To clean a bike, rinse off the loose mud with a low-pressure spray, cover it in a bike wash such as Crankalicious Pineapple Express, agitate and rinse, then degrease the chain, dry it and re-lube. A frame sealant afterwards stops the next ride's mud sticking. Everything here is in our bike care range.
What is the best way to clean a bike?
Work from the top down and keep the chain until last. Rinse the loose dirt off gently, let a bike-specific wash loosen the rest, agitate with a soft brush or mitt and rinse again. Then clean the drivetrain with a dedicated chain degreaser, dry everything, lube the chain and protect the frame.
How often should you clean a bike?
After every muddy or wet ride, and a full clean including the chain every couple of weeks of regular riding. Winter is the hardest season: road salt and grit stick to the frame and get into the chain, where they wear the drivetrain far faster than dry summer dust. A quick rinse and wash after a salty ride is worth more than a long clean once a month.
What do you need to clean a bike?
A bike wash, a chain degreaser, a frame protectant and some brushes and cloths.
Crankalicious Pineapple Express
A rapid-acting spray wash for the frame, brakes and contact points. The 250ml concentrate is diluted 1:3 with water to make a litre of spray, left for 2 to 3 minutes, agitated and rinsed with a low-pressure spray. It has a tropical scent.
A pH neutral foaming bucket wash for every part of the bike. Add 2 to 3 capfuls to a bucket of water and work it over the bike with a mitt, sponge or brush. It comes in a 500ml bottle.
An all-in-one spray cleaner for every part of a bicycle that also suits motorcycles. Spray it on in the shade, on a cool bike, in a 600ml bottle.
Crankalicious Gumchained Remedy
A strong, penetrating chain cleaner and degreaser that removes dirt, old oil and sludge. Use it in a chain cleaning tool or on a sponge, turning the pedals backwards for 30 to 60 seconds, then dry the chain and re-lube the drivetrain.
Crankalicious Enduro Frame Sealant
A nano protectant that seals and shines bike surfaces and repels water and mud, so dirt sticks less on the next ride. It is safe with stickers and decals but not for brakes and rims. Spray it onto a microfibre cloth, in a 500ml bottle.
How do you clean a bike step by step?
Stand the bike in a work stand or lean it securely, out of direct sun.
- Rinse the loose mud: use a gentle, low-pressure spray to soften and wash off the worst of the dirt, frame first and wheels last.
- Apply the wash: spray the diluted bike wash over the frame, forks, wheels and contact points, or work a bucket wash over it with a mitt.
- Let it dwell: give a spray wash 2 to 3 minutes to loosen the grime, without letting it dry.
- Agitate: work round the frame, the wheels and the tight spots with a soft brush, mitt or clean cloth.
- Rinse again: rinse from the top down with low-pressure water until no foam is left.
- Degrease the chain: clean the chain with a chain degreaser in a cleaning tool or on a sponge while you turn the pedals backwards.
- Dry and lube: dry the chain and drivetrain with a clean cloth, then re-lube the chain and wipe off the excess.
- Protect the frame: apply a frame sealant with a microfibre cloth, keeping it well away from brake rotors, pads and rims.
Should you use a pressure washer on a bike?
Only on its lowest setting and from a distance, and we prefer a garden hose or a pump sprayer. A close, powerful jet can drive water and grit past the seals into bearings, hubs and the bottom bracket and wash grease out of them. The products here are made to be rinsed with a low-pressure spray, which is all a bike needs.
How do you clean a bike chain properly?
With a dedicated degreaser, never with the frame wash alone. Chain lube holds grit and turns into a grinding paste, so the old oil has to come off before new lube goes on. Run the chain through a degreaser, wipe it until the cloth comes away clean, let it dry fully and only then re-lube, wiping off any excess so it does not collect fresh dirt.
Can you use car cleaning products on a bike?
Some, carefully, but keep anything with wax, silicone or gloss enhancers away from the brakes. Quick detailers, waxes and tyre dressings made for cars can contaminate brake rotors, pads and rims and cut braking performance. Bike-specific washes and protectants are made with brakes and contact points in mind, which is why we recommend them on a bike.
Common questions
Can you clean a motorbike the same way?
The method is similar: rinse gently, wash, degrease the chain, dry and protect. Tenzi Bike Cleaner suits motorcycles as well as bicycles. Always check your motorbike maker's advice for the chain and any sensitive parts.
Do disc brakes need special care when you clean a bike?
Yes. Keep sealants, lube and dressings off the rotors and pads. Enduro Frame Sealant is not for brakes and rims, so apply it to a cloth and wipe it on, never spray near the brakes.
Is washing-up liquid OK for cleaning a bike?
We would use a bike wash instead. A pH neutral bucket wash such as Mud Honey is made for every part of a bike, foams well and rinses cleanly.
To mix a spray wash into a bottle, our guide to detailing spray bottles and pump sprayers covers which sprayer to use, and our pick of the best microfibre cloths suits drying and polishing a bike too. The same gentle principles are in how to wash your car safely.
Need help choosing?
Tell our team what kind of bike you ride and how muddy it gets, and we will put together a cleaning kit. You can also browse the Crankalicious and Tenzi ranges.
