Cleaning Products

[fireblake]

What is your bike cleaning product of choice and how much do you spend on your products. D o you buy a separate degreaser or on of those fancy do it all cleaners?


Thanks for any info,   Mickey

[YamFazFan]

Turtle-wax shampoo in bulk when it was on offer at B&Q (used on the car mostly tho).

Turtle-wax polish when it appeared at Poundland.

Autosol.

[mtread]

Muc-Off, Auto Glym Polish and Morris Hard Surface polish. Also definitely a specific degreaser for back wheel and chain area (the only drawback of having a chain oiler)

[fazersharp]

De grease chain fling with parafin, polish with Auto Glym, and do the black plastics with some dedicated armer all stuff, its not black but just a clear milky liquid (silicone I suspect )     

[Hedgetrimmer]

The thing I don't like about soluble degreasers is washing them off onto my driveway, with all the muck they lift off, which doesn't have brilliant drainage.
I use a locally produced cleaning fluid which is pretty much the same as Muc Off for most of the bike, but then I use old rags dampened with WD40 to clean grease and chain lube from around the rear wheel, swing arm etc. Then I use WD40 to wipe over engine casings, frame and so on. Mr. Sheen to polish the paintwork and plastics. Cold water only for washing down and rinsing, then towel off (one towel for paintwork, another for everywhere else).
In winter, the WD wipe over is replaced by ACF50.
I'll only use Autosol if the surface to be cleaned has lost it's original finish, as then it's a never ending task to keep it good. I've found that things like the footrest hangers/plates on both the Fazer and Striple have kept their shine better without resorting to Autosol, which is an abrasive. But then, I'm not looking for a showroom finish - more interested in clean and shiny with minimal effort!

[fazersharp]

Oh yes I forgot to add that I use good old  brasso on the alloy bits that I can take off easily to get on my bench grinder fitted with polishing mops.
The rider foot peg hangers and heal shield are lacquered, the rear are not 

[Bretty]

My regime consists of a combination of road dirt/grease, tree sap, leaf matter, bird poo and a weekly vigorous rinse with rain water. 

[unfazed]

Auto Glym motorcycle cleaner and WD40, is what I use, nothing else

[celticdog]

My regime consists of a combination of road dirt/grease, tree sap, leaf matter, bird poo and a weekly vigorous rinse with rain water. 

[crickleymal]

When it all gets too much to bear, white spirit/paraffin, someone's wash n wax and if I'm feeling really posh a spot of Pledge to polish it off.

[Dudeofrude]

Do that many people really use household polish on their bikes?
Have I really been wasting my money on bike polish for this long haha
Also is paraffin and white spirit OK to use on powder coated wheels?

[Hedgetrimmer]

Do that many people really use household polish on their bikes?
Have I really been wasting my money on bike polish for this long haha

I first used Mr. Sheen to polish bikes when I was a lad working a weekend job at a motorcycle dealership. That's what they gave me, so that's what I used. Every dealership I have ever worked for since has used the same. I've been using household spray polishes ever since. I've never known them to cause any problems. I guess it depends on what you are trying to achieve. If you're after a show finish, then you might want to use a dedicated product, but then, you'd probably want better than the manufacturer's original paint job too. My bikes are for everyday road use - well, not quite; I'm a bit of a fair weather rider these days - so I don't feel the need to ride a bike that will win me any competitions for cleanliness! But that doesn't mean I don't have some pride in how they look. Not being commuter bikes, I don't let them get in too much of a state before they get a good clean (by my standards).
I've used a few dedicated products in the past, but tbh, the results didn't amaze me to the degree that I'm willing to throw that much money at them all the time.

[fazersharp]

Also is paraffin and white spirit OK to use on powder coated wheels?

Never used white spirit but paraffin perfectly fine all over the back end as a de greaser and to clean your chain

[Freck]

+1 for paraffin, used it for years and it's the only thing I'll clean my chain with. 

[slappy]

Paraffin and Mr Sheen for me too, and cheapest car shampoo from supermarkets. Lashed out years ago on a load of Autoglym stuff once and found it no better despite the cost.

[Dudeofrude]

Wow, well that's certainly made my next trip to halfords a bit moot haha I'll be popping to B&Q instead :-P
Cheers

[crickleymal]

I only use white spirit on solid metal like the swing arms and the centre stand. Paraffin on the chain.

[robbo]

According to their website, Morrisons are selling Mr.Sheen for £1 until next January, if that's any help to anyone who has that supermarket near them. Occasionally Poundland stores stock Mr.Sheen, oddly enough, for a pound.

[Dave48]

Cheap 5L Turtle Wax or similar for car & bike was- usually on offer @ B&Q
Paraffin for cleaning chain-4L from B&Q
GT85 spray from Aldi when on special offer £2 can
ACF 50 from bike shop-one can every 3 yearsc £14
Mr Sheen from Pound Shop
Autoglym polish on ebay-a bottle lasts a long time.

[fazersharp]

Another one that I forgot is ACF50 and one can lasts years £14, only use it sparingly hear and there.

[TOADY]

Fairy liquid in a bucket of hot water. And Mr sheen for polishing. I have colour magic for special occasions or if I have a guilt trip 

[tommyardin]

Almost all washing up liquids have traces salt in them, just as dishwasher use salt to clean dishes. Washing up liquid is not really ideal for washing your bike or using as screen wash in your car either.
A couple caps full of good quality car shampoo contains polishes and it runs places that you can not reach when you wax polish your bike and that is the reason I use a good quality auto shampoo on my bike.
I have to admit to being an Autoglym fan (I know its expensive but I love my FZS 600) Autoglym shampoo and Ultra Deep Shine polish for paintwork, Autoglym Bumper and trim Gell for side panels, airbox covers, fairing infill panels and mirror backs.
WD40 is a great product for getting chain lube off rear wheel rim and off side of swing arm, also helps to protect against corrosion, it is also brilliant at getting tar spots off the car.


I really do need to get a life

[slappy]

I knew someone would mention salt in the washing up liquid, when I was a poor apprentice still living at home  my RD250 would get washed every week for two years with whatever washing up liquid I found  in my mums kitchen, never did it any harm.
I think you would have to leave your bike soaking in neat washing up liquid for years for any effect to be noticed.

[Tmation]

I use a water soluble degreaser, I am on a septic tank so parafin might not be such a good thing to wash down the drain.


I wash the whole bike with wash and wax, whatever is on offer



Once a year I use MER polish, the rest of the time I use Mr Sheen.


One tip another biker gave me years ago, is that after you have washed the engine and let if dry give it a liberal spray of Mr Sheen and then start the engine. It drys to a nearly invisible coating the keeps road much like cow shit etc from sticking to your engine. It's for summer dry day use as it washes off easily, but it keeps your engine all shiny.


If I am on a tour or between washes I use fragrance free baby wipes, chain lube and brake dust etc is no match for them  [size=78%] [/size]

[fazersharp]

I use a water soluble degreaser, I am on a septic tank so parafin might not be such a good thing to wash down the drain.

You don't actually wash the bike with paraffin but just a paraffin dampened cloth which then goes in the bin