926 Times in 593 Posts
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.
2cam16 is offline  
Old 10-19-19, 04:53 PM
  #5  
CroMo Mike 
All Campy All The Time
 
CroMo Mike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 1,425

Bikes: Listed in my signature.

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 175 Post(s)
Liked 114 Times in 63 Posts
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

Or gentle soap and water on a terrycloth towel.
__________________
My C&V Bikes:
1972 Bottecchia Professional, 1972 Legnano Olympiade Record,
1982 Colnago Super, 1987 Bottecchia Team C-Record,
1988 Pinarello Montello, 1990 Masi Nuova Strada Super Record,
1995 Bianchi Campione d'Italia, 1995 DeBernardi Thron









CroMo Mike is offline  
Likes For CroMo Mike:
Old 10-19-19, 09:13 PM
  #6  
*Scuba 
Made in Taiwan
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 214

Bikes: Camerotti ti roadbike, Old Sears Free Spirit Tange Hi-Ten Single Speed built from a 12 speed, 1997 Cannondale CAD3 r500 with Shimano 6400 groupset

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 35 Post(s)
Liked 11 Times in 9 Posts
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.
__________________
All dogs want to be lap dogs doesn't matter the size
-Animal loving friend
*Scuba is offline  
Old 10-19-19, 10:46 PM
  #7  
canklecat
Me duelen las nalgas
 
canklecat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,522

Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel

Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4559 Post(s)
Liked 2,798 Times in 1,798 Posts
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.
canklecat is offline  
Old 10-20-19, 07:39 AM
  #8  
zweitesmal2
Newbie
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 62
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 30 Post(s)
Liked 19 Times in 13 Posts
Use carburetor cleaner, which works well for fabric and upholstery stains also.
zweitesmal2 is offline  
Old 10-20-19, 07:50 AM
  #9  
curbtender
Senior Member
 
curbtender's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 8,680

Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball

Mentioned: 52 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1589 Post(s)
Liked 2,486 Times in 1,188 Posts
Originally Posted by CroMo Mike
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

Or gentle soap and water on a terrycloth towel.
That's the ticket.
curbtender is offline  
Old 10-20-19, 12:43 PM
  #10  
John_V 
Senior Member
 
John_V's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 5,585

Bikes: 2017 Colnago C-RS, 2012 Colnago Ace, 2010 Giant Cypress hybrid

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 408 Post(s)
Liked 122 Times in 85 Posts
Originally Posted by CroMo Mike
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

Or gentle soap and water on a terrycloth towel.
This! Been using Magic Eraser on my white saddle and bar tape. Bar tape is over two years old and is still very white.
__________________
HCFR Cycling Team
Ride Safe ... Ride Hard ... Ride Daily

2017 Colnago C-RS
2012 Colnago Ace
2010 Giant Cypress
John_V is offline  
Old 10-20-19, 02:14 PM
  #11  
MikeyMK
Cycleway town
 
MikeyMK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Milton Keynes, England
Posts: 1,402

Bikes: 2.6kw GT LTS e-tandem, 250w Voodoo, 250w solar recumbent trike, 3-speed shopper, Merlin ol/skl mtb, 80cc Ellswick

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 569 Post(s)
Liked 169 Times in 117 Posts
Rubber is a pig to clean, same problem with whitewall tyres. No easy answer!
MikeyMK is offline  
Old 10-20-19, 02:18 PM
  #12  
Jicafold
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,084
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 360 Post(s)
Liked 128 Times in 88 Posts
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.
Jicafold is offline  
Old 10-21-19, 09:42 PM
  #13  
Jon T
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: West Orange County, CA
Posts: 1,112

Bikes: '84 Peugeot PH10LE

Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 397 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times in 39 Posts
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 T is offline  
Old 10-22-19, 01:17 PM
  #14  
OldsCOOL
Senior Member
 
OldsCOOL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: northern michigan
Posts: 13,317

Bikes: '77 Colnago Super, '76 Fuji The Finest, '88 Cannondale Criterium, '86 Trek 760, '87 Miyata 712

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times in 313 Posts
Originally Posted by canklecat
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.
LA’s really is totally awesome. On another note and similar in potency is Wesley’s Bleche White.
OldsCOOL is offline  
Old 10-22-19, 01:32 PM
  #15  
tagaproject6
Senior Member
 
tagaproject6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,550

Bikes: Wilier Izoard XP (Record);Cinelli Xperience (Force);Specialized Allez (Rival);Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Centaur); Colnago AC-R Disc;Colnago V1r Limited Edition;De Rosa King 3 Limited(Force 22);DeRosa Merak(Red):Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Hydro(Di2)

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 551 Post(s)
Liked 276 Times in 144 Posts
Originally Posted by CroMo Mike
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

Or gentle soap and water on a terrycloth towel.
This. I have white hoods.
tagaproject6 is offline  
Old 10-22-19, 01:54 PM
  #16  
GlennR
On Your Left
 
GlennR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373

Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303

Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,433 Times in 1,187 Posts
Originally Posted by MikeyMK
Rubber is a pig to clean, same problem with whitewall tyres. No easy answer!
Works great.
GlennR is offline  
Old 10-22-19, 03:25 PM
  #17  
canklecat
Me duelen las nalgas
 
canklecat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,522

Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel

Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4559 Post(s)
Liked 2,798 Times in 1,798 Posts
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.
canklecat is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.