Cleaning bicycle and protecting from rust - confused.com!

[Tom B]

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 ....

On the LBS's advice (economy) I bought a litre of concentrated de-greaser and mix it up 4:1 in a squirty bottle, that goes on first followed by a rinse of warm water from a watering can with a rose. I then set about any stubbornness, grimy bits and chain / sprokets with a toothbrush and more degreaser as required, Another rinse, shake and lap of the culdesac via every kerb I can find and I then relube and giver the frame a squirt and wipe over GT85 on a rag.

I have a Matt Black frame so too much GT85 on the frame leaves a displeasing mottled shine. I touch up any chips with nail varnish.

All that probably happens twice a month. I'm damn sure I'm not washing it at 1am after a commute, salty wet or not. I do however generally wipe off the chain and apply lube on a daily basis/before use.

All that said my MTB is about 20 years old, covered in battle-scars, dents and chips from when i used to use it to deliver papers and it still hasn't rusted away!