Just in time for spring, you can clean your bike in an affordable way using common cleaning methods. This can make the otherwise annoying cleaning work easier, as certain home remedies and inexpensive cleaning tools can be easily used for this purpose. This saves you time and you don't have to spend the whole morning outside cleaning with cold water. If your bike gets dirty often, regularly purchasing suitable cleaning products can become expensive. Here are some ideas for clever hacks and effective ways you can try it instead.
When should you clean your own bike?
The bike frame and other parts can be damaged by dirt from last season. It therefore makes sense to remove the accumulated dirt in a timely manner. If your bike often gets wet and dirty, it is of course advisable to clean it after every bike ride. However, if you leave the part until the mud and dust dries off, it can rinse offwith or without high-pressure cleaneractually damage components such as ball bearings and other areas. So try to focus on critical areas like the drivetrain and clean them thoroughly. Doing this as often as possible will help you avoid having to spray the bike with a hose or other powerful cleaning equipment every day.
Additionally, most bike-specific cleaning products these days aren't cheap. However, many of them differ little from some generic alternatives. An example of this is white spirit, which you can find at a hardware store. This stuff is great for...Degreasing components such as bicycle chains, while isopropyl alcohol can be used to clean brake discs.
WD40 is also suitable for breaking down unwanted fats and oils, and dish soap is sufficient for general bike cleaning. A tip for finding branded products is to find lower prices and value packs in the automotive market. The same applies to suitable cleaning tools such as brushes, cleaning cloths and sponges. Otherwise, you can use the following tricks and home remedies.
Can you clean a bike in the bathtub?
You can use common bathroom cleaners to clean your bike in the tub. However, you may need to remove the front tire to place the whole thing inside and lather it up really well with a gentle detergent. Also use a soft-bristled brush or kitchen sponge to avoid damaging the surface. Then let the stuff work for a few minutes and rinse the bike thoroughly with the shower spray. Then take a rag or older towel to polish it and don't forget to grease the bicycle chain in good time.
Use oven cleaner and occasionally clean the bike with it
Another inexpensive option is to use cleaning products for household appliances when cleaning bicycles. Simply spray the bicycle frame carefully with it and let it take effect again before removing the residue with cleaning cloths and drying the part. However, this is a cleaning method that should not be used too often as such products are aggressive and can damage the coating. Therefore, try to use this trick only in emergencies.
Use old socks for polishing
To keep your hands clean when cleaning your bike, you can simply wear old merino wool or terry cloth socks and use them to polish any bike parts. This is a clever option that not only makes the cleaning process easier, but also protects the bike's paintwork. You can also spray the socks with any of the cleaning products mentioned above while using this hack.
Use flour as a polishing agent and clean a slightly dirty bike
This is an equally affordable option to use an alternative product when cleaning bikes. In addition, flour as a food is also suitable for polishing certain surfaces and you can use it to treat the spokes of your bicycle gently. To ensure that the cleaning process is clean, it is best to use a slightly damp cloth. Simply sprinkle some flour on it and use it to clean slightly dirty areas on your bike frame or polish the spokes.
Treat rusted parts with lemon juice
It is rarely possibleKeep bike rust free, especially if it has to spend the whole winter outside or in damp basements. However, instead of using traditional rust removers, lemon juice can help you with this. Simply cut the citrus fruit in half and use it to treat the affected areas on the steering wheel, bike frame, chain or spokes.
In this case too, you could use socks on your hands to prevent rust, not forgetting the bike chain oil after polishing. Try the cleaning methods described above to restore your favorite bike to its former glory in an affordable way.
You might also be interested in:Getting your bike fit after winter (+ free checklist)
