Not fairy liquid.

[BluesDave]

I've read that washing up liquid contains salt and is therefore no good for cleaning a bicycle because it corrodes the paintwork.
I should imagine it may corrode a couple of other things as well.

Bearing this in mind I was wondering if I should buy some car-wash and wax such as Turtle Wax to clean my bike with. The other alternative I had in mind was this http://www.halfords....yId_228374#dtab but I already have the brushes.
I can't run a hosepipe from my kitchen and don't have an outside tap so would be using a bucket of hot water.

I really want to give the bike, chain, front wheel, and cogs/derallieur a good clean and polish without trying to take the bike apart. I want to do this on Sunday.

The back wheel was replaced yesterday by http://www.allinlond...y/1284/2883.php and the bike now runs like a dream. It had really gone which was surprising as I've only had the bike since 1999.

The new wheel was this one http://www.ebay.co.u...=item588eaca49a.

Anyway any help would be appreciated it's amazing what one can find out on this forum although I may not understand all thats being said.

 

[WychwoodTrev]

I use WD40 on the chain and sprockets work it in with a paint brush then spray with.muck off then rinse with hot water rife up the roadto help dry out chain running gear and then lube

 

[Fab Foodie]

Fairy liquid's fine, the salt in it is so little and is in contact so little time that it does no harm and get's rised-off anyway, been cleaning my ally bike for over 6 years this way and it shines like a new pin withpout any corosion, but there's owt wrong with car shampoo either.

 

[tyred]

I have always washed my car with fairy liquid and it is rust free after 15 years on the road. I wouldn't worry.

 

[Theseus]

An old rag for the bits that are oily, a wet wipe for the bits that arn't.

 

[ohnovino]

Quick wipe with baby wipes to get off the obvious muck, then spray with GT85 and give it a very quick wipe down with a clean rag. Leaves my bike sparkling clean and the Teflon in the GT85 makes it harder for dirt to stick to the bike.

 

[Globalti]

Polish the paintwork with proper car polish, it will look superb and repel dirt and water.

 

[ianrauk]

Fairy liquid's fine, the salt in it is so little and is in contact so little time that it does no harm and get's rised-off anyway, been cleaning my ally bike for over 6 years this way and it shines like a new pin withpout any corosion, but there's owt wrong with car shampoo either.

This...^^^

Forget paying extra for specialist cleaning products, it's a complete waste of money.

A dash of washing up liquid in water, some elbow grease and a finish off with Mr Sheen is all you need.

 

[Fab Foodie]

This...^^^

Forget paying extra for specialist cleaning products, it's a complete waste of money.

A dash of washing up liquid in water, some elbow grease and a finish off with Mr Sheen is all you need.

Forgot to mention the Mr Sheen bit, works a treat.

 

[fossyant]

This...^^^

Forget paying extra for specialist cleaning products, it's a complete waste of money.

A dash of washing up liquid in water, some elbow grease and a finish off with Mr Sheen is all you need.

Nah, fairy liquid strips the wax off, best use a car product (extra cost is zero as I use car shampoo on the car). And then more Mr Sheen (original).

 

[mcshroom]

You mean I'm supposed to wash it!

 

[Mad at urage]

You mean I'm supposed to wash it!

Don't be silly, they're just talking about how to fit the rubber h'bar grips!



Wash the bike! Whatever next?

 

[Deleted member 1258]

This...^^^

A dash of washing up liquid in water, some elbow grease and a finish off with Mr Sheen is all you need.

Thats the most any of the bikes I have had over the last 30 years have had, the wash is done weekly and the polish is done monthly, some of my bikes never got even that.

 

[david k]

Nah, fairy liquid strips the wax off, best use a car product (extra cost is zero as I use car shampoo on the car). And then more Mr Sheen (original).

wash and go