Muc off brushes say ANY brush can lead to surface scratching

[Milena]

I bought a set of 5 Muc Off cleaning brushes from Amazon. I live in the UK. I can still return them for a refund if I want to.

Every brush has a label and on the back of each of those labels states.. well I will just attach a photo. It's the NB part that is written on all the labels.

So I tried rubbing the soft wash brush on my bare leg and it is in fact quite abrasive.

Why do Muc Off sell brushes marketed as suitable for frames, given that as they have written themselves, brushes can leave scratches?

- I am thinking of returning these and getting a microfibre sponge in place of the soft brush.
- Dish washing brush for cassette, in place of the 'detailing brush' which btw is very very stiff... so I don't know why they market it as 'detailing' when it is so stiff it should only be used on the cassette, else scratches galore.
- Chain cleaning pig for.. the chain.
- Maybe an alloy cleaning brush or just the separate brush muc off sell for wheels and cassette (weird that they have made a brush that is for wheels and cassette. Cassette brushes tend to be crazy stiff which would scratch anything, whereas wheels and rims need a softer brush to not damage them, especially the rimes/wheels).

 

[Aristotle Kristatos]

Covering themselves.
I would keep them and see how they do.
You can always wax polish the frame if it goes a bit dull.

 

[Sterlo]

Saw this on a recent GCN video, they likened them to the car wash machines. Think I'll use a cloth/sponge on the rare occasion I actually wash it.

 

[fossyant]

The brushes are fine. I've two of the big brushes and a stiffer twin brush that I use on hubs. Even a cloth can scratch paint. The key is to use plenty of soapy water., as you would. I really like the big brush - great for getting into hard to reach areas - no issues with scratched paint work as the bike is cleaned after any wet/damp ride (commuter and weekend bikes).

 

[vickster]

Rinse off as much grit as possible before cleaning and of course keep the brushes clean.
If concerned, just use whatever you are happy with

 

[Dadam]

I just use my car cleaning brushes from the days the car got more than 2 washes a year!
The Meguiars long handled wheel brush is good for the frame as the "bristles" split into very fine hairs for the tip so it's soft. Also got an alloy wheel spoke brush with two bristled "fingers" in a V which is useful for forks. I have one of the special brushes designed for cassettes but tend to use a piece of rag stretched out and kind of "saw" it into the gaps between the cogs.

I also use the Poorboys slick and suds car shampoo which is excellent as it lubricates the surface so grit slides off without scratching.

 

[Jameshow]

What I would do it separate the kit into two, 2 for the frame 1 wheels and the smaller 2 for the drive train this stops muck/oil from the wheels / drive train messing up the frame.

 

[bikingdad90]

Put some muc off cleaner in a jar with some metal parts and see the corrosion that occurs over a week. The mix is apparently slightly PH-/+ and not neutral.

 

[Ian H]

They have no control over the quality or toughness of the paintwork on any given bike.

 

[wafter]

While no fan of Muc-Off products, I have a set of these brushes and find they're fine.

The elephant in the room is the contamination on the bike that you're trying to remove. What is this predominently made up of? Largely mud, which is organic matter and ceramic particles suspended in water.. much of which is far harder / more abrasive than the brushes themselves. It doesn't matter how soft the brushes are, the contamination you're trying to remove will still abrade the paint.

Personally I really like brushes as I think pressing hard with a cloth or sponge is even more likely to cause damage, as it applies more downward force on the contamination towards the surface than the bristles of a brush might.

You can minimise paint damage by adding lubrication in the form of water, and even better that with a soap component... although I'm somewhat dubious of detergents as they tend to strip out lubrication in components as well as removing wax finishes and perhaps carrying envirnomental connotations.

Ultimately as much as it pains my OCD proclivities, you can't keep everything perfect; and the best you can hope for is to mitigate damage as much as possible through education and care.

 

[Tom B]

My understanding is that it isn't so much the brushes but the grit that is one the thing being cleaned that is the issue.

Me? I use 50p dish brushes from IKEA.

One for oily bits, one for other bits.

Change the brushes every IKEA visit h so once every 2-3 years.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Soft paint brushes. Various sizes. Cassette cleaning tool and stiff brush for cassette. Fenwicks Cleaner first, leave for few minutes then rinse off with gentle low pressure spray, then brushes if required.

 

[fossyant]

Most folk on here don't know what a sponge or brush is. Don't go using Muck-Off spray too often - it dulls any anodising and certain paints. If the stuff goes near my stem on one bike, the stem goes matt finish after contact with the stuff. It's quite aggressive.

Car shampoo or even washing up liquid (I don't use it as it strips wax off the paintwork), water and a brush/sponge does the job.

Also, little and often. If you are going to leave the bike ages before a wash, then it's going to be a pig to clean.