stevoo

The OP asked about mistakes.
Avoid high pressure washers.
Along same lines, if/ when you do wash, use the hose with some common sense.
If you choose to use a degreaser be aware of where you use it and where it might migrate to.
Avoid the on-bike chain washer machines. They do a great job of removing all the lube in derailleur pulleys.
Dry the bike when done.
Pretty simple stuff.
Good to keep corrosive sweat washed off the bike.
Sometimes a wash is in order, other times just a wipe down with some spray detailer.
Agree that keeping it clean helps you stay on top of maintenance items too. While cleaning (usually only 5 min upkeep) you basically touch every part of the bike and can take care of stuff before it becomes an issue on the road.
Good luck.

livedarklions

I left mine in the dryer overnight and it got all wrinkly once.

indyfabz

I've got a hack for that: Take a hot, steamy shower with it. The wrinkles will disappear like magic.

livedarklions

Pro-tip: Don't try that with an e-bike.

indyfabz

That's prejudiced against e-bikes. Hater!

livedarklions

I tried, I really tried.

Also don't try it with a mule, either.

Kedosto

To address the OP...

Avoid using products that contain ammonia on unprotected aluminum -- it can cause a bleaching sort of look on the metal surface. The same goes for using some automotive wheel cleaning products.

Avoid getting waxy or greasy substances (think wax or Armorall) on brake tracks or rotors. It won't bring about The Apocalypse, but it will make braking interesting for the short term while it wears off. If you get enough of the slick stuff where you don't want it, you might have to do a little work to get things right.

High pressure water use won't end the world, but it'll probably get you just as greasy, dirty and wet as the bike with all the water blasting going on. Using very high pressure on a poorly painted bike can cause the paint to come right off. Most bikes are painted well enough and most pressure washers don't generate high enough pressure to cause problems, but just know it can happen.

Using a "hands on" approach to cleaning your bike is a good practice. The act of wiping down the bike -- every nook and cranny -- will bring to attention issues of concern. You'll notice the loose spoke, cracked cable housing, or any number of little things before they become big things or roadside repairs.

Regardless of the macho, chest thumping, "I never clean my bike" bravado going on, there's a certain amount of pride in ownership with cleaning ones bike. Keeping a bike clean is a healthy part of keeping it in good working order -- no matter how forcefully some will express their opinion otherwise. A clean bike may not work any better than a dirty bike, but proper cleaning won't make it work any worse either, and it provides the opportunity to catch things before they become problems. The great part is that we're all free to decide how much time we want to spend on it.


-Kedosto

indyfabz

Gots to give props to those two. I asked my frame builder about Windex and he said it can theoretically damage aluminum parts like headsets. He suggested Pledge instead.

As for the second one, many years ago I was sitting on the ground cleaning the underside of my Colnago Dream Plus' headset when I saw a crack at the very top of the head tube at the 6 o'clock position. Never would have seen it had I not been so meticulous because when looking down while on the bike the crack was obscured by the headset. .

Troul 

always clean it yourself & do not delegate it to someone else. By you doing the work, not only will it prevent unwanted damage from someone else cleaning the grime off, it will also allow you to address anything of concern before a larger issue may crop up leaving you distressed upside down in a ditch beside a pile of dog dookie.

02Giant 

There are pills for that.

Doctor Morbius

Sounds like me after a few belts of Scotch.

cyccommute 

indyfabz

You must speak from experience.

indyfabz

Sometimes a power washer is your only recourse.

dennis336

I'll say again, as I did on another thread ... I purposely don't over clean my bike as I'm worried it will increase the risk of it lasting longer and taking away one of my rationales for getting a new bike.

jon c. 

Care should be exercised in washing older brake hoods. Solvents can leave those sticky. I don't know that it's an issue on newer hoods.

Doctor Morbius

Had that problem. Then I got the bright idea of taking my bikes to the dry cleaners. What could go wrong, right?

02Giant 

I can neither confirm nor deny that accusation.

livedarklions

Tried that, but I lost the ticket, and it's left me a mule to ride.

Doesn't the death beam from the interocitor have a "sanitize bike" setting?

Doctor Morbius

Yes, the GT Interocitors do, but I only have the Rally Sport package.

Flip Flop Rider

I can confidently say that I have made zero cleaning mistakes. Of all the things I have attempted, I still have not damaged or messed up my bikes

124Spider

We tried to fit the tandem in the dishwasher. Didn't work. So we've compromised and hose it down, washing gently with warm soapy water, once a month or so. Whether it needs it or not (we ride it about 5 times a week).

frogman

Someone mentioned using pledge. Unless the bike is really dirty, I usually just go over the frame with a rag and Lemon Pledge. Gives a little bit of protection plus it smells lemony

livedarklions

If you turn the set screw on the hyperbolic recirculating veeblefetzer, you can lessen the intensity of the lowest setting of the RS death ray just enough to make it a good bike sanitation device. It's a bit finicky though, I set it slightly wrong the first time and it cost me one tire and a cat.

Nermal

If you have a front loading washing machine you will not need a veeblefetzer for your cat.