What to use to safely clean your frame?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 92
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
What to use to safely clean your frame?
On my aluminum bike with a clear coat I actually waxed it when I first got it, then I just use Windex and a paper towel to clean it.
Have a new carbon bike with a matte finish so I wont be waxing it. Just got it back from the lbs who put a Rival group on the bike and there are a few greasy finger prints and some grease around the BB. Can I use Windex and a paper towel?
Have a new carbon bike with a matte finish so I wont be waxing it. Just got it back from the lbs who put a Rival group on the bike and there are a few greasy finger prints and some grease around the BB. Can I use Windex and a paper towel?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: WNY
Posts: 3,100
Bikes: Factor O2, Caad10, Caad2
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 365 Post(s)
Liked 122 Times
in
78 Posts
You can use Windex, but I would not continue to use it over the life of the bike. Use something a little more gentle like this: https://www.finishlineusa.com/products/bike-wash.htm
Or you can use a diluted car type wash as it should be OK with the top coat.
Or you can use a diluted car type wash as it should be OK with the top coat.
#5
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,340
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1472 Post(s)
Liked 758 Times
in
390 Posts
Wet rag. Some soap, or a citrus degreaser if you need it.
It's a tool not a jewel. Also it's not nearly as fragile a tool as people seem to think.
It's a tool not a jewel. Also it's not nearly as fragile a tool as people seem to think.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#6
Team ABC Cycles
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Montreal Qc.
Posts: 600
Bikes: 2010 Colnago CX-1 and '12 S-Works Venge
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Plexus FTW.
https://www.plexusplasticcleaner.com/frames.html
https://www.plexusplasticcleaner.com/frames.html
#7
Mr. Sparkle
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Sugar Land, TX
Posts: 534
Bikes: 08 Specialized Allez Elite
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
3 Posts
I'm not sure how Bike Lust would work on a matte finish though, it would be interesting to find out.
#12
Former grouch, now happy
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Austin
Posts: 988
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Meguiar's Quick Detailer for painted parts.
__________________
Spectrum Ti Super | Landshark Roadshark | Serotta Colorado | Gunnar Crosshairs | Trek 9800 | Santana fillet brazed tandem | K2 Easy Roller | Dawes (BD) Bullseye 1x1
Spectrum Ti Super | Landshark Roadshark | Serotta Colorado | Gunnar Crosshairs | Trek 9800 | Santana fillet brazed tandem | K2 Easy Roller | Dawes (BD) Bullseye 1x1
#13
Full Member
#15
Single-serving poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 5,098
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Being from Canada, eh, I get a great discount on baby-seal furs... so soft and plush, nothing is better for wiping filthy oil off your ride!
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: DeSouf
Posts: 2,145
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Sandblaster.
If you ride steel.
Edit...use any cleaning solution, the clear coat will handle most solutions no problemo.
If you ride steel.
Edit...use any cleaning solution, the clear coat will handle most solutions no problemo.
Last edited by rustybrown; 01-14-11 at 01:23 AM. Reason: Hail Seitan.
#19
still climbing
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Europe
Posts: 279
Bikes: vintage steel bikes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
On my aluminum bike with a clear coat I actually waxed it when I first got it, then I just use Windex and a paper towel to clean it.
Have a new carbon bike with a matte finish so I wont be waxing it. Just got it back from the lbs who put a Rival group on the bike and there are a few greasy finger prints and some grease around the BB. Can I use Windex and a paper towel?
Have a new carbon bike with a matte finish so I wont be waxing it. Just got it back from the lbs who put a Rival group on the bike and there are a few greasy finger prints and some grease around the BB. Can I use Windex and a paper towel?
wait until your first bad weather ride
My bike is still covered with mud from the last ride. Since it is raining anyway all the time, why bother polishing it every time? Otherwise I use any rag and the cheapest bike cleaning liquid I could find at the online shop. Occasionally I have used Shimano bike polish spray.
#20
Team Sohoku
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Not where I want to be.
Posts: 2,003
Bikes: BMC, Cannondale, '87 Nishiki Modulus, 3Rensho Keirin
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'll have to ask my butler what he cleans my bike with.
#21
Sua Ku
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hot as hell, Singapore
Posts: 5,705
Bikes: Trek 5200, BMC SLC01, BMC SSX, Specialized FSR, Holdsworth Criterium
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Mostly I use rain. Sometimes I use baby wipes (seriously).
#23
.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Rocket City, No'ala
Posts: 12,764
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 5.2, 1985 Pinarello Treviso, 1990 Gardin Shred, 2006 Bianchi San Jose
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 62 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 29 Times
in
14 Posts
garden hose, various brushes, dishwashing soap in a pan of hot water, old towels to dry off bike. Kerosene and a toothbrush for cleaning the cassette, chainrings, derailleurs. Pedro chainwashing gizmo I got for Christmas.
Mother's carnauba wax afterwards on the frame, fork.
Then the bike looks too pretty to ride so it's a good thing the garage is full of them.
Mother's carnauba wax afterwards on the frame, fork.
Then the bike looks too pretty to ride so it's a good thing the garage is full of them.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 158
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#25
Still can't climb
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Limey in Taiwan
Posts: 23,024
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
dishwashing soap. i used to use all purpose kitchen cleaning liquid like simple green but found that it leaves a residue if not rinsed off properly. dishsoap washes off more easily.
__________________
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack
coasting, few quotes are worthy of him, and of those, even fewer printable in a family forum......quote 3alarmer
No @coasting, you should stay 100% as you are right now, don't change a thing....quote Heathpack