Cleaning bicycle and protecting from rust - confused.com!

[Morsty88]

Afternoon everyone,

Sorry for such a noob question but after doing some googling there seems to be a lot of conflicting advice (such as what products to us etc) out there when it comes to cleaning a bicycle and protecting it from rust.

I wish to clean my bicycle, remove odd bits of rust and then protect it from rust in the future.

Would simple hot soapy water with an old rag with regards to the frame be suffice?

How would I go about cleaning other moving parts such as the chain?

Would using a bit of aluminium foil lubricated be OK to remove rust?

What can I put on my bike chain to prevent rust (in addition to the wheel rims)?

And how can I protect the handlebar which has a scratch from any further issues?

Sorry for the many questions I'm pretty confused to the point I'm scared of even trying to clean it in case I make matters worse! If anyone knows of any good guides that would be handy for any links.

Many thanks,

Samuel

 

[snorri]

Sorry for the many questions I'm pretty confused to the point I'm scared of even trying to clean it in case I make matters worse!

Confused now? Just wait until you see the responses you get, then you'll know what confusion is.

 

[steve50]

Any car shampoo to wash the bike, avoid washing up liquid as it contains salt.
GT85 sprayed onto chain and frame if storing the bike for any length of time.
For degreasing the chain etc, https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=m...J8mSU6nLkPAM#q=muc+off+chain+cleaner&tbm=shop
I generally give my bike frame a coat of Zymol, carnauba based car wax to finish as it gives it a nice shine and adds a protective layer to the paintwork. http://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/shampoo-polish-wax/zymol-cleaner-wax-450ml
Remove surface rust with wd40 or GT85 and a cloth

 

[Paulus]

Hi there Morsty.

1. Do not use washing up Liquid to wash your bike, It contains salt which over time will corrode the alloy moving parts and the frame. Car shampoo is best and use a sponge and an old soft brush to get in the hard to get at parts.
2. To remove rust use something like plus gas and a cloth/rag.
3.Clean the chain with a chain cleaner and something like white spirit. Then wash the chain and dry. Use a good chain lube such as Finish line Wet, or Dry, not too much and then wipe the chain to remove any excess. This will keep the rust away. Do this regularly or when the chain is mucky.
4. Keep the handle bar clean and dry. Unless it is a cheap steel one it shouldn't rust.

Stands back and waits for the flack to start.

 

[HarryTheDog]

according to
Dr Bob Eden BSc MSc PhD MICorr (Member of the Institute of Corrosion)
washing up liquid will not corrode metal parts
http://www.morebikes.co.uk/can-clean-bike-fairy-washing-liquid/
But most people posting on car or motorbikes bikes seem to think it does. Never effected my bikes ( 5 of) which are always washed in washing up liquid but only one of my bikes is steel framed anyway, my old Dawes. None of the metal parts on my bikes seem corroded at all.
Note to op
What can I put on my bike chain to prevent rust (in addition to the wheel rims)? I would not expect your rims to be ferrous metal unless old or maybe very cheap. more likely a alloy and don't put anything on the braking surfaces if using rim brakes or you might be in for a surprise when your brakes don't work.

 

[ianrauk]

Go ahead and use washing liquid. It will not corrode a bike frame or component's for that matter if you rinse properly afterwards.

 

[HarryTheDog]

I see in another of @Morsty88 posts he has a GT disc braked MTB, so he can ignore my rim brakes advice.

 

[*Dusty*]

A good traffic film remover will help with general grime. Hot soapy water and a sponge/brush for the gears and suchlike, spray over with GT85 afterwards and rub with a microfibre cloth. Plenty of oiling your chain, wipe with a cloth afterwards.

If you've got disc brakes keep any lube away from them or they'll squeal like crazy......

 

[MichaelW2]

Do you have a frame made of steel or aluminium ?
If it is steel, then paint with protect it, but scratches may get surface rust.
The main danger is water inside, gathering at the bottom of the bottom-bracket, with no way out. Some frames have a small hole drilled to drain water. Remove the seatpost, check inside, turn upside-down. If it seems OK, spray GT85 or WD40 inside every frame orifice you have access to, just to coat the inner surface. Grease the seatpost, and any other metal-metal contact surfaces such as stem and pedal threads.

On my old steel bike, which lived outside 24/7 in a coastal town with rain and salt-spray, I covered my badly-painted frame with car wax. Oil or grease will be dirty.
You can grease or wax exposed cables. If your spokes are not stainless steel, you can run a waxy cloth over them. Cable outers should be greased when renewing cable inners. If you are restoring an old bike, then a squirt of GT85 or similar does the job.
DO NOT get oil, grease or wax over your braking surfaces, probably the wheel rims.

Washing up liquid is, like WD40, bad in theory but OK in practice.

 

[Pale Rider]

Drying and storing is as important as cleaning.

Surface rust will form on a damp bike in a garden shed within hours.

Surface rust will not form on a dry bike kept indoors at room temperature.

 

[Julia9054]

Aluminium foil works well for removing rust. You don't need to lubricate it - just rub it on.

 

[snorri]

A small paint brush is useful for getting in to these awkward corners when washing the bike.
Probably best not to use a power-washer for bike cleaning, there is a danger of water being forced into places it should not be (bearings). I say probably because I know some people do use them, but they use with great care!
Keeping moving parts lubricated is more important than overall cleanliness in keeping the bike serviceable in the longer term.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Glad we're putting the washing-up liquid myth to bed at last.


Wash with warm soapy water ... An old sport sock worn over the hand is great for cleaning tubes and tricky places. Small paintbrush good too especially for directly applying Fairy liquid to really grimy bits. WD40/GT85 rag for chain and coggy bits. When dry, oily rag or a spot of grease over the rusty bits.

Keep it simple .... Bikes don't dissolve overnight ....

 

[Ajax Bay]

Plus one for the 'ooh there's salt in washing up liquid: it'll eat your frame' fairy story. yes there is salt in the liquid itself (5%?) but think how dilute the bucket you use to wash your bike will be. Anyway I normally give it a quick spray with the hose to finish off, but a wipe over with a cloth/paper towel will do the trick too (and pick up those crevices you missed). See this thread from 9 years ago: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/washing-up-liquid-best-bike-cleaner.14856/

 

[Globalti]

Open the brakes and clean the blocks with an old toothbrush then pull a towel back and forth behind the blocks to remove the grey grime. Clean the braking surfaces of the rims and dry them with the same towel then pull the chain through the towel to dry it.

A bike that has been ridden on recently-salted roads, even dry roads, will pick up salt, which will attract and hold moisture and rust everything so at the very least, rinse the bike with warm water after a winter ride.